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God's Grace was Sufficient: Lucy Thurston, Pioneer Missionary to Hawaii
Unexpected marriage. Perilous voyage.Startling immersion in a primitive culture.How far would you go for God?
Lucy, a teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in New England, receives a strange request in the fall of 1819. She is asked to marry a man she hasn’t met and join him on a dangerous journey as the first missionaries to the superstitious, human-sacrificing natives of the Hawaiian Islands.
She says yes.
Discover how Lucy’s faith is stretched as God sustains her amidst constant challenges on the dark, unexplored islands of Hawaii.
God’s Grace was Sufficient is the first book in the Lucy Thurston, Missionary to Hawaii.
This never-before-told story of the amazing adventures of the first missionaries to Hawaii will lead you to see that God’s grace is sufficient for you, too.
Lucy, a teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in New England, receives a strange request in the fall of 1819. She is asked to marry a man she hasn’t met and join him on a dangerous journey as the first missionaries to the superstitious, human-sacrificing natives of the Hawaiian Islands.
She says yes.
Discover how Lucy’s faith is stretched as God sustains her amidst constant challenges on the dark, unexplored islands of Hawaii.
God’s Grace was Sufficient is the first book in the Lucy Thurston, Missionary to Hawaii.
This never-before-told story of the amazing adventures of the first missionaries to Hawaii will lead you to see that God’s grace is sufficient for you, too.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2019
81 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 13, 2024
This book is the story of some of the first missionaries to Hawaii from New England, Asa and Lucy Thurston. It is written very simply, but it does a great job of showing what things were like when they arrived in 1820 and how rapidly they changed by God’s grace. Some things to note about the book:
1. Asa and Lucy had never met when her cousin asked her to marry him and go with him to Hawaii as missionaries. After meeting him and praying about it, she agreed. By all accounts it was a happy marriage lasting until his death almost 50 years later.
2.Shortly before they arrived, King Kamehamaha died and this set the stage for the Hawaiians to rapidly receive the gospel (read the book).
3.The culture of Hawaii before the missionaries arrived was very dark. They practiced human sacrifice, they routinely buried their babies alive (at one point in the book a Hawaiian woman confesses to burying six of her babies alive!) One little girl had one of her eyes gouged out by a priest for the sin of eating a banana (women were not allowed to eat fruit until after King K died and a lot of his taboos were rejected). Having said that, sailors brought their own sins to the Hawaiian culture. At one point a captain has a married Hawaiian woman kidnapped and brought on board his ship and kept as a sex slave for more than a month. She dies shortly after she is released. Terrible.
4.The change that is wrought in the hearts of Hawaiians was swift and amazing. After 6 years of work, the missionaries are teaching 25,000 Hawaiians using 40 native Hawaiian teachers. By 1840, twenty years after the missionaries arrive, Hawaii is declared a Christian kingdom.
It’s an amazing story of God’s providence on Hawaii, told mostly from Lucy Thurston’s point of view. I enjoyed it very much.
1. Asa and Lucy had never met when her cousin asked her to marry him and go with him to Hawaii as missionaries. After meeting him and praying about it, she agreed. By all accounts it was a happy marriage lasting until his death almost 50 years later.
2.Shortly before they arrived, King Kamehamaha died and this set the stage for the Hawaiians to rapidly receive the gospel (read the book).
3.The culture of Hawaii before the missionaries arrived was very dark. They practiced human sacrifice, they routinely buried their babies alive (at one point in the book a Hawaiian woman confesses to burying six of her babies alive!) One little girl had one of her eyes gouged out by a priest for the sin of eating a banana (women were not allowed to eat fruit until after King K died and a lot of his taboos were rejected). Having said that, sailors brought their own sins to the Hawaiian culture. At one point a captain has a married Hawaiian woman kidnapped and brought on board his ship and kept as a sex slave for more than a month. She dies shortly after she is released. Terrible.
4.The change that is wrought in the hearts of Hawaiians was swift and amazing. After 6 years of work, the missionaries are teaching 25,000 Hawaiians using 40 native Hawaiian teachers. By 1840, twenty years after the missionaries arrive, Hawaii is declared a Christian kingdom.
It’s an amazing story of God’s providence on Hawaii, told mostly from Lucy Thurston’s point of view. I enjoyed it very much.
December 10, 2019
A captivating story
Wisdom certainly graces the main character Lucy, who left her home and family in New England with the husband, Asa, she had only briefly met before they sailed thousands of miles to Hawaii in the 1800s. Their faith, prayers and thanksgiving enabled them to courageously face disease, danger and death. I was touched by their tears and sorrow, and rejoiced with their victories and miracles gained by answered prayers. There is also humor: a king riding in a wheelbarrow, baked dog, and the (lack of) dress code of the natives. In addition to the compelling account of the lives of these missionaries, there is insight into history, culture, language and politics. You won’t get bored reading. This beautifully written story would make a great movie or drama series.
