Jonathan Goforth (Part IV)

Missionary to China (1859 – 1936) - Evangelising the Chinese

The Goforths employed many different strategies of reaching the lost; one was the “open house” method. The Chinese were curious about the missionaries’ way of life and so, to reach out, the missionary couple would give tours through their home. They also used the traditional method of good, old Gospel preaching and Jonathan soon became known as the “Flaming Preacher.”

In his letter home, Jonathan shared of the many that thronged their home: “During the last five weeks we have had such a number of men coming day by day that we have kept on an average of eight hours a day…. The guest-room was filled, while others were listening outside the door and windows…. During this time (five months) upwards of 25,000 men and women have come to see us and all have had the Gospel preached to them.” While Jonathan ministered to the men, his wife spoke to the women who crowded into their courtyard, fifty or more at one time.

Just before this breakthrough in his ministry, Goforth wrote on the flyleaf of his Bible in 1904, “Seven rules for daily living” :

1) Seek to give much, expect nothing.
2) Put the very best construction on the actions of others.
3) Never let a day pass without at least a quarter of an hour spent in the study of the Bible.
4) Never omit daily morning and evening private prayer and devotion.
5) In all things seek to know God’s will and when known, obey at any cost.
6) Seek to cultivate a quiet prayerful spirit.
7) Seek each day to do or say something to further Christianity among the heathen.

Goforth’s evangelistic approach, as it developed over the years, was different from many of his contemporaries: “We plan for no big schools, no big hospitals, until the converted Chinese build and equip them, but we do plan to evangelize intensively.” Though the other missionaries did not approve of their mission practices, the Goforths continued to employ their own strategies of ministering to the Chinese.

Itinerant ministry

Once the church in Changte was established, the Goforths began an itinerant ministry, taking the Gospel to neighbouring towns and villages. Their pioneering strategy was to spend one month evangelising an area, then moving on to another new village, leaving the new converts under the nurture of a native evangelist, and returning the following year to check on spiritual progress.

Before they embarked on these evangelistic tours, Rosalind, concerned for her children’s well-being, was, at first, not receptive to the proposals. “The plan sounds wonderful, except for the children. Think of all the infectious diseases and of our four little graves. I can’t do it. I cannot expose the children like that.”

“Goforth, however, was sure of God’s leading in the matter and said, ‘Rose, I fear for the children if you refuse to obey God’s call and stay here at Changte. The safest place for you and the children is the path of duty.’ A few hours later, Wallace became seriously ill with Asiatic dysentery. After two weeks, he began to recover and Jonathan set out on his evangelistic tour alone. The next day the baby, Constance, fell ill. The father was sent for. Constance was dying when he arrived. Driven by sorrow, Rosalind leaned her head upon the Heavenly Father’s bosom and prayed, ‘O God, it is too late for Constance but I will trust you hereafter for everything, including my children.’” – “Wholesome words”

For years after this painful loss, the Goforths travelled as a family on evangelistic tours. This meant giving up the things they loved, and living like the natives in primitive conditions. Usually, the furnishings of their rented house were spartan - a table, two chairs, a bench for the children and the ‘kang’ - a long brick platform bed covered with loose straw and straw mats where the entire family slept.

Goforth’s evangelistic methods were simple and spiritual. Whether speaking to one person or a thousand, he always turned to the Bible. His love for and dependence upon the Word was indicated by the fact that he read through and studied his Chinese New Testament fifty-five times in a period of nineteen years. Taking advantage of the villagers’ love of singing, he used large hymn scrolls to teach the great truths of the Gospel. In every village where they ministered for a month and carried on this type of intensive evangelistic effort, a growing church was subsequently established.

Jonathan also spent his time training responsive young men as evangelists, pastors and teachers. He was effective in witness among students, attracting them with his knowledge of geography and astronomy, and then opening their eyes to the truth of the Gospel.