One of the things I will always be thankful for was how my mom taught me about the heroes of the faith. The verse in Hebrews 12 speaks about being "surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses," and when I picture a marathon, I imagine the crowds of people standing along the sidelines cheering on the runner. I think the Apostle Paul was envisioning something similar when he wrote this, and as we consider the "runners" who have gone before us being along those sidelines, that verse comes to mean even more to our walk of faith.
It's common to teach the kiddos this Scripture passage which also goes hand in hand with a listing of biblical heroes of the faith. The stalwart figures of Bible stories that we learn about in Sunday School as children, the broken heroes whose mistakes God somehow redeemed, and the strong heroines who made the list of faith-builders and cemented into time the value of women of faith.
Still, some other heroes and heroines have since come and passed, leaving behind great legacies of testimony that should not be forgotten. Many of them will not be listed in history books, nor will they be remembered well unless we make a point of passing along the heritage they built.
Here are a few faith heroes and heroines that your children should know:
1. Fanny Crosby –1820-1915
Fanny Crosby is well-known for contributing to our hymnals, having written more than 9,000 hymns. Her story is not one of any great heroic nature outside of her unswerving devotion to her Savior—which solidifies her position as a heroine of the faith. She was blinded as an infant and grew into adulthood without the use of her sight. She is said to have cherished this for the sole purpose that the first face she would gaze upon would be her Savior's. She was friends with Presidents and poets, and her words have underlined the faith of many since her words have been set to music.
2. Oswald Chambers – 1874-1917
Chambers was born in Scotland and, after a spiritual awakening, became an itinerant preacher, which was interrupted during World War I when he enlisted to become a chaplain in the armed forces. He found great faith in "abandonment" to Christ, setting aside his purposes for those of the Lord. Chambers was beset with appendicitis in his early forties and died of complications. After this, his wife took up the mantle and transcribed his lectures into pamphlet form, thus continuing his ministry to soldiers and others. Eventually, these were put into print as Oswald Chambers' most revered publication, My Utmost for His Highest, and is one of the world's most widely published devotionals.
3. Mary Slessor – 1848-1915
Scottish-born Mary Slessor grew up as a mill worker who found inspiration in the faith from David Livingstone and set her sights on Africa for her mission field. She quickly adopted life among the tribes, seeking to become a part of them by learning their language and traditions and earning their respect by offering her own. Though often struggling through illness, Mary became beloved by the tribes, and her influence with the gospel helped to end barbaric practices, such as the execution of twins. She also adopted several Nigerian children, making them her own. She was greatly mourned and dubbed the Mother of all the Peoples on her death.
4. Watchman Nee – 1903-1972
Born Nee Shu-tsu, Watchman Nee, as he has become known, came to a saving knowledge of grace in Christ while he was in high school. From that moment forth, his life saw radical change, and he became devoted to furthering the gospel within China through preaching, traveling, holding conferences, and ministering to people through publications that are now part of a sixty-two-volume set. After China was taken by Communist power, Nee was arrested in 1952 for his outspoken faith and evangelism. He spent the remainder of his life in imprisonment because of his faith.
5. Corrie Ten Boom - 1892-1983
Daughter of a Dutch watchmaker, Corrie ten Boom's story was that of a peaceful life until the onset of World War II and the infiltration of the Nazi regime into Holland. After taking part in a family collaboration to hide and smuggle Jews to safety, Corrie and the rest of her family were finally arrested and sentenced to imprisonment. Behind the walls of Auschwitz, Corrie experienced unbelievable horrors and testing of her faith. She went on to be one of the only surviving members of her family and made it her mission to share the gospel story throughout the rest of her life.
Heroes and heroines of the faith are woven throughout our history. As I compiled this brief and cursory list of them, I was struck by how many I thought of that would have no name recognition for you, the reader. This is because they are heroes and heroines of my faith. Those who paved a legacy in my life directly impacting me and my generations.
Not all heroes and heroines of the faith will be heralded as missionaries and martyrs. Many will be those quiet souls that grace your family tree, whose portrait hangs in your church hallway, or whose Bible is set on a coffee table for decoration because of its age. These are the ones who left imprints for us to find and follow. Echoes of lives who lived through the quiet madness of life only to grasp onto the eternal promises offered by a life lived in faith.
Take the time to jot down memories and notes of those who have directly impacted your family with a legacy of faith. Remember their testament; envision them on the sidelines of faith, cheering you on in your journey. These are the ones who have helped lay a foundation for your children to walk upon, and these are the ones that your children need to know they have picked up the torch from and now carry it forward for generations to come.
Heroes and heroines of the faith are fascinating studies, and kids of all ages can find their stories interesting and inspiring.
Some resources are great for you and your children to read if you want to continue to explore the heroes and heroines of the faith and inspire a legacy and foundation for your children to walk on.
Check Out:
Christian Heroes: Then and Now series. Published by YWAM publishing and written by Janet Benge and Geoff Benge
Torchlighters – faith heroes for kids - at www.torchlighters.org on TV and DVD
Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God - By Shirley Raye Redmond
Jaime Jo Wright is an ECPA and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author. Her novel “The House on Foster Hill” won the prestigious Christy Award and she continues to publish Gothic thrillers for the inspirational market. Jaime Jo resides in the woods of Wisconsin, lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimewrightbooks.com and at her podcast madlitmusings.com where she discusses the deeper issues of story and faith with fellow authors.