Wisdom certainly graces the main character Lucy, who left her home and family in New England with the husband, Asa, she had only briefly met before they sailed thousands of miles to Hawaii in the 1800s. Their faith, prayers and thanksgiving enabled them to courageously face disease, danger and death. I was touched by their tears and sorrow, and rejoiced with their victories and miracles gained by answered prayers. There is also humor: a king riding in a wheelbarrow, baked dog, and the (lack of) dress code of the natives. In addition to the compelling account of the lives of these missionaries, there is insight into history, culture, language and politics. You won’t get bored reading. This beautifully written story would make a great movie or drama series.
December 8, 2019
What an exciting story!
As a missionary by heart I just loved to read this story about Lucy and the first missionaries to the Hawaiian islands. I had never heard of this before and I’m truly amazed at their courage and dedication to their calling and mission! This book describes the story so well. I was captured by it and could not put the book down until I had finished reading it. I am looking forward to the next book to follow next year about Lucy, her family and their missionary work.
As a missionary by heart I just loved to read this story about Lucy and the first missionaries to the Hawaiian islands. I had never heard of this before and I’m truly amazed at their courage and dedication to their calling and mission! This book describes the story so well. I was captured by it and could not put the book down until I had finished reading it. I am looking forward to the next book to follow next year about Lucy, her family and their missionary work.
February 17, 2023
Worth Reading!
In this day of self centered Christianity, it is challenging to read of those examples of courageous and joyful self denial! We are led to examine ourselves as to what causes us to shrink from trusting wholly on the sovereign grace of our great God and Saviour!
In this day of self centered Christianity, it is challenging to read of those examples of courageous and joyful self denial! We are led to examine ourselves as to what causes us to shrink from trusting wholly on the sovereign grace of our great God and Saviour!
February 26, 2021
A truly fascinating story about a unique period of history. Based upon real events and meticulously researched from family documents and other recorded histories of the time, the author tells the story of her ancestors who were the first missionaries to Hawaii. Asa and Lucy Thurston along with a small band of missionaries sail for six months to reach the Islands to share God's word. When they arrive they are met with people who do not wear clothes, who practice polygamy and have only recently given up the worship of idols and brutal rituals. The Hawaiian people are searching for a faith and a way forward and through providence the missionaries arrive. Asa & Lucy risk their lives to make connections with the ruling royal family of Hawaii. They teach, develop a Hawaiian written language, preach, and pray with the natives. Not only did I learn about the past, but a lot of inspiration for modern faith can be gleaned by hearing this story of faith and the sharing of the gospel. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is looking for an inspirational story of enduring through difficulties.
May 25, 2020
Superb! Love this book. Beautifully written. You won't be able to put it down. My childhood was spent in Hawaii on the Island of Oahu. I remember hearing about the Christian Missionaries in Hawaii and history of the native Hawaiians. Looking forward to reading more from this Author. Please write more episodes. Also please set up yourself as an author we can follow. Highly recommend this wonderful book!
December 10, 2023
unknown to me..
This is such great information about Hawaii. I love visiting Hawaii. I love the beauty of it and today’s modern age and I can’t imagine the beauty of the islands before it was a tourist trap. Thank God for the courage of first missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands follow the Lord and share the gospel.
This is such great information about Hawaii. I love visiting Hawaii. I love the beauty of it and today’s modern age and I can’t imagine the beauty of the islands before it was a tourist trap. Thank God for the courage of first missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands follow the Lord and share the gospel.
December 29, 2025
The life of Lucy Thurston inspires and convicts me. Praise be to God for His work in and through Lucy and her husband Asa. They were two of the first Christian missionaries to Hawaii in the year 1820. They married for the sake of the mission, sailed from Boston to Kailua Kona, around Cape Horn, and relied on God every step of the way in Hawaii. God’s grace was sufficient for them. Hallelujah!
October 26, 2024
Interesting and historical significance
An amazing and true missionary story. Excellent book and I highly recommend it. I read it on a cruise to Hawaii. It was very special to read about each of the islands and how the Lord worked through a few, willing people.
An amazing and true missionary story. Excellent book and I highly recommend it. I read it on a cruise to Hawaii. It was very special to read about each of the islands and how the Lord worked through a few, willing people.
September 18, 2020
Such an amazing story of trust and faith. I can't wait to read the next book.
February 16, 2021
Can't wait for more about Asa and Lucy!
September 27, 2022
excellent
Excellent history of the gospel brought to Hawaii through ordinary people. Trusting God with great faith. Highly recommended. Easy to read.
Excellent history of the gospel brought to Hawaii through ordinary people. Trusting God with great faith. Highly recommended. Easy to read.
December 12, 2022
This was a wonderful educational book about the first missionaries. They had tremendous faith that is an example to us all. I want to read more about these brave souls.
May 8, 2023
Interesting book. I found the language stilted but I expect that that was because she was quoting from source material and that is the way they actually talked back then.
May 9, 2025
Excellent story, poorly written. Worth reading!
July 3, 2025
Amazing account of the first missionaries to Hawaii!
Fascinating- they brought so much help & joy to the natives.
Fascinating- they brought so much help & joy to the natives.
November 7, 2025
Enjoyed learning about the first missionaries to Hawaii
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews