Year: December 1900
Jonathan Goforth-41 years old
Jonathan Goforth's Journal
I knew we had to leave the city we had worked so hard to set up a mission in. Changte was our home. If we didn't leave, my family would be killed by the Boxers. I didn't know which way to take them.
I began packing only items we absolutely needed. As I set a few items in a box, Rosalind came in the room. "Did you hear there was a messenger in the city?" Mrs. Cheng, the Chines woman who came to help Rosalind teach women about Jesus had heard the news and reported it to Rosalind.
I said, "No, did she say anything else?"
She spoke softly. "Yes. She said he had a burnt feather in his cap. He also had the emblem of the empress dowager."
This was the worst news we could receive. The burnt feather meant the message was life or death. With all that had been happening to rid the country of foreigners, the message most likely meant the governor was told to find all the foreigners in the city, maybe even the whole province, and kill them.
I couldn't sleep that night. I tossed and turned debating whether to stay with the Chinese Christians in Changte or help my family escape. The new Christians were strong They told me not to stay. They said they were so grateful for us bringing the Gospel. The government may allow them to live since they were Chinese, but Jonathan and his family would certainly be killed. I had to agree.
I planned to take the route south to Fancheng and even made the arrangements. The more I thought about the plan, though, the more I had this feeling inside that this was not a good choice. I should take my family west, loop around then go to Fancheng. This route would add two weeks to our journey, traveling with only oxen and carts. But I found no peace in taking the shorter southern route.
The clock stroke four am. The time had come to escape. God be with us. Protect us.
Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.
Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.
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