No greater service can ever be rendered to our fellow man than to bring the Gospel to them. Many missionary women gave their lives in service to God on the mission field and none were more disciplined or dedicated in this service than Mary Slessor.

Mary Slessor was born on December 2, 1848 in Scotland . She was the 2 nd of 7 children. Mary’s childhood was very difficult. Her father was an alcoholic and because of this he often couldn’t provide for the needs of the family.

At the age of 11 Mary went to work in a mill as a “Half-Timer”, which meant she worked ½ a day and attend the Mill school the other ½ day. Her mother was a deeply religious woman and wanted her children educated so she saw to it that Mary faithfully attended that school provided by the Mill and that she faithfully attended church. Mary’s day began at 5 a.m. and didn’t end until sundown. This rigorous schedule was Mary’s introduction to the work ethic that dominated her life. She worked hard and was very disciplined.

As Mary grew up she dedicated her life to God and became involved in a church where she taught Sunday School. She was so dedicated to the work that she would go out into the rough neighborhoods of her hometown and invite the youth to her Sunday School class. There’s one story about the life of Mary Slessor that I love. One week she was threatened by a gang of boys, but she was very courageous and held her ground. She made a bargain with the boys. If she didn’t flinch as they swung a piece of metal on a string closer and closer to her face that each one would join her Sunday School Class. The leader of the gang began to swing the string with the metal attached at the end. Closer and closer to Mary’s face came the metal…but Mary never flinched. She won – and the boys were true to their word and joined Mary’s Sunday School class. The lesson Mary learned that day about not showing fear was to help her later in life in her dealings with dangerous tribes in the African interior.

Mary was always interested in mission work and in 1876 she set sail for West Africa and gave her life in service to God in Calibar.

The work was hard, but Mary tirelessly gave of herself. The work was dangerous, but Mary persevered. She brought the Gospel to that region and served the people of West Africa for the rest of her life. She so endeared herself to the people that they gave her the nickname of “Ma”.

Mary Slessor’s work was a great success and she found much satisfaction in serving God and drew closer to Him because of it.

How can you spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in your sphere of influence? You don’t have to be a missionary to preach the gospel. Begin where you are today telling those you love what God has done for you. Your own testimony is a powerful tool to bring knowledge of God to a lost world.

Mary Slessor