Lady christian missionary in India, Amy Caemichael, Christian Missionary in Donavur Tirunelveli

1. Amy Wilson Carmichael
(16 December 1867 – 18 January 1951)
ByBy
Dr.C.Karthik DeepaDr.C.Karthik Deepa
cherrydeepa@gmail.comcherrydeepa@gmail.com

2. Amy Carmichael, her mother, andAmy Carmichael, her mother, and
siblingssiblings
 Amy Carmichael wasAmy Carmichael was
one of the best knownone of the best known
and well-lovedand well-loved
missionaries of the 20missionaries of the 20thth
century.century.
 She was born on Dec.She was born on Dec.
16, 1867, in Ireland, and16, 1867, in Ireland, and
was the first of sevenwas the first of seven
children. She waschildren. She was
raised in a Christianraised in a Christian
home.home.

3. The Carmichael Home in Millisle, Ireland.The Carmichael Home in Millisle, Ireland.
Her parents, David and Catherine were theHer parents, David and Catherine were the
prosperous owners of Carmichael Flour Mills.prosperous owners of Carmichael Flour Mills.

4. Inspired byInspired by Hudson Taylor
 James Hudson
Taylor was a British
Protestant
Christian missionary
to China and founder of
the China
Inland Mission.Taylor
spent 51 years in China.

5. Amy Carmichael at age 24Amy Carmichael at age 24
 She committed her life toShe committed her life to
God as a child.God as a child.
 After her father died, AmyAfter her father died, Amy
and her family moved toand her family moved to
Belfast, Ireland, where sheBelfast, Ireland, where she
did missions work.did missions work.
 In 1886, she attended aIn 1886, she attended a
spiritual life conference inspiritual life conference in
England as part of theEngland as part of the
“Keswick Movement”,“Keswick Movement”,
which stressed a deeperwhich stressed a deeper
relationship with God.relationship with God.

6. Amy Carmichael at age 24Amy Carmichael at age 24
 After the Keswick meeting,After the Keswick meeting,
her expensive tastes in foodher expensive tastes in food
and clothing disappeared,and clothing disappeared,
and she saw the greaterand she saw the greater
importance of living a lifeimportance of living a life
of service and devotion toof service and devotion to
God.God.
 For many years, Amy caredFor many years, Amy cared
for Robert Wilson, thefor Robert Wilson, the
chairman of the Keswickchairman of the Keswick
Conventions, who was likeConventions, who was like
a father to her.a father to her.

7. Amy as a Missionary in JapanAmy as a Missionary in Japan
 On January 13, 1892,On January 13, 1892,
Amy heard 2 wordsAmy heard 2 words
from the Lord, “Go,from the Lord, “Go,
ye..” .ye..” .
 This missionary callThis missionary call
moved her to action,moved her to action,
and, supported by theand, supported by the
Keswick Convention,Keswick Convention,
she went as ashe went as a
missionary to Japan.missionary to Japan.

8. Amy as a Missionary in JapanAmy as a Missionary in Japan
 Amy stayed only 15 monthsAmy stayed only 15 months
in Japan due to hardships,in Japan due to hardships,
the difficulty of thethe difficulty of the
Japanese language, andJapanese language, and
serious anxiety, which wasserious anxiety, which was
called “Japanese head”.called “Japanese head”.
 She sailed for China, thenShe sailed for China, then
Ceylon (Sri Lanka), thenCeylon (Sri Lanka), then
returned to England to carereturned to England to care
for Mr. Wilson for aboutfor Mr. Wilson for about
one year.one year.

9. Amy as a Missionary to IndiaAmy as a Missionary to India
 Amy was advised toAmy was advised to
go to Bangalore Indiago to Bangalore India
for a change offor a change of
climate.climate.
 In India, Amy beganIn India, Amy began
traveling from villagetraveling from village
to village with someto village with some
Indian ChristianIndian Christian
ladies spreading theladies spreading the
Good News of JesusGood News of Jesus
Christ.Christ.

11. Amy as a Missionary to IndiaAmy as a Missionary to India
 In India, Amy wasIn India, Amy was
supported by the Zeannasupported by the Zeanna
Missionary Society of theMissionary Society of the
Church of England.Church of England.
 She moved to Dohnavur, aShe moved to Dohnavur, a
village near the southern tipvillage near the southern tip
of India.of India.
 In 1901, Amy met PreenaIn 1901, Amy met Preena
(“Pearl Eyes”), a sweet 7(“Pearl Eyes”), a sweet 7
year old girl who hadyear old girl who had
escaped from a life ofescaped from a life of
slavery in the Hindu temple.slavery in the Hindu temple.
 Preena pleaded for Amy toPreena pleaded for Amy to
help her.help her.

