Still More Books About Courageous Women
There are short stories posted on the blog about these extraordinary women. I highly recommend the books. You will be blessed and encouraged as you read about them.
— Bogle, Joanna, Caroline Chisholm: The Emigrant’s Friend, (Gracewing: Fowler Wright Books, Herefordshire, 1997 edition).
“With an attitude of service and a sense of trying to be faithful to what she had promised God
and felt Him accept, she now went ahead in faith” (pg. 59). This was the hallmark of Caroline Chisholm’s life (1808 – 1877) as she went about the task of reforming the conditions for women who were emigrating to Australia during the nineteenth century. The British government was ignoring the plight of these women, but Caroline took them to task for it. She got laws changed and improved the traveling conditions. When she was in Australia, she insisted on clean, safe, and affordable housing for the women until they could find jobs. You will be amazed as you read about how this courageous woman even spent the night with rats in order to get a home for the women (pg. 65). Caroline was one of the most famous women in her day. Florence Nightingale modeled herself after Caroline. Her example of what can be done in the area of social reform is an inspiration to all.
— Collingwood, Jeremy & Margaret, Hannah More: The Woman Who Brought Hope to England’s Darkest Places, (Lion Publishing, Oxford, England, 1990).
Hannah More (1745 – 1833) was widely known as a social reformer in the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century. She was also a writer (plays, poems, and tracts) and an educator, helping start Sunday Schools. She knew many famous people, including William Wilberforce, the famous abolitionist, and helped give the abolition movement a public voice with her writings. She wrote poems about slavery that dramatically showed how they were being mistreated. She was also one of the best known philanthropists of her day. She was clever and witty and even up until her last years, many people loved to visit her. She lived just long enough to see slavery abolished in the British Empire (1833). You will really enjoy reading this story. The Collingwood’s include excerpts from her writings and poetry. Also not found very often in biographies is a wonderful index which is a veritable “who’s who” of 1800.
— Hege, Ruth, We Two Alone: Attack and Rescue in the Congo, (Emerald House Group, Inc., Greenville, S.C., 1997).
From the preface: “My days in the hands of the Congo terrorists were one long testimony to the 
fidelity of my loving Heavenly Father….I gratefully own my indebtedness to all who prayed for my safety and rescue.” Ruth Hege and her companion, Irene Ferrel, underwent one of the most terrifying experiences on the mission field imaginable (January, 1964). Irene Ferrel was murdered by insurgents and then Ruth Hege underwent four days of terror before being rescued. This is one of those books that is hard to put down. You will appreciate what dedication and love the missionaries have for the lost, willingly dying if necessary to bring them the Gospel. Ruth Hege would eventually serve in the Congo and Venezuela for thirty-two years. Irene’s story and Ruth’s testimony would move many young people to desire to serve God.
— Stuart, Arabella, Ann Judson, Missionary Wife, (Corner Pillar Press, Forest, Virginia, 1855, republished, 2011).
Ann Judson (1789 – 1826) was the first woman missionary to Burma. Actually, she was probably the first woman missionary to leave the shores of the United States for a foreign country. America was a young country. Foreign missions were just starting. Ann showed incredible courage and fortitude to go with her now famous husband, Adoniram Judson to a land halfway around the world. Though she suffered from ill health, loneliness, the deaths of her children, and opposition from the people back home, she never lost sight of her purpose to bring the Gospel to the Burmese women. “I desire no higher enjoyment in this life than to be instrumental in leading some poor, unreached women to the knowledge of the Savior. … Let me have no object in life but the promotion of Thy glory.” She gave her all so that others might know the joy of the Lord.
— Wilson, Dorothy Clarke, Granny Brand: Her Story, (Paul Brand Publishing, Sandy, Oregon, 1976).
Evelyn Harris was born in 1879 in England. As a young woman she felt an emptiness in her 
soul. Then she went to India and met Jesse Brand. They were married and served together until Jesse’s death in 1928. Evelyn continued to minister to the diseased and poverty-stricken people until her own death in 1974, at the age of 95. Evie prayed that she would be able to reach all of the hill people in India. With her indomitable spirit, she continued on in spite of the broken bones, fevers, and illnesses that she endured as she got older. She talked about the Savior everywhere she went. Even in the hospital she went room to room talking to the other patients. Outlasting many other missionaries, “Granny” Brand seemed to get younger as she got older. God truly answered her prayer to be useful in one of the hardest places to work in the world, “Let me be like that Lord, flowering best when life seems most dry and dead.”
