Well-known figures in Baptist church history have buildings named for them, publications written by them, and tributes made about them. But there are others who escaped notice due to persecution, social status, or humility. In A Woman Named Gospel, Catherine Allen writes about one of these unknown figures.
On April 11, 1898, a daughter was born in China to a Baptist pastor and his devoted Christian wife. This Chinese girl grew up with many names, but the one that carried her throughout her long life of mission work was "Gospel Ling." The woman matured in freedom and care, eventually marrying her beloved husband, Ling Yong Quan, also a pastor. His death from tuberculosis left her with three children and a mission to continue. Despite her grief, Mrs. F. Y. O. Ling saw the political turmoil around her after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and became determined to share the gospel.
Through years of war and, later, the strict limitations imposed by Communism, Gospel Ling found ways to help those in need, lead others to faith in Jesus Christ, and continue her missionary work in the face of dangerous circumstances. She wrote her Baptist sisters in the United States, telling them, "We are in the days of shadow." Even so, she insisted, "We are weak but He is strong." Her solid faith in God encouraged her, even as she eventually stepped out of the spotlight to protect her family and other people around her.
In A Woman Named Gospel, Catherine Allen's careful research brings Gospel's story to modern audiences who struggle in their own era of political strife, religious tension, and uncertainty. The tireless faith and determination of Gospel Ling can now inspire new generations of Christians.