13. The Precious Children of IndiaThe Precious Children of India
 Amy started DohnavurAmy started Dohnavur
Fellowship in the stateFellowship in the state
of Tamil Nadu, India inof Tamil Nadu, India in
1901, with the purpose1901, with the purpose
of rescuing childrenof rescuing children
from slavery and abusefrom slavery and abuse
in Hindu temples.in Hindu temples.
 She called the childrenShe called the children
that she cared for herthat she cared for her
“Lotus Buds” (after the“Lotus Buds” (after the
beautiful flowers).beautiful flowers).

14. Amy with one of her “Lotus Buds”Amy with one of her “Lotus Buds”
at Dohnavurat Dohnavur
 Many Christians came toMany Christians came to
help Amy care for thehelp Amy care for the
children at Dohnavur,children at Dohnavur,
especially “house mothers”especially “house mothers”
who looked after thewho looked after the
children’s needs.children’s needs.
 Many fellow missionariesMany fellow missionaries
rejected Amy for herrejected Amy for her
determination to rescuedetermination to rescue
children from the abuse ofchildren from the abuse of
the Hindu temples becausethe Hindu temples because
they did not think that suchthey did not think that such
a horrible thing coulda horrible thing could
happen.happen.

16. She asked Amy,
"What is missionary
life like?"
"Missionary
life is simply
a chance
to die."

17.  Nonetheless, in 1912 Queen
Mary recognized the
missionary's work, and
helped fund a hospital at
Dohnavur.

18.  1913, the Dohnavur
Fellowship serving 130
girls.
 In 1918, home for
young boys, many born
to the former temple
prostitutes. Meanwhile,
 1916 Carmichael
formed a Protestant
religious order called
Sisters of the Common
Life.

19. Children in the Hindu TemplesChildren in the Hindu Temples
 Some children were given toSome children were given to
the Hindu temples wherethe Hindu temples where
they were “married to thethey were “married to the
gods” in religiousgods” in religious
ceremonies, then abused byceremonies, then abused by
Hindu priests and otherHindu priests and other
men. Girls were especiallymen. Girls were especially
mistreated.mistreated.
 Amy was often accused ofAmy was often accused of
kidnapping by angry Hinduskidnapping by angry Hindus
when she took childrenwhen she took children
away from the temples.away from the temples.

20. The Outside of a Hindu TempleThe Outside of a Hindu Temple
 Amy spoke out againstAmy spoke out against
the evils of mistreatingthe evils of mistreating
children in the Hinduchildren in the Hindu
temples.temples.
 Indians knew that theIndians knew that the
abuse of children in theabuse of children in the
temples was a “secrettemples was a “secret
sin” of Hinduism.sin” of Hinduism.
 Thanks to Amy andThanks to Amy and
others, this abuse wasothers, this abuse was
made illegal in 1948.made illegal in 1948.

21. The Scenery Surrounding DohnavurThe Scenery Surrounding Dohnavur
in Tamil Nadu, Indiain Tamil Nadu, India

22. The Cottage Nursery at DohnavurThe Cottage Nursery at Dohnavur
 God provided for Amy andGod provided for Amy and
her workers at Dohnavur.her workers at Dohnavur.
Nurseries, a hospital, aNurseries, a hospital, a
school, and other facilitiesschool, and other facilities
were built as God provided.were built as God provided.
 Amy started a ProtestantAmy started a Protestant
religious order called “thereligious order called “the
sisters of the Common Life”sisters of the Common Life”
for single women whofor single women who
wanted to enter missionarywanted to enter missionary
service.service.

23. One of Amy’s Beloved Workers withOne of Amy’s Beloved Workers with
the Children at Dohnavurthe Children at Dohnavur
 Many children whoMany children who
grew up at Dohnavurgrew up at Dohnavur
stayed on to help.stayed on to help.
Amy’s “family” grew.Amy’s “family” grew.
 During her lifetime,During her lifetime,
over 1,000 childrenover 1,000 children
(both boys and girls)(both boys and girls)
were saved from Hinduwere saved from Hindu
temples, housed, andtemples, housed, and
educated.educated.

