The Assemblies of God was founded in 1914 as a fellowship of Spirit-filled people including ministers and missionaries who were committed to “the greatest evangelism the world has ever seen.” They were pledged to spreading the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit including healing, miracles, signs and wonders, works of compassion and education. They took seriously the words of Jesus who gave the church the great commission to go into all the world to preach the gospel and make disciples of all peoples. (See “People of the Spirit,” by Gary McGee, A/G historian, and Professor of Church History). Over the years, the A/G has become a potent force for world and home missions with many of our missionaries becoming legendary trailblazers and powerful operatives both abroad and at home. One such missionary was Lillian Trasher (1887-1961), who broke off her engagement with her fiance who she loved very much but who did not share her passion for missions.
While working as a young woman under the guidance of other more seasoned missionaries in Egypt, she honored the request of a dying woman that Lillian take care of her baby. Shortly thereafter she needed to move out on her own and gradually built a large ministry for orphaned Egyptian children. As McGee writes: “thousands of Egyptian children and families received food, clothing, housing, spiritual nurture, and education in the ever-expanding number of buildings that Trasher constructed. This won her the respect of the Egyptian government and virtually raised her to sainthood among Pentecostals.” Unlike the great Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, who did not believe in soliciting funds for his work and other missionaries under his leadership, Lillian had no qualms about tirelessly requesting funds from Egyptians and others abroad including my own childhood home church, Glad Tidings Tabernacle in New York City. What follows is another except from McGee’s work mentioned above regarding the remarkable works of God in providing her with badly needed funds.
“We are fed like the sparrows who have no barns or storerooms,” wrote Lillian Trasher in her diary 25 years after her arrival in Egypt. “My request is this, that the Lord will send the money needed for our food at least a day in advance.” A typical entry reads, “We haven’t 5 cents and I do not know where it can come from......one hour later the mail came and there was a money order for $50. In the afternoon mail came from America, and we received $55. When I went to the bank to cash the money, a friend walked in and handed me $5. A stranger stopped me on the street and handed me 50 cents.” Caring for her children drained her energy and put her health in jeopardy often but when asked if she regretted not having married, she replied that who would then care for her children.
It is stories like this and the sterling efforts of our current missionaries at home and abroad that should stir us to increase our commitment to support these soldiers for Christ even in these trying economic times.
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