MARY SLESSOR... Scottish missionary to Calabar (Nigeria) Africa.

Mary Slessor (1848-1915)

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Mary Slessor's heart thumped within her. "Oh, reverend, I couldn't do that." "But why?" he asked. "You speak to children all the time. I've heard you. You know the Scriptures well. Surely you won't mind going up on the platform to speak to our adult Fellowship on 'The common people heard Him gladly'." Mary glanced shyly around the meeting hall. "Perhaps I may speak to them just as I am, reverend? I mean right here. To as few as want to listen."

So on the floor of the meeting hall that February night of 1874 Mary spoke to the Fellowship gathered around her - nervously avoiding eye contact with men. She elaborated on the Twelfth Chapter of Mark and how Jesus was confronted first by the learned Pharisees, and next by the aristocratic Sadducees, before once again he and his good news were received with joy by the common people. "Very well explained, Mary," enthused the reverend. "I'm only repeating that which I read in the Gospel," said Mary shyly.

She left the hall to scurry home. There were few about in the dark winter-chilled slums of Dundee, Scotland, but the few who were about were known well enough by her to worry her. She still ached from her refusal to speak from the platform. She had a hundred reasons to be self-conscious. At 25 she was unmarried. She was short. She had a face peppered with freckles. Her hair was carrot red. She was poor. She had no formal education. And she carried her dead father's shame. He drank himself to death. Who was she - the daughter of a drunk - to rise above the others to speak? Yet her timidity made her heart ache.

"Oh Lord, how I wanted to be like Doctor Livingstone," she sighed. The great Scottish missionary David Livingstone was Mary's hero. She had read Missionary Travels, hardly stopping to breathe, a second time, a third time. He was a Scot, just like her. He was second oldest of seven children, just like her. He had been poor, just like her. He had even worked in a textile mill many years, just like her! How many times had she told herself, 'We share so many similarities. Why then can not I be a missionary just like him? Yes, to Africa just like Livingstone!'

And yet here she was. When Livingstone was 26 he was in London, finishing his medical degree and missionary studies just before leaving for Africa! Mary at 26 still laboured on a loom in the factory, terrified of men, frightened to even speak… She was to frightened to speak! Oh! How God used this woman to bring Christ to Nigeria! Here is her Biography...

Born: December 2, 1848, near Aberdeen, Scotland. 2nd of 7 siblings.

Father: Shoemaker.

Raised Presbyterian.

Childhood distinctions: Timid, impressionable.

Never married.

1858 Family moved to Dundee.

1859 Father, 3 siblings died over next four years.

1859 Began part-time in weaving mill.

1862 Worked full-time.

1864 Became very active in church.

1876 Accepted for training by Presbyterian mission society, sailed for Calabar (part of what is now Nigeria).

1880 Opened Old Town mission.

1882 Took in first twin babies.

1885 Assigned to Creek Town.

1886 Reconnoitered murderous Okoyong area.

1888 Settled at Ekenge among Okoyong, began several years of incredible adventure.

1891 On furlough to Scotland recognized as outstanding missionary, began writing articles touting abilities of Africans.

1892 Appointed Vice-Counsel to administer justice to Okoyong.

1896 Relocated to Akpap. 1898 took four of her 'children' on furlough to Scotland.

1903 Left Akpap to begin ministry among Aros and Ibibios.

1906 Broke with mission society, took judgeship.

1907 Major decline in health.

1910 Opened mission in Ikpe.

1914 Feted in Nigeria with Silver Cross.

Died January 13, 1915.

Loving Father, I thank you for the life of Mary Slessor and I pray that anyone reading this may be inspired by her testimony to give their life to you, and that you would use them in the same way as Mary. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.