Mary Slessor (1848-1915)

“Growing up in the slums of Aberdeen, Scotland, with an alcoholic father and little hope of changing your circumstances doesn’t seem like a promising start for anyone. But for Mary Slessor, her childhood taught her a tenacity and a strength that would serve her well in her years spent living in Nigeria. Mary grew up hearing her devout mother read the mission paper every month. In her heart grew a desire to share Jesus with others. She was 27 when David Livingston passed away, and she decided that she would go and continue his work to reach all of Africa. Mary’s work began in Calabar, and she lived and worked in places where no European had ever been. She faced life-threatening illness and hardship, but “Mighty Mary” did not once consider giving up. She lived with Okoyong and Efik people for 15 years, learning their languages and helping them settle disputes; working tirelessly to educate and overcome superstitions, such as twin-killing and women’s rights. She earned their love and respect and as a result was able to spread the gospel to areas no other missionary could.” Chaney from kindredgrace.com

I probably should have done David Livingstone first, but I am sitting here waiting for a colonoscopy, hoping I don’t go into Afib which might cancel the procedure! So “Might Mary”. Live update from the hospital! The anesthesiologist just came in and said they usually do the procedures even if someone is in afib, so I probably worried about that for a week for nothing! Isn’t that the way it is with most of our worries! Now I can worry about what they find in the colonoscopy! Just joking. I am not worried about that. You just want to know if you have colon cancer, and, if so, start treating it.

Back to Mary Slessor. Can you imagine her childhood with an alcoholic father. From Today’s Christian Living Magazine: “Mary’s childhood was riddled with trouble. When her alcoholic father lost his job, Mary went to work at the mill. She was just eleven years old. He would often abuse Mary’s mother, a godly woman, and kick Mary out onto the streets for days at a time. Working from 6 am to 6 pm at the mill didn’t leave time for Mary to get a formal education, so she taught herself to read when she was fourteen years old. When Mary appeared before the mission board in 1875, she was willing to go anywhere they needed her. She was thrilled when they sent her to Calabar. Few outsiders returned from the region, but Mary was undaunted. The Okoyong people were enslaved by evil. They killed all twins, believing the carried seeds of evil spirits. A wife was killed when her husband died so she could serve him in the afterlife. Violent brawls broke out incessantly. Mary began to rescue abandoned babies, raising the children as her own. She introduced trade to the tribe, opening the doors to good relationships with other tribes – which was instrumental in the Okoyongs’ openness to the gospel message. She started negotiating disputes and was eventually appointed tribal judge.

Once again against the advice of the local chief, Mary moved on – this time to the Azo people, a cannibalistic tribe. Though they were initially unreceptive to the good news of Christ’s sacrificial love, over time a whole village decided to follow the one, true God.

Over her nearly forty years of ministry, “Ma” Slessor fell ill several times. Each time she traveled to Scotland to recovered, then returned to her adopted home and ministry. Shortly after the onset of World War I, Mary fell ill the final time. She passed away in 1915.” From Today’s Christian Living Magazine
A dream of carrying on David Livingstone’s goal of reaching all of Africa with the gospel. Working in places where no European had ever been. Wouldn’t that be scary? “Mary Slessor died as a result of malaria. She likely contracted the illness during her first mission trip to Nigeria, and she suffered with it for about forty years. The recurrent high fevers weakened her body over time, but she refused to give up her missionary work.” Can you imagine seeing people kill their twins born b/c of a superstition that twins were cursed by evil? “Mary Slessor stopped the twins’ killings by sending out twins’ missionaries to mission houses to take care of the rejected twins she adopted. She is famous for stopping twins’ killing in Okoyong in Nigeria, where people believed twins were an evil curse.” AI :”Earlier missionaries had been killed by local tribesmen. Local tribes often mistrusted each other and fought resulting in loss of life on both sides. Grudges were held over long forgotten incidents and slights. Slavery had been abolished in Britain in 1833 but was still widespread in Africa in 1876.” So Mary would have been under constant threat of being killed.

Mary Slessar was an amazing, courageous missionary. I can’t imagine going to a cannibal tribe area to spread the gospel. I would be scared to death!

I hope its ok to copy this picture of Mary Slessor from Today’s Christian Living Magazine. It puts a face to her story.