Page 4 - Good News November 2018 paper

arie Monsen (1878-1962)
is a name held in high
Mhonour among Chris-
tians in China. Yet she is barely
known in the West, even in her
native Norway.

In 1900, nationalist uprising in
China, the “Boxer Rebellion,”
had seen many foreign mission-
aries slaugtered. Suspicion and
fear were everywhere. Even so,
Monsen travelled alone to the
Henan Province in September
1901 to work for the Lutheran coming near her Mission Com-
China Mission Association. pound because of angels
standing sentry over it!
Not long after her arrival, she fell
down some stairs and hit her This and many more examples
head so hard that she was can be found in her book: A
unconscious for several days. Present Help: Standing on the
promises of God.
The trauma left her unable to
study language for two years. For She was no respecter of per-
six years she suffered debili- sons: she would tell church
tating headaches, as well as leaders to their face that they
dysentery, malaria, pain, and were hyprocrites! A present-day
frustration. The first 20 years of house church leader writes:
her service were God's learning “She didn't speak smooth words
curve for her, causing her to be to impress the people. Instead,
constantly aware of her weak- she brought fire from the altar of
ness and to cast herself on Him in God.”
constant dependence. Marie
learned the power of endurance! She took the emphasis off
human wisdom so prized by
Monsen's devotional life was her Chinese, and showed each
mainstay, taken to a new level in person that they were indivi-
the 1927 Shantung Revival. She dually responsible before God
had an uncanny sense that the for their own inner spiritual life.
Lord was directing her, speaking For this, she was greatly loved,
clearly in words that seemed and church leaders saw her as
almost audible. She sensed that “Mother in Christ.” She cared
God intended to move powerfully nothing for numbers, but wanted
in China, and she prayed fervent- to be sure each soul had left the
ly for 20 years until it began in way of destruction and truly
Shantung in 1927 - a revival that encountered God. “Don't gather
is still continuing and is being unripe fruit”, was a maxim of
called “the biggest revival in hers.
history”.
When she died, Monsen was
In order to serve her Lord better, buried in Solheim Cemetery in
she remained a lifelong celibate. Bergen, Norway. In his best-
She also endured severe trials selling book The Heavenly Man, a
with fortitude and trust. leader of the Chinese House
Church Movement, Brother Yun,
Her courage was remarkable. tells of how Chinese believers
She was fearless, travelling were incredulous to find that
hundreds of miles through Marie Monsen's grave in Den-
bandit-infested territory to share mark was unmarked. So they
the Gospel. Once, the ship she made the need known and
was on was captured by pirates. donations came pouring in, such
When an invading army of that in 2001 a monument was
looters was ravaging a whole erected to one of God's outstan-
city, Monsen urged the Chris- ding (but humble) warrior
tians not to to fear but to pray; the women! - Prepare the Way, Issue
looters were prevented from No. 114, www.prepare co.za