Slessor, Mary

<<missionary to Nigeria>>

This Scottish missionary who lived 1848-1915, was impacted by the life of David Livingstone. She is credited with saving many sets of twins from death as the local African people considered they were cursed. Although troubled by malaria she doggedly continued to live out her faith, focusing on settling disputes, encouraging trade, establishing social changes and introducing Western education rather than direct evangelism.

She is quoted as saying, ‘Prayer is the greatest power God has put into our hands for service – praying is harder than doing, at least I find it so, but the dynamic lies that way to advance the Kingdom…If you are ever inclined to pray for a missionary, do it at once, where you are’.

See also: influential Christians, Livingstone/David.