Amy Carmichael Helped the Helpless
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries.  Amy
Carmichael saved desperate children.
"Please help me! Please don't send me back!"
screamed 7-year-old Preena as she jumped into Amy Carmichael's lap, clinging
to her neck. The little girl had just escaped from a Hindu temple in the
middle of the night while her guardians were sleeping. She tiptoed quietly
through an unlocked door and pushed open the heavy gate running as fast
as she could.
Preena's mother had given her to the temple priests in hopes of winning
the favor of the gods. Amy did not know what was going on, but she knew
this little frightened girl needed her love and protection.
Amy Carmichael had come to India as a missionary to reach those who did
not know Jesus. Amy was sure that God did not want her to marry and have
children of her own. That decision had been settled many years before.
But was He now asking her to settle down and become a mother to an unwanted
Indian child?
Life in Ireland
Amy grew up in a wealthy family in Ireland. Her father owned a flour mill
business. She went to the best boarding schools and had many fine things.
But one day Amy's life changed without warning. Her father's business
began to lose money and it closed. Mr. Carmichael worried so much about
his business that he became ill and died.
The family could no longer afford expensive things. Amy had to drop out
of school. She spent the next ten years helping her mother take care of
her younger sisters and brothers.
Life-Changing Events
One cold, dreary day as the young Amy, her mother and brothers left church,
Amy saw something that changed her life. An old beggar woman came staggering
out of the alley. Her clothes were torn and mud soaked rags covered her
feet. Amy felt sorry for the woman. She and her brother helped the old woman
down the alley. When she saw other people from church pass by them, she
was embarrassed to be seen with the woman and hid her face. As she continued
to walk with the beggar, Amy noticed a fountain in the center of the road.
She studied it closely. Then she heard a voice say, "Gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay and straw -- the fire will test what sort of
work each has done. If the foundation survives, he will receive the reward."
She turned to see who was speaking, but saw no one. Amy knew that she appeared
kind by helping the old woman, but she knew her heart was wrong. From that
moment on, she decided to hold her head high. She was no longer embarrassed.
When she got home, she searched the bible and found the words she had heard.
Amy knelt by her bed and promised God that in the future she would only
do things to please him.
Another time she and her mother stopped to have tea and biscuits in a
restaurant. As they ate, Amy saw a dirty little beggar girl with her nose
pressed against the window. The poor little girl, with no food, touched
Amy so much that she made another promise. She promised that when she
grew up she would give her money to the poor.
Was Amy a kidnapper? Find out in part 2 of this
"Glimpses for Kids" children's worship bulletin insert.
Kids' Contest (This Contest has
Expired; results here)
Choose one of the questions below and write a 100-200 word response. Send
it to "Kids' Contest" c/o CHI, PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490.
Include your name, address and age. We’ll post some of the best
ones on our website, and the top ten will receive a FREE children's video!
All entries must be received by March 31, 2003.
- If you could meet Amy Carmichael, what would you most like to ask
her?
- What were the most important decisions and turning points in Amy's
life?
- What did Amy's story make you think about in regard to your own
life?
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