Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar

Christian Heroes: Then & Now #10

by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge, Rebecca Gallagher (Narrator)

God would indeed answer the prayer of the fiery, red-haired woman from Scotland. For thirty-nine years, Mary Slessor would labor in love among the unreached, often treacherous, tribes of Africa's Calabar region. Braving sickness, danger, and death on all sides, Mary became the cherished "White Ma" to entire tribes. Her faith, steadfastness, and pioneering spirit brought her beloved adopted people their first brilliant, contrasting example of the life and freedom found in Jesus Christ. Mary Slessor's story in an ageless epic of a woman who would stop at nothing to reach the lost with the life-giving gospel of Christ. (1848-1915).

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, History, School, Africa, Christianity

Audiobook

First published July 28, 1999

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feisty, 5’0” tall, red headed female missionary from Scotland was permitted to move inland to a Nigeria tribe by herself. I believe she was the first woman to do so. She fearlessly challenged the cruel ancient customs and rules they lived by that did not value life, especially for children and women. She stood face to face with a warrior when he wanted to pour hot oil on a young boy blocking him and she did not blink an eye. The warrior was puzzled but backed off. News of this bravery travelled among the tribes. She learned to speak their language and ate their food. She lived with this tribe for many years and they grew to admire her. She helped the region go from old ways to new ways. Part of the Christian hero series features stories of people and cultures I never knew about.

Some bizarre examples (late 1800s):

- a witch doctor could cut the head off a chicken and drop it into a group of wives and the wife it ended up closest to after squawking around without it’s head was guilty of poisoning her husband

- newborn twins were left to die or be eaten by animals and sometimes their mothers too because they were cursed

- if an important elderly man died, his wives and servants were killed b/c he needed them in his afterlife

- if a man died and you were the last woman to care for him, it was your fault and you were killed

[Becky Eichner · Rating 3 out of 5]

She went into Calabar to reach people with the message of Jesus. The book makes this clear. However, the book seems to focus more on her diplomatic relations with them. More focus is placed on changed customs than on changed hearts. While I suspect that customs changed because of changed hearts, this book does not make that as clear as it should. In fact, I cannot recall one instance of the book clearly stating that someone accepted Christ as their savior (other than Mary, herself).

[Alyssa Cerretti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess I have a bias towards any audiobook narration with a Scottish accent, but this was a great, short listen (~5 hours) on the life story of a selfless woman who devoted her life to saving vulnerable children and putting her faith into action.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the story of her life. Didn't like the 2-dimensional portrayal of Africans for my kids. We did a lot of rounding out. Mary Slessor, however, was something else.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary went "forward into Calabar", Africa. She was such a brave woman! She spent 34 years in the place called "the white man's grave". God used Mary to reach many different tribes and people in Africa. Old superstitious traditions were broken, such as: people being blamed for the (natural, I believe)death of others, cruel tortures, killing of twins(mostly),etc. I admire Mary's selflessness and how she gave up so much.

[LAS LECTURAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hola hermosa familia, hoy les traigo una historia muy distinta; es la historia de una pelirroja Escocesa que nació en un pequeño pueblo llamado Dundee, la cual no creció en un hogar que le predicara con el ejemplo, de hecho su padre era alcohólico y en su infancia vivió los maltratos de un jefe de familia que los golpea y todo el abuso que cometía con su madre.
Sin embargo en su alma siempre vivio la compasión y el deseo infinito porque reine la paz. con su obra misionera, sacrificio, disciplina, disposición, y sobretodo por esa sed infinita por alcanzar el corazón de la selva africana, donde el evangelio nunca había llegado, para mí es un ejemplo de admiración y sé que para todo Cristiano que esté anhelando ser misionero; dejar atrás su casa y su familia. Será una lectura de gran bendición.

[ᴀᴍʙ🔅 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you read this book, it will encourage you to trust in God...It was funny that people thought her hair was on fire because it was red. I don't want to spoil it and say which people." 🤓
-a 6YO reader

[María Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Porque no nos ha dado Dios espíritu de cobardía sino de poder, amor y dominio propio 2tim.1:7
En la obra misionera que emprendió Mary Slessor se refleja el amor, poder y dominio propio que Dios le concedió al enfrentar uno de los retos más grandes en África, su amor por la gente, la autoridad con que enseñaba la palabra de Dios, una mejor forma de vivir fuera de los sacrificios, brujerías y asesinatos y sobre todo el enfrentar sus propios miedos son sin duda alguna aspectos que debemos imitar desde donde estemos
Un libro realmente hermoso

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! Mary Slessor was a boss, and I loved reading about her. Definitely worth the read if you love missionary biographies. I look forward to reading more books in this series!

[Emily Riewerts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio. Very good read, I’d recommend.

