Gladys Aylward

by Sam Wellman

PARLORMAID IN ENGLAND TO MISSIONARY IN CHINAWispy Gladys Aylward was not even five feet tall. She toiled as a parlormaid. But she wanted to serve Christ and she was willing. To go to China as a missionary was her dream. Suddenly she made a mad dash in a train across Siberia to Manchuria. By 1931 at 29 she made her way to Yangcheng deep in China and began to serve Christ at what came to be called the ‘Inn of the Sixth Happiness’.The next years became legend. The ‘Small Woman’ captured the hearts of the Chinese. She became a citizen of China. For years the Chinese fought Japanese invaders. Gladys helped refugees and orphans. In 1938 she led 100 orphans across mountains to safety. She barely survived, enduring typhus, pneumonia and malnutrition.She was expelled from China by the Communists. By the late 1950s she was an icon, the subject of books and a movie starring Ingrid Bergman. Embarrassed by fame she went back to Free China (now Taiwan) to run an orphanage and died there at 68 in 1970. Decades after she could defend herself, secular press in the 21st century depict Gladys Aylward as a reckless spy for China during World War II. If alive she would invoke her beloved “Hear, O our God; for we are and turn their reproach upon their own head...”

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2013

About the author

Sam Wellman, PhD, is a writer of numerous biographies. He has traveled to Germany many times and twice stayed for several months (in Berlin and Wittenberg). He blogs and tweets on Martin Luther and Frederick the Wise. He lives near Wichita, Kansas.

Reviews

[Sandra Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK YOU SAM WELLMAN

I read The Little Woman first. A beautiful account of a true servant of God. I wanted to know more and Im so glad I chose Mr Wellman's book of Gladys Aylward's life. The fact that Gladys had to bear so much physically and mentally , including lies spun from her very own countrymen in order to accomplish God's work, is inspiring for all Christians. Without this book I would have never known the deep sacrifices Gladys endured to accomplish Gods plan for her and the multitude she served.

[maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, engaging book about my hero

I will always be amazed by this small parlour maid women who gave up everything to follow God across the world and fell in love with the Chinese. Challenging, inspiring. A must read of you want to be challenged to follow God's lead no matter what.

[Moronke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an autobiographical Christian book on Gladys Aylward. The events in the book unfolds her Christian journey, trials and persecutions. I enjoyed reading her life history. I recommend it for all readers who intend to embark on evangelism.

[Tab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly amazing faith

This book was wonderful to read of Gladys adventures and determination to follow her faith in God. She did not let anything stop her. My sister-in-law told me about her so I found this book to read about her life. And what an amazing life it was.

[Rachel Vacco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great overview!

Gladys Aylward is a giant among women. Faithful and brave she laid her life down for China. This is a great overview of her life and work. Easy to read and engaging.

[jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

I read every page with great respect for Gladys Aylward. She was such a mighty woman of God and a true inspiration to me. Praise God for her life and obedience to Go to China .

[Karen Salina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately shortened

I would have appreciated a longer, more detailed version. Gladys is one of those amazing vessels God uses in remarkable ways