She retuned to England during World War II, went back to China in the late 1940s, and then continued work with needy children in Taiwan through the Gladys Aylward Children’s Home until nearly the time of her death. In this chaotic context Aylward gathered many orphans into a home and in 1940 led them on a perilous journey to safety in Sian (Xian), capital of the neighboring province of Shensi (Shaanxi), 240 miles west-southwest of Yangcheng. The late 1930s were days of strife, as government forces fought against the Japanese and Communists. She gained the favor of the mandarin of the city of Yancheng (Jincheng), who appointed her an inspector to help enforce the local government’s edict against binding the feet of young girls. Learning the rough Mandarin language for the area, she identified herself with China and its people and became a Chinese citizen in 1936. Nearly detained in Russia, she managed to get to Tientsin (Tian-jin) and from there traveled to the province of Shansi (Shanxi) in northwest China. Despite this disappointment and no support, in 1930 she headed for China on the Trans-Siberian railway. With little educational background, no specific abilities to commend her for missionary work, and unable to do well in some introductory mission studies, Gladys was turned down by the China Inland Mission. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.Aylward, Gladys (1902-1970) British missionary in ChinaĪ housemaid born in Edmonton, north of London, Aylward went to China as an independent missionary. In Isaiah 43:1, it says, ‘I have called you by name.’ God wants us to follow our dreams and find fulfilment. What motivated Gladys to leave the comfort of her own country and travel to an unknown country to help people she didn’t even know? Gladys was following her dream, she was convinced God had a plan for her life and that He was calling her to go to China. In the middle of this chaos and with a price on her head as a spy, Gladys gathered the 100 orphans in her care and walked with them for 27 days over the mountains to the safety of Xian and saved their lives. Even the rioting prisoners who had a lack of food and no work to do, listened to her wise advice.īut the late 1930’s were days of strife in northern China as the government forces fought with the Japanese invaders. Her love and compassion for the people was obvious and they soon learnt to trust her. She became so well known that even the local governor, or mandarin as he was called requested that she help him to stop the cruel practice of binding women’s feet in his region. Gladys soon found herself also caring for the orphans who were abandoned in her area. They provided food, a warm place to sleep and stories of Jesus from the Bible every night. They decided to open an inn for the travelling mule caravans. The two women thought and prayed how they could help the local people and share their belief in Jesus. Eventually Gladys arrived in Tientsin, in northwest China to begin her work with Jeannie Lawson, an elderly missionary. And so, on theĪ young woman travelling alone was fraught with many dangers and especially as there was tension at the Russian and Chinese borders at this time.
She was so inspired by the presentation and deep in her heart felt she was called to be a missionary to China.īut she faced rejection when she struggled to learn the basics of the language and so was turned down by the China Inland Mission.ĭespite many disappointments, very little money and no support, she decided to find her own way to China to share the good news about Jesus. One day she attended a Christian revival meeting in London and committed her life to sharing the freedom, peace and happiness that Jesus brings. She had no specific abilities she had no prospects, but she had dream. She left school at 14 and worked as a lowly parlour maid in a wealthy house.
She was born into a humble working-class family in an industrial suburb of north London in 1902.
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