Monday, November 20, 2017

Jonathan Goforth- His Last Breath

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1936
Jonathan Goforth 77 years old


Jonathan Goforth's Journal


My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind, and I are missionaries in Manchuria. I will always say that whether I happen to be whether China, in Canada or another country.

In all the years I have been in Asia, I have never wanted to do anything else with my life than to tell the people in China and, as it turns out, Manchuria, about the living God who loves them. 

My 77 years and Rosalind's 70's tattle on us with health problems. Dear Rosalind was so ill we had to return to Canada for intensive medical treatment. 

I am not a sit around kind of person and was anxious to speak at meetings while we were in Canada. If I spoke honestly, I hoped we would return to Manchuria.

A speaking schedule was set up for me. I went to ten meetings a week on average sharing the work in Manchuria and encouraging anyone to go and share the message of the living God who loves the world.

Thousands attended those meetings. One night after a meeting went especially late, I went straight to bed. Rosalind had recovered from her illness by this time. She helped me get comfortable. Before I close my eyes, I am going to give my pen to Rosalind. I'm tired. So very tired.


~~~
Hi. My name is Rosalind Goforth. I am finishing these words that my husband started. During the night he went to be with Jesus. He had a smile on his face even with being tired. Jonathan truly loved his work in China and I couldn't have been any happier being by his side.

We had a funeral for him at Knox Church in Toronto, the same place where he once said he would give his life to work for Christ in China. 

The service lasted a long time with many speakers wanting to step up to the podium and tell of Jonathan's work. 

They spoke about Jonathan's love and kindness. His determined spirit even after going blind. Everyone who spoke seemed to feel Jonathan Goforth was China's greatest evangelist who raised up many thousands of Chinese Christians now believing in The Living God.

Our lives have been blessed, even in the hardships, by a living God who truly loved us and took care of us. Both Jonathan and I hope you know Him too.





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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