Amy Wilson Carmichael   (16 December 1867 – 18 January 1951)

ByByDr.C.Karthik DeepaDr.C.Karthik Deepa

cherrydeepa@gmail.comcherrydeepa@gmail.com

Amy Carmichael, her Amy Carmichael, her mother, and siblingsmother, and siblings

Amy Carmichael was Amy Carmichael was one of the best known one of the best known and well-loved and well-loved missionaries of the 20missionaries of the 20thth century.century.

She was born on Dec. She was born on Dec. 16, 1867, in Ireland, and 16, 1867, in Ireland, and was the first of seven was the first of seven children. She was children. She was raised in a Christian raised in a Christian home.home.

The Carmichael Home in Millisle, Ireland.The Carmichael Home in Millisle, Ireland.Her parents, David and Catherine were the Her parents, David and Catherine were the

prosperous owners of Carmichael Flour Mills.prosperous owners of Carmichael Flour Mills.

Inspired by Inspired by Hudson Taylor

James Hudson Taylor was a British Protestant Christian missionary

 to China and founder of the China Inland Mission.Taylor spent 51 years in China.

Amy Carmichael at age 24Amy Carmichael at age 24 She committed her life to She committed her life to

God as a child.God as a child. After her father died, Amy After her father died, Amy

and her family moved to and her family moved to Belfast, Ireland, where she Belfast, Ireland, where she did missions work.did missions work.

In 1886, she attended a In 1886, she attended a spiritual life conference in spiritual life conference in England as part of the England as part of the “Keswick Movement”, “Keswick Movement”, which stressed a deeper which stressed a deeper relationship with God.relationship with God.

Amy Carmichael at age 24Amy Carmichael at age 24 After the Keswick meeting, After the Keswick meeting,

her expensive tastes in food her expensive tastes in food and clothing disappeared, and clothing disappeared, and she saw the greater and she saw the greater importance of living a life importance of living a life of service and devotion to of service and devotion to God.God.

For many years, Amy cared For many years, Amy cared for Robert Wilson, the for Robert Wilson, the chairman of the Keswick chairman of the Keswick Conventions, who was like Conventions, who was like a father to her.a father to her.

Amy as a Missionary in JapanAmy as a Missionary in Japan On January 13, 1892, On January 13, 1892,

Amy heard 2 words Amy heard 2 words from the Lord, “Go, from the Lord, “Go, ye..” . ye..” .

This missionary call This missionary call moved her to action, moved her to action, and, supported by the and, supported by the Keswick Convention, Keswick Convention, she went as a she went as a missionary to Japan.missionary to Japan.

Amy as a Missionary in JapanAmy as a Missionary in Japan Amy stayed only 15 months Amy stayed only 15 months

in Japan due to hardships, in Japan due to hardships, the difficulty of the the difficulty of the Japanese language, and Japanese language, and serious anxiety, which was serious anxiety, which was called “Japanese head”.called “Japanese head”.

She sailed for China, then She sailed for China, then Ceylon (Sri Lanka), then Ceylon (Sri Lanka), then returned to England to care returned to England to care for Mr. Wilson for about for Mr. Wilson for about one year.one year.

Amy as a Missionary to IndiaAmy as a Missionary to India Amy was advised to Amy was advised to

go to Bangalore India go to Bangalore India for a change of for a change of climate.climate.

In India, Amy began In India, Amy began traveling from village traveling from village to village with some to village with some Indian Christian Indian Christian ladies spreading the ladies spreading the Good News of Jesus Good News of Jesus Christ.Christ.

Amy as a Missionary to IndiaAmy as a Missionary to India In India, Amy was In India, Amy was

supported by the Zeanna supported by the Zeanna Missionary Society of the Missionary Society of the Church of England.Church of England.

She moved to Dohnavur, a She moved to Dohnavur, a village near the southern tip village near the southern tip of India.of India.

In 1901, Amy met Preena In 1901, Amy met Preena (“Pearl Eyes”), a sweet 7 (“Pearl Eyes”), a sweet 7 year old girl who had year old girl who had escaped from a life of escaped from a life of slavery in the Hindu temple.slavery in the Hindu temple.

Preena pleaded for Amy to Preena pleaded for Amy to help her.help her.

The Precious Children of IndiaThe Precious Children of India Amy started Dohnavur Amy started Dohnavur

Fellowship in the state Fellowship in the state of Tamil Nadu, India in of Tamil Nadu, India in 1901, with the purpose 1901, with the purpose of rescuing children of rescuing children from slavery and abuse from slavery and abuse in Hindu temples.in Hindu temples.

She called the children She called the children that she cared for her that she cared for her “Lotus Buds” (after the “Lotus Buds” (after the beautiful flowers).beautiful flowers).

Amy with one of her “Lotus Buds” Amy with one of her “Lotus Buds” at Dohnavurat Dohnavur

Many Christians came to Many Christians came to help Amy care for the help Amy care for the children at Dohnavur, children at Dohnavur, especially “house mothers” especially “house mothers” who looked after the who looked after the children’s needs.children’s needs.

