EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1900; LILIAN RUTH LEVESCONTE DICKSON 1901 -1983 P/1

 

In  this story I will focus on a woman named Lillian Ruth LeVesconte Dickson. She lived from 1901 - 1983. Her parents were John and Lillie Belle LeVesconte. In 1924, Lillian received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota. She met her husband, James Ira Dickson during her time at the College They married in 1927. Both were members of the Canadian Presbyterian Church.

In 1925, Lilly attended a Biblical Seminary in New York City for two years to prepare for missionary work. She and her husband arrived in Taiwan in 1927 as missionaries under the Canadian Presbyterian Church. Her husband served as deputy principal of Tamsui Middle School and then president of Taipei Theological school while Lilly served as a missionary wife hosting guests in their home. They left Taiwan during World War II but returned at the end of the war. 

 

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1800: CORRIE TEN BOOM P/102

In this post I will continue to share the story of a woman named Corrie Ten Boom. She lived from1892 - 1983. At the Ravensbruck concentration camp, Corrie and her sister held worship services after the hard days at work by using a Bible that they had managed to smuggle in. Through the two sisters' teachings and examples of unfailing charity, many of the prisoners there converted to Christianity. 

While Corrie and her sister were at the camp, they began to discuss plans for founding a place of healing after the war. Sadly Betsy died on 16 December 1944. Twelve days later, Corrie was released. Afterwards she was told that her release was because of a clerical error and a week later all the women in her age group were sent to the gas chambers.

After the war. Corrie returned to the Netherlands to set up a rehabilitation centre in Bloemendaal, the Netherlands.She returned to Germany in 1946 and met with and forgave two Germans who had been employed at Ravensbruck. Corrie then went on to travel to world as a public speaker, appearing in more than 60 countries. She wrote many books during that period. Her best selling book is "The Hiding Place."

Corrie migrated to Placentia, California, in 1977. She died in 1983. 

P.S. This is my last post in the series on Evangelical women who were born in the second half of 1800. In my next post I will begin sharing stories on Evangelical women who were born in the first half of 1900.

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1800, CORRIE TEN BOOM P/101

In this post I will continue to share the story of a woman named Corrie ten Boom. She lived from 1892 - 1983. On 28 February, 1944, a Dutch informant, told the Nazis about the Ten Booms' work and, consequently, they were all arrested. They were sent to Scheveningen Prison when Resistance material and extra ration cards were found at their home. 

Thankfully, the group of six people hidden by the Ten Booms, made up of both Jews and resistance workers, remained undiscovered. They managed to escape at at a later date. However, the Gestapo arrested over 30 people who were in the family home that day. Most of them were released soon afterwards. But Corrie, her sister Betsie and their father were held in prison. Her father died ten days later. 

Corrie was initially held in solitary confinement for a three months period. She and her sister Betsie were then sent to Herzogenbusch, also named Kamp Vught, and finally to Ravensbruck concentration camp, a woman's labour camp in Germany.

 

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1800; CORRIE TEN BOOM P/100

In this story I will continue to focus on a woman named Corrie ten Boom. She lived from 1892 - 1983. In May 1940, the Germans invaded the Netherlands. One of their restrictions was the banning of the youth club. 

In May 1942, a well-dressed woman came to the the home of the ten Booms with a suitcase in hand and told them that she was a Jewess. Her husband had been arrested several months earlier, her son had gone into hiding and Occupation authorities had recently visited her so she was afraid to go back home. She had heard that the ten Booms had previously helped their Jewish neighbours and asked if they could help her too. Corrie's dad readily agreed that she could stay with them. 

The family then opened their home to Jewish refugees and members of the resistance movement, and as a result, they were sought after by the Gestapo and its Dutch counterpart. They had a secret room built that would hold up to six people. It is estimated that around 800 Jews were saved by the efforts of Corrie and her family 

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1800; CORRIE TEN BOOM P/99

 

In this story I will focus on a woman named Corrie ten Boom. She lived from 1892 - 1983. Her parents were Casper ten Boom and Cornelia Johanna Arnolda Luiting. The family lived in Haarlem, the Netherlands, where they had a watch shop. Corrie became the first woman to be licensed as a watchmaker in the Netherlands.

Corrie and her family were members of the Dutch Reformed Church and their faith inspired them to serve their society, which they did by offering shelter, food and money to those who were in need. Some important tenets of their faith included the fact that Jews were precious to God, and that all people are created equal - powerful motivation for the selfless rescue work she would later become involved in.

She, moreover, established a youth club for teenage girls, which provided religious instruction and classes in the performing arts, sewing and handicrafts.

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1800; TSAI SU JUAN (CHRISTIANA) P/98

 

In this post I will continue to share the story of Tsai Su Juan or Christina Tsai. She lived from 1890 - 1984. Great suffering awaited Christina, while the Japanese occupied China during WWII, imprisoning many missionaries, including the principal of her school. In weakness, she crawled about on the floor, surviving on meager portions of bread and fermented, salted vegetables. However, she continued to share the gospel and together with Miss Leaman their preaching led many to believe in the Lord.

 After the war, Mary Leaman returned to the United States in 1949, and took Christiana to live with her in Pennsylvania. From there she wrote her autobiography, "Queen of the Dark Chamber," which was later translated into 50 languages.

Christiana also wrote devotionals on the power of prayer, with her writings challenging and inspiring many to live for Christ and to serve Him with deep devotion.

She wrote: "My bed is not a prison, but a training school; the Holy Spirit is my Mentor, and my visitors are my homework." 

Christina died in 1984. 

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1800; TSAI SU JUAN (CHRISTIANA TSAI) P/96

 

In this story I will focus on a woman named Tsai Su Juan or Christiana Tsai. She lived from 1890 - 1984. Christiana was the daughter of a vice-governor in Jiangxu, China. She was a well cared for child, growing up in luxury and wealth. However, she was still an unhappy girl, and considered becoming a Buddhist nun, to practice a life of self-denial.

Christiana's fascination with the English language helped her become enrolled in a missionary school, but she was determined only to study and learn, and to close her heart and mind off to the gospel. When a visiting preacher came and spoke on "Christ, the Light of the world," she was deeply touched and came to faith in Christ.

Her family was enraged by her conversion, and greatly pressured her to turn from the faith of "the foreign devils," (a term used to designate white skin colour, associated with ghosts) but the inner peace of God flooded her life with inexpressible joy. Her family resorted to removing her from the school, and mocked her faith,  but she grew in reading God's Word, and prayer, knowing the love of Christ in a deep way. 

EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN THE SECOND HALF Of 1800; AIMEE SEMPLE MCPHERSPON P/95

 

   

In this post I will continue to share the story of a woman named Aimee Semple McPherson, She lived from 1890 - 1944.

Aimee also wrote and published her own works, including weekly and monthly periodicals.

As early as July 1922, she had begun calling her message The Foursquare Gospel, and in 1927 she incorporated her ministry, calling it The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

In 1925, in response to the overwhelming demand to travel to all parts of the world to minister, Aimee opened the Angelus Training Institute to train others. The institute, located next to the Temple soon became known as L.I.F.E. Bible college.It was a successful centre of home missions and world outreach, training both men and women.

Aimee continued to minister until her untimely death in 1944.