24. A Grand Tour to MadrasA Grand Tour to Madras
 Sometimes Amy, a selectSometimes Amy, a select
few of her children, andfew of her children, and
helpers would leave thehelpers would leave the
compound at Dohnavur andcompound at Dohnavur and
go on an outing.go on an outing.
 Once Amy took 14 childrenOnce Amy took 14 children
and 5 helpers on a train toand 5 helpers on a train to
Madras, India, where theyMadras, India, where they
visited the beach, manyvisited the beach, many
sights in the city, and saw asights in the city, and saw a
“movie” for the first time!“movie” for the first time!

25. Amy Carmichael’s WritingsAmy Carmichael’s Writings
 Amy always made time toAmy always made time to
write, no matter how busywrite, no matter how busy
she was.she was.
 Throughout her life sheThroughout her life she
wrote 35 books and poemswrote 35 books and poems
that continue to inspirethat continue to inspire
Christians to fulfill God’sChristians to fulfill God’s
call on their life.call on their life.

26. The House of PrayerThe House of Prayer
 In the middle of theIn the middle of the
Dohnavur FellowshipDohnavur Fellowship
compound, Amy built Thecompound, Amy built The
House of Prayer at God’sHouse of Prayer at God’s
direction with money thatdirection with money that
God provided.God provided.
 Amy Carmichael was aAmy Carmichael was a
woman who knew how towoman who knew how to
hear from God, and shehear from God, and she
spent many hours in prayer,spent many hours in prayer,
knowing how important it isknowing how important it is
to talk to God daily.to talk to God daily.

27. Amy’s Last DaysAmy’s Last Days
 Toward the end of herToward the end of her
life, Amy suffered alife, Amy suffered a
broken leg and a twistedbroken leg and a twisted
back due to anback due to an
accidental fall.accidental fall.
 For the last 20 years ofFor the last 20 years of
her life, she was anher life, she was an
invalid and stayedinvalid and stayed
mostly in her room onmostly in her room on
the Dohnavurthe Dohnavur
compound.compound.

28. The Room of PeaceThe Room of Peace
 Amy’s room atAmy’s room at
Dohnavur FellowshipDohnavur Fellowship
was called The Room ofwas called The Room of
Peace.Peace.
 Amy was surrounded byAmy was surrounded by
books, scripturebooks, scripture
phrases, and people thatphrases, and people that
she loved.she loved.
 She continued to writeShe continued to write
books and poems.books and poems.

29. Amy Carmichael’s HomecomingAmy Carmichael’s Homecoming
 Amy Carmichael died at theAmy Carmichael died at the
age of 83 in 1951. After aage of 83 in 1951. After a
simple service in The Housesimple service in The House
of Prayer, her body wasof Prayer, her body was
buried in “God’s Garden”buried in “God’s Garden”
on the Dohnavur grounds.on the Dohnavur grounds.
 Her grave is marked with aHer grave is marked with a
simple stone table inscribedsimple stone table inscribed
with the word, “Amma”, herwith the word, “Amma”, her
Indian name, which meansIndian name, which means
“Mother”.“Mother”.

30. Dohnavur Fellowship TodayDohnavur Fellowship Today
 Today, DohnavurToday, Dohnavur
Fellowship is still aFellowship is still a
thriving ministry morethriving ministry more
than 50 years after Amythan 50 years after Amy
Carmichael’s death.Carmichael’s death.
 Dohnavur continues toDohnavur continues to
accept children inaccept children in
danger from poverty,danger from poverty,
abuse, and neglect.abuse, and neglect.

31. Dohnavur Fellowship TodayDohnavur Fellowship Today
 Set on 400 acres inSet on 400 acres in
Tamil Nadu, India,Tamil Nadu, India,
Dohnavur FellowshipDohnavur Fellowship
includes a hospital, 16includes a hospital, 16
nurseries, a school, andnurseries, a school, and
other facilities.other facilities.
 Many books and aMany books and a
movie have beenmovie have been
produced about theproduced about the
inspiring life of Amyinspiring life of Amy
Carmichael.Carmichael.

32. Amy Carmichael, Inspiring OthersAmy Carmichael, Inspiring Others
to Become Missionariesto Become Missionaries
 Elisabeth Elliot, aElisabeth Elliot, a
famous author, speaker,famous author, speaker,
and missionary to tribaland missionary to tribal
people drew her life’speople drew her life’s
inspiration from Amyinspiration from Amy
Carmichael and hasCarmichael and has
written a biography ofwritten a biography of
Amy’s life.Amy’s life.