[Elena Melling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible woman fueled by her love for Christ and “her people” in Africa!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book about a woman's journey for 39 years in the deepest area of the African jungle. She would take very limited furlough and serve these people in any way she could. She helped the people break from their dangerous and deadly practices by offering education, medical care, and hope. She rescued and adopted infant twins that were being sacrficed because they were thought to be evil. She also served to help rivaling tribes settle disputes peacefully without taking lives. The bond of voodoo and deception has been broken by her care and concern. She was loved by these people. Again, I think it is important for children to realize that they can travel all over the world or at least escape to it through a book. I would create a lesson that focused on the geography of this region and trace her journey from her home in Scotland. I think it would be useful for the children to learn the history of the African region she was a part in and discuss the differences in climate, culture, and language that this woman faced.

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all the books in this series, this is a great retelling of the life of a famous Christian. Mary is shown as an 11-year-old whose family moves to the city of Dundee, Scotland to make a better life. Instead, her father slides farther into drunkenness and within a few years only half of the family is still living. Mary’s life is a constant round of drudgery in the cotton mills, until she becomes a Christian and begins teaching Sunday school to children in the slums. After she gives up all hope of becoming a missionary, when her last brother dies (she was to be his assistant on the mission field), she hears of David Livingstone’s death and God calls her to become a missionary to Africa.

Read my full review here.

[A Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary's life is quite an inspiration. She grew up in the early industrial times in rural Scotland. Soon her family moves to the city hoping for a better life in the factories. She works hard. She loves God. She feels led to (Calabar) Nigeria at an early age and pursues her dream. Once she arrives at the mission station she desires to move further inland to engage the native peoples there. She feels like the beaurocracy of the mission station is not a good use of time. She is tenacious and is able to make a difference in the lives of many Africans. There are quite graphic portrayals of some of the customs of tribes at that time--twin killing, hot oil punishments, killing whole groups of people when a chief died.

[Stephanie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Benge's book about Mary Slessor is enticing and horrifying all at the same time. Mary has always wanted to be a missionary and after her two older brothers die, she is the one that must put the Slessor name into the missionary records. She sails to Calabar, Africa to spread to Good News and to stop the horrifying traditions there, such as the death of twins and witchcraft used to kill innocent people. At the end of the book I found it very hard to believe all the work Mary Slessor had done in comparison to many people alive today. I highly recommend this book, even if you aren't a religious person, because of the adventures and horrifying stories and the perseverance that Mary had throughout all of the trials that came her way.

[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Mary Slessor (1848-1915) was a single Scottish woman who became a missionary to Nigeria when she was in her late twenties. It was encouraging to me that she was single, older, and without any particular "talents." (She worked in a mill before her time in Africa.)

The writing itself was just okay, but I enjoy virtually all missionary stories.

I wish there had been more of an epilogue, describing what happened after her death in the regions where she had worked. I would also have liked to hear more about her children. (I don't know how much source material actually exists for those topics, though.)

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Mary Slessor, a missionary from Dundee, Scotland, a petite fire headed woman, held amazing bravery, courage, and tremendous faith. Just wow. She was so persistent in her ways to change the things that were wrong in her mission field, and would not give up until it happened.
To put things simply, she was amazing. The way she adapted to life inland life in the jungles of Calabar is truly astounding, specially if you look at the way people use to live in general. And to not loose sight of why she was amazing, it's because Mary Slessor had an amazing God.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Slessor is a really admirable woman. Her heart and respect for the people she reached is amazing. She was very sacrificial, and she made a really big impact: stopped human sacrifice, infanticide, and stood up for the rights of women in the tribes she had contact with. If I were rating Mary Slessor herself, I would give her ten stars! But the writing in the book was not my favorite, and I didn't always appreciate the tone taken towards the people who were mentioned. However, the story was amazing and hard to stop reading!

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have always said that I have no idea how or why God has carried me over so many funny and hard places, and made these hordes of people submit to me, or why the Government should have given me the privilege of a Magistrate among them, except in answer to prayer made at home for me. It is all beyond my comprehension. The only way I can explain it is on the ground that I have been prayed for more than most. Pray on, dear one — the power lies that way."

[Barbara Macmillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Slessor, a woman born in the time of Dr. Livingston. Inspired by his work in Africa she felt the call of God to the people of Africa. She became known to the African people as the woman with fire on her head because of her bright read hair. This an amazing account of missionary who loved God and showed in with her life.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful story about a single missionary lady in east Africa in the late 1700s, early 1800s. I think my life is hard - it's a piece of cake compared to what Mary Slessor endured with an alcoholic father, working in the cotton mill factory at age twelve and heading to the unknown territory of east Africa to share the Gospel with the tribes there.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to J2 as part of his school work. We really enjoyed learning about Mary Slessor and her work in Africa. She was a very head-strong, motivated missionary who left a lasting impression on the African people she lived among.

[Catherine Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good biography of Mary Slessor!

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love MARY SLESSSOR. She is my Hero!
She is my role model.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple to read, absolutely fascinating life story. I am partial to these life stories of missionaries.

[heartwork. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most missionary stories we have come across, this one didn't fail to amaze and inspire us how God's Word is brought across the world.

[Angela Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mary Slessor! I wish that I could be half the person that she is.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is great. We study them with the girls.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I liked Mary. She was human. :)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman was courageous! I love reading books about women with strong conviction and good character.