Mary Slessor grew up in Scotland in the second half of the 19th century, but she always knew she wanted to be a missionary. Specifically, she wanted to be a missionary at the newly developed Presbyterian mission station at Calabar, on the west coast of Nigeria.
She did indeed become the missionary she longed to be, and she devoted the rest of her life to bringing Christianity to the native tribes of Calabar and areas upriver and inland from there. It was a long, hard-fought battle against their traditional customs, which included twin murder, the slaying of the wives and children of a deceased chief to accompany him to the afterworld, and constant tribal warfare.
Mary made a life for herself amongst these people, becoming an honored caregiver and judge. After years of showing them compassion and speaking boldly about her faith, she began to make a difference, and opened up many areas formerly closed to outside influence. Hers is an amazing story of courage and resilience in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.
She did indeed become the missionary she longed to be, and she devoted the rest of her life to bringing Christianity to the native tribes of Calabar and areas upriver and inland from there. It was a long, hard-fought battle against their traditional customs, which included twin murder, the slaying of the wives and children of a deceased chief to accompany him to the afterworld, and constant tribal warfare.
Mary made a life for herself amongst these people, becoming an honored caregiver and judge. After years of showing them compassion and speaking boldly about her faith, she began to make a difference, and opened up many areas formerly closed to outside influence. Hers is an amazing story of courage and resilience in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.
