Amoy (Xiamen, China), April 5th , 2011One of the 20th Century's most influential Christian women just went Home. Two days ago, I learned of the failing health of Lorraine, wife of World Vision and Samaritan Purse's founder Bob Pierce. And as I was starting a letter to her today (my 55th B-day, by the way), I learned that she had already “returned Home”, surrounded by family and friends.
Grandmother of Millions The day before Lorraine went Home, she had smiled at learning she had a new great grandson, Taylor Anthony Ruesga. Today, Lorraine is learning face-to-face from our Father that decades of selfless and largely unsung sacrifice, and the ceaseless prayers of a faithful mother and wife, have made her a spiritual mother of millions, and helped change our world in ways we will not fathom until we too join Lorraine with our Father, face-to-face.
The Seed of WVI in Amoy As I wrote in February, 2010, World Vision was founded because of an incident here in Amoy in 1947. American missionary Tena Holkeboer challenged young Bob Pierce to not just preach but to give practical help to poor orphans. Bob gave his last 5 dollars to help "White Jade" and promised to send 5 dollars a month. And that was the seed that led him in 1950 to start World Vision, and in 1970 to found Samaritan's Purse (now led by Franklin Graham).
"Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God," wrote Bob Pierce in his bible after seeing the tragic conditions of orphans in Korea. And Bob devoted the rest of his life traveling the globe and building two organizations that would help countless millions of people. Bob literally spent his life and heart and soul to reach the poor, but in some ways, his wife Lorraine paid an even greater price.
In "Man of Vision, Woman of Prayer," Bob's daughter Marilee shared that after Bob began his global ministry, his family saw little of him, even though wife and daughters desperately needed some time with him at home. But though heartbroken by suffering in other lands, Bob could not see the pain in his own home, and he justified his long absences with yet another prayer that has become famous.
Bob's Jephthah Prayer Like many others in his shoes, Bob struggled with how to balance the needs at home with the demands of a growing global ministry. So Bob said, "God, if you take care of my children, I will take care of yours." The prayer is often quoted, and may sound admirable on the surface, but it was neither wise nor necessary. In Judges 11, Jephthah promised God that if he won a battle, he'd sacrifice whatever greeted him first when he returned home. To his horror, he was greeted by his daughter, whom he was then bound to sacrifice. Bob also made a Jephthah sacrifice.
Like Jephthah, Bob Pierce sacrificed his family by leaving his young wife Lorraine to raise their children alone while he traveled abroad for months and years—and the Pierce family suffered great tragedy.
Did God fail Bob Pierce? Bob did his best to care for God's children, so did God fail to keep his own end of the bargain by allowing tragedy to befall Bob's family at home? Obviously, God did not fail Bob, just as he did not fail Jephthah, because God never asked for such a prayer from Jephthah, or Bob, or anyone else. Bob's children were Bob's responsibility, and his family should have been not an obstacle but an opportunity to help him prepare for a broader work.
Small and Great Jesus taught, "He who is faithful in small things will be faithful in great things." God uses 'small' things to prepare us for great things, and to teach us to rely not on our own strength but on His.
For example, honoring the Sabbath may seem unimportant, but it proves that if we trust our Father, we can do more in 6 days than 7. Tithing money proves that 90% of our money can go farther than 100% when wisely stewarded. But the brief time on earth with our family is a bootcamp for eternity, preparing us as nothing else can for our own unique roles in our Father's eternal Family. Some, like Paul the Apostle, were called to be single. But if we are blessed with a family, then that family is our greatest God-given priority, from which all else springs, and faithfulness in this 'small' thing prepares us for the greater things to come.
Fortunately for Bob, and for the world, Lorraine Pierce did not succumb to bitterness and resentment. She continued to struggle, largely alone and unheralded, to keep her family together, and she continued to pray without ceasing for her beloved but absent husband—and I am confident that it was her prayers that moved both heaven and, through her husband, earth as well.
Samuel Chadwick wrote, "The one concern of the Devil is to keep the saints from praying. ... He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. ... Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. ..."
Great works for the Kingdom are not successful because of the blood, sweat and tears of toiling spiritual entrepreneurs ready to sacrifice themselves and everyone around them. Their success is rooted in fervent, faithful prayer. Hudson Taylor wrote, "God's will done in God's way will never lack God's supply." Though the China Inland Mission had thousands of workers to care for, Hudson Taylor learned that, through prayer and wise stewardship, he never lacked the resources to accomplish whatever task the Father put before him.
Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, and many others who have made eternal contributions to the kingdom knew the truth of Chadwick's claim that success is rooted not in our toil or in our wisdom, or in our bargaining with God, but in our prayer—the faithful, fervent prayer of spiritual warriors like Lorraine Pierce.
Man of Vision, Woman of Prayer. To learn more about the Pierce family, and the founding of World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, read Marilee Dunker's "Man of Vision, Woman of Prayer." Regrettably, the publisher later shortened the title to "Man of Vision," but it was the the prayers of a faithful mother and wife, and a Woman of Prayer, that helped make possible the vision that changed the lives of millions.
I have heard that Marilee is preparing a newer book about her parents and their work. I trust that her new book will help us all to better appreciate and emulate the selflessness and faithfulness of Lorraine Pierce, the spiritual founder of both World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, and spiritual mother to millions.
Our prayers, and gratitude, go to Marilee and her sister Robin, and the entire family.
In closing—a family news update! Our oldest son Shan and his wife Miki just moved to Beijing, where Shan has a new and challenging job. And Matt at University of Arkansas has a very special friend Jessica (I hope to add her to the family cartoon!). She is in Argentina for six months. Lots of changes!
Bill Brown
& family
www.amoymagic.com
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I tumbled upon your articles while surfing the net and I stayed put for about 2 hours because it was that interesting. thank you for sharing!BTW I love your humor which you have injected into your writing.Li Qian
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