This is Amy Carmichael, one of my wife’s favorite Christian heroes. She was an Irish Christian missionary whose unwavering faith and dedication to serving others left a permanent mark on the world. She ministered to the poor and needy women in her hometown and eventually became a missionary to Japan and India. Remarkably, she undertook these endeavors as a single woman! Born in Millisle, County Down, Ireland, Amy was the eldest of seven siblings in a devout Christian family. From a young age, Amy’s life was shaped by her deep faith and compassion for those in need. Her father’s death when she was 18 led her family to found the Welcome Evangelical Church in Belfast. Amy began her Christian work by starting a Sunday-morning class for mill girls in Belfast, inspired by Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission. When her church congregation began to reject the “Shawlies” (mill girls who wore shawls instead of hats) she was bringing to church services, she established the Tin Tabernacle to provide them with a place to call their church, community, and home.

Later, Amy became a missionary and her vision took her to Japan, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and eventually India, where she found her true calling. In India, she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, rescuing children from temple prostitution and providing them with a safe haven. Her work was driven by her belief that “You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving,” a principle she lived by deeply. Long before mission agencies began adopting “contextualization” of mission work, Amy intuitively recognized the necessity of contextualizing her work by adopting the local language, attire, and food to better connect with those she aimed to reach. Despite suffering from neuralgia, a disease of the nerves that often left her weak and bedridden, Amy’s faith never wavered. She dedicated 55 years to her work in India, rescuing many children at the cost of extreme exhaustion and personal danger. Amy’s compassionate approach not only saved lives but also changed societal views on the issue, promoting advocacy for abandoned and abused children. Amy Carmichael’s legacy lives on through her writings and the continued work of the Dohnavur Fellowship. She authored 35 books and poems about her experiences, sharing her profound faith and commitment to helping those in need. Amy is remembered as a heroine of the Christian faith, whose life and work continue to inspire countless individuals worldwide. Her enduring legacy inspires many, including Elisabeth Elliot, who penned her biography “A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael.”