My latest biography, Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert, releases today, June 6, 2023.
It’s the story of Lettie Cowman–an astonishing woman from a small town in Iowa. Her life influenced millions of people around the world and in heaven today.
What began as a simple matching biography to Mrs. Oswald Chambers turned into a great appreciation for a very different woman.
I’ve always felt uncomfortable with emotional women like Lettie Cowman.
But I’ve come, oh how far I’ve come, to appreciate the importance of emotions–in, well, the acts of God.
Thanks, Lettie.
Why Write Overflowing Faith?
January 1, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the first publication of Streams in the Desert.
Alongside My Utmost for His Highest, The Daily Light, and a few others, Streams in the Desert is one of the most-read devotionals in history.
No one knows how many copies have sold. (Which is also true of the others).
After writing so much about Biddy, Oswald, and My Utmost for His Highest, it made sense to investigate Lettie’s life.
I knew so little.
It’s an honor to tell Lettie’s fantastic story.
She also reminds me of something my 8th grade history teacher, Mrs. Klocki, said. “I don’t know why you kids read fiction. You should read history–it’s not only more fantastic, but it’s also TRUE!”
Lettie was, in the words of my friends at the podcast, a woman worth knowing!
(Cheryl and Robin interview me about Lettie on June 6 and 13. Check it out here.)
What surprised me while writing Overflowing Faith?
How hard can it be to write a devotional? (My friends write them all the time!)
It is hard to come up with 366 readings combining a Bible quote and spiritual wisdom in 300 words or less.
But even more difficult than the writing is living the source of all those nuggets of truth.
Lettie was not a simple woman penning sweet thoughts or compiling them from other writers.
She was a 5’4″ woman of marginal health who sailed the world’s oceans 50 years on behalf of the Gospel.
Streams in the Desert‘s publication marked only the hinge of her life.
Lettie lived a very full and busy existence both before and after the devotional!
It was her committment to the Gospel, born out of the Holiness Movement, that really impressed me.
The frail woman set off for Japan in 1901 to found a mission with her husband Charles: the Oriental Missionary Society. (Other founders included Juji Nakada, Ernest Kilbourne and Tetsusaburo Sasao).
It’s still ministering in 2023–though it’s now called One Mission Society.
The lengths the Cowmans went to share the Gospel shocked me: the Great Village Campaign and twenty years later, the Every Creature Campaign.
HOW many millions in heaven because of Lettie’s Overflowing Faith?
Who knows?
Lettie shared the gospel around the world. She never flagged in enthusiasm–though writing Streams in the Desert marked a low point in her life.
I wrote Overflowing Faith during the COVID pandemic. Two missionary friends were “caught” home on furlough when the United States closed its doors to the world.
And vice-versa.
Both were desperate to return to their countries to continue sharing the good news.
The younger friend caught a plane back to her station on the second day flights resumed to her continent.
The older friend flew three “red-eye” flights more than halfway around the world to return to a different continent.
All thing those missionaries wanted to do was to return to their countries.
Their hearts to serve humbled mine. Lettie’s desire to share the Word of God humbled me.
I’m a different person because I wrote this biography. I dedicated to all the missionaries I personally know.
Missionaries, in my book, include all the folks who run Christian camps for kids.
Thank you, all, for your service to God.
Oh, and thanks the wonderful folks at One Mission Society who allowed me to spend two weeks in their archives! Couldn’t have done it without you!
Takeaways?
Read Lettie’s biography to be inspired by God at work.
(Audiobook version is coming soon).
Marvel at how much God loves YOU.
And join me in being thankful for all the many people who have given so much to match God’s love for all–and Jesus’ sacrifice as a result.
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HOW many millions are in heaven because of Lettie Cowman? Read her bio and find out! Click to Tweet
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