Jonathan Goforth-Flee South, Norther Route Cut By Boxers

By Mary Vee
Year: December 1900

Jonathan Goforth-41 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries in China. 

A new century was about to begin. Many Chinese didn't like westerners bringing scientific advances, religion, politics, and anything else not originally Chinese. China was not doing well and the people felt frustrated. 

Too many countries wanted to bring their view to China. Countries like Japan, Russia, Italy, France, United States, and others. Each wanting to say what should happen in China. The countries met together and made plans of how they could divide up the country and have a say in how the people should live. In each of these provinces, the country in charge would have a say in the trade of goods, take most of the profits,and give little back to the Chinese people.

A secret society was formed to protect China from the foreigners. The society was called the League of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, which was simply called Boxers. The society was not kind in insisting all foreigners should leave. They roamed about the the eastern parts of China hunting down and killing missionaries and traders. They burned down the foreigners buildings.

Missionaries who chose to stay took their lives in their own hands. Leaving their home or the city they worked in became very dangerous. Thieves and murderors waited outside the city ready to attack. One by one important services that we and others counted on had been cut off. No mail. Food delivery slowed so much citizens became hungry, just like us. 

The rains had stopped, creating a drought. We couldn't grow our own food. The people cried out to their gods. 

Life really was difficult to survive. My daughter, Florence became very ill and died. I tried to carry on and be an encouragement for Rosalind and our other children. But everything happened at once.

A few days after we buried sweet little Florence, a messenger came to my home in the middle of the night. With the thieves and murderers on the road, he risked his life to deliver the message.  "I have word from the American consul in Chefoo."

"Thank you." I opened the note dated three weeks ago. It said: Flee south. Northern route cut off by Boxers."

I didn't know if the southern route was still safe or not. Three whole weeks had passed since he wrote this note. Maybe we should go east or west. I didn't know what to do. Right there, I fell to my knees and prayed. So many people depended on what choice I made. I needed God's guidance. "Please, Lord. Show me the way."


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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