Christian missionaries from Wales to the world
Fly abroad, eternal Gospel,
Win and conquer, never cease;
May thy eternal wide Dominions
Multiply, and still increase;
May thy Sceptre,
Sway th’enlight’ned World around.
William Williams
It may have been a bad weather day over Pantycelyn, Llandovery, as William Williams (1717-1791) penned his great mission vision hymn. He begins by seeing the ‘gloomy hills of darkness’ as they symbolise spiritual darkness. He also contemplates the ‘kingdoms wide that sit in darkness’ and the ‘benighted’ (without knowledge or morals) state of pagan nations. The rest of the hymn envisions the mighty gospel ‘flying abroad’ in triumphant and victorious success from ‘pole to pole… from eastern coast to western’. It serves as a succinct summary of the early Welsh Calvinistic Methodists’ global vision of the scope of kingdom growth and advance.
This positive, confident, future biblical outlook was tied closely to the former Welsh Puritan expectant hope expressed in the preaching and writings of John Penry, Morgan Llwyd, Walter Cradock and Vavasor Powell. The solid theological impetus for future mission mobilisation was rooted deeply in believing ‘the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever’ (Rev. 11:15). Their eschatology (end times view) was also permeated with a sense of eager imminence: ‘he who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus’ (Rev. 22:20).
Early Welsh mission pioneers
Thomas Coke (1747-1814) From Brecon to America and the West Indies
John Davies (1772-1855) From Pontrobert, Montgomery to Tahiti
Evan B. Jones (1788-1872) From Brecon to the Cherokee Indians, North Carolina, USA
David Jones (1797-1841) and Thomas Bevan (1796-1819) From Neuadd Lwyd, Cardiganshire to Madagascar
Robert Jermain Thomas (1840-1866) From Llanover, Monmouthshire to Korea
Griffith John (1831-1912) From Swansea to Hankow, China
Timothy Richard (1845-1917) From Ffaldybrenin, Carmarthenshire to Chafoo, Shantung and Shansi, and Shanghai, China
Nearly all these missionaries were deeply affected, inspired and mobilised by the revival awakenings of their areas of Wales. Every name represents heroic travel adventures, pioneer efforts, cultural adaptation, linguistic learning and educational enterprise, as well as obvious spiritual gospel contributions to society and church wherever they went. Bible translation, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, famine relief, land protection, abolition of slavery, and social and humanitarian projects were all seen as key benefits from these early exploits. Denial of self, disciplined devotion to Christ, perseverance and determination characterise their servant-hearted ministries. There were health challenges, family grief and bereavement and a host of trials and testing of faith.
Sacrificial support
Through these early mission efforts, an awareness of world mission was created in many Welsh churches. There was a wave of supportive prayer and sacrificial financial giving despite little communication or contact. Does our variety of daily internet content fuel our prayer and support?
The crucial link for many was the London Missionary Society (LMS). From 1795 to 1995, there were many notable Welsh links and connections. In the early 1800s, Thomas Charles of Bala was the visionary link man, travelling around 400 miles on horseback for his London committees! During the 200-year history of LMS, around 140 of their missionaries came from Wales. Mission maps could be seen on the walls of chapel vestries and ministers’ studies. Such visual aids were a constant reminder of the global scope and nature of the gospel. Buy your children a globe! Operation World for children is a must-have for every home.
India
One of the most celebrated gospel mission partnerships for Wales from the 1840s to the 1960s was the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Mission (now PCW) to North East India. The people and places of Shillong in Meghalaya, Manipur, Khasi and Lushai Hills, Assam and Mizoram became well-known and loved. Some have asked whether these missionaries were vehicles of British imperialism supporting the colonial cause. We know there are no perfect missionaries. From the book of Acts to the present time, we acknowledge sins, mistakes and failures that add to the sweet and sour of mission. There were firm evangelical theological convictions, but all believers carry ‘treasures in jars of clay’. Dr D. Ben Rees’ chosen title for his monumental record on this 120-year venture with over one hundred missionaries is Vehicles of Grace and Hope. It has been refreshing to hear pastors and believers from these regions mark their indebtedness to the educational, medical and theological blessings their forefathers experienced due to the heroic exploits of these early missionaries. They believe God’s covenant mercy has been extended from generation to generation. It also creates an ongoing bond of fellowship and rich global connectedness.
China
Another notable Welsh book Draw, Draw yn China by Ioan Gruffydd, records the seventy men and women from Wales who served in China. One thrilling example is the story of Jack and Peggy Sharman, who served with the China Inland Mission from 1937 to 1951. Jack was from the Forward Movement Mission Hall in Neath, and Peggy from Bethlehem, the Forward Movement Church in Sandfields, Port Talbot. They married in China, buried their first daughter, Kathryn, there, but continued and saw great blessing and growth from their labours. They corresponded with churches and family at home, who prayed and faithfully supported them.
In October 2000, their daughter Ceri returned to Chenghsien, now known as Shengzhou in central Zhejiang province. She relates the joyous story of attending full churches, meeting pastors and Christian families that were, in part, fruit of her parents’ dedicated ministry. The churches in Neath and Port Talbot received the mission magazine, China’s Millions, and rejoiced to hear of the continuing growth of the Chinese church up to this present day.
Welsh missionaries
In 1970 (revised in 1973), Into all the World, a directory of Welsh missionaries, records 130 men and women serving with 32 mission agencies in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. J. Elwyn Davies, in his introduction, commends the book so that ‘our Lord should wish us to undertake some work of prayer for his particular servants.’ Many of my generation will remember the visits of these missionaries as highlights of our church life.
In 2004 (updated in 2006), a Wales to the World directory recorded those who were currently serving in World Mission. Around 150 people were serving the Lord overseas, and over 100 were based in the United Kingdom, serving and supporting World Mission. The directory also recorded those working in Wales who were reaching local Chinese, African, Arab and other European peoples. This outreach continues as the growth and mobility of people, languages and cultures expand year on year. The Chinese church in Canton, Cardiff, has three lively congregations totalling around 600 people. There is an active team of missionaries reaching Muslims in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and other places.
Today, we don’t need to ‘fly abroad’ as the mission opportunities are on our doorstep. On a recent visit to the evangelical church in Lampeter, a town with a population of just under 3,000, I was amazed to learn that people from Norway, China, Korea, South Africa, Lithuania, Turkey, Netherlands, Philippines, Sweden, Zimbabwe and Kenya as well as English, Scottish, Irish and the indigenous local Welsh all mingle harmoniously! A truly international church community. They also need a pastor with a global mission vision for the local church!
There is much to encourage us as we see the results of William Williams’ dreams and aspirations being realised in our day, and hopefully a passionate desire for more as we deepen, widen and lengthen our world mission awareness and action for the present and future here in Wales.