Many fellow missionaries Many fellow missionaries rejected Amy for her rejected Amy for her determination to rescue determination to rescue children from the abuse of children from the abuse of the Hindu temples because the Hindu temples because they did not think that such they did not think that such a horrible thing could a horrible thing could happen.happen.

She asked Amy, "What is missionary life like?"

"Missionary life is simply a chance to die."

Nonetheless, in 1912 Queen Mary recognized the missionary's work, and helped fund a hospital at Dohnavur. 

1913, the Dohnavur Fellowship serving 130 girls.

In 1918, home for young boys, many born to the former temple prostitutes. Meanwhile,

1916 Carmichael formed a Protestant religious order called Sisters of the Common Life.

Children in the Hindu TemplesChildren in the Hindu Temples Some children were given to Some children were given to

the Hindu temples where the Hindu temples where they were “married to the they were “married to the gods” in religious gods” in religious ceremonies, then abused by ceremonies, then abused by Hindu priests and other Hindu priests and other men. Girls were especially men. Girls were especially mistreated.mistreated.

Amy was often accused of Amy was often accused of kidnapping by angry Hindus kidnapping by angry Hindus when she took children when she took children away from the temples.away from the temples.

The Outside of a Hindu TempleThe Outside of a Hindu Temple Amy spoke out against Amy spoke out against

the evils of mistreating the evils of mistreating children in the Hindu children in the Hindu temples.temples.

Indians knew that the Indians knew that the abuse of children in the abuse of children in the temples was a “secret temples was a “secret sin” of Hinduism.sin” of Hinduism.

Thanks to Amy and Thanks to Amy and others, this abuse was others, this abuse was made illegal in 1948.made illegal in 1948.

The Scenery Surrounding Dohnavur The Scenery Surrounding Dohnavur in Tamil Nadu, Indiain Tamil Nadu, India

The Cottage Nursery at DohnavurThe Cottage Nursery at Dohnavur

God provided for Amy and God provided for Amy and her workers at Dohnavur. her workers at Dohnavur. Nurseries, a hospital, a Nurseries, a hospital, a school, and other facilities school, and other facilities were built as God provided.were built as God provided.

Amy started a Protestant Amy started a Protestant religious order called “the religious order called “the sisters of the Common Life” sisters of the Common Life” for single women who for single women who wanted to enter missionary wanted to enter missionary service.service.

One of Amy’s Beloved One of Amy’s Beloved Workers with the Children Workers with the Children

at Dohnavurat Dohnavur Many children who Many children who

grew up at Dohnavur grew up at Dohnavur stayed on to help. stayed on to help. Amy’s “family” grew.Amy’s “family” grew.

During her lifetime, During her lifetime, over 1,000 children over 1,000 children (both boys and girls) (both boys and girls) were saved from Hindu were saved from Hindu temples, housed, and temples, housed, and educated.educated.

A Grand Tour to MadrasA Grand Tour to Madras Sometimes Amy, a select Sometimes Amy, a select

few of her children, and few of her children, and helpers would leave the helpers would leave the compound at Dohnavur and compound at Dohnavur and go on an outing.go on an outing.

Once Amy took 14 children Once Amy took 14 children and 5 helpers on a train to and 5 helpers on a train to Madras, India, where they Madras, India, where they visited the beach, many visited the beach, many sights in the city, and saw a sights in the city, and saw a “movie” for the first time!“movie” for the first time!

Amy Carmichael’s WritingsAmy Carmichael’s Writings Amy always made time to Amy always made time to

write, no matter how busy write, no matter how busy she was.she was.

Throughout her life she Throughout her life she wrote 35 books and poems wrote 35 books and poems that continue to inspire that continue to inspire Christians to fulfill God’s Christians to fulfill God’s call on their life.call on their life.

The House of PrayerThe House of Prayer In the middle of the In the middle of the

Dohnavur Fellowship Dohnavur Fellowship compound, Amy built The compound, Amy built The House of Prayer at God’s House of Prayer at God’s direction with money that direction with money that God provided.God provided.

Amy Carmichael was a Amy Carmichael was a woman who knew how to woman who knew how to hear from God, and she hear from God, and she spent many hours in prayer, spent many hours in prayer, knowing how important it is knowing how important it is to talk to God daily.to talk to God daily.

Amy’s Last DaysAmy’s Last Days Toward the end of her Toward the end of her

life, Amy suffered a life, Amy suffered a broken leg and a twisted broken leg and a twisted back due to an back due to an accidental fall.accidental fall.

For the last 20 years of For the last 20 years of her life, she was an her life, she was an invalid and stayed invalid and stayed mostly in her room on mostly in her room on the Dohnavur the Dohnavur compound.compound.

The Room of PeaceThe Room of Peace Amy’s room at Amy’s room at

Dohnavur Fellowship Dohnavur Fellowship was called The Room of was called The Room of Peace.Peace.

Amy was surrounded by Amy was surrounded by books, scripture books, scripture phrases, and people that phrases, and people that she loved.she loved.

She continued to write She continued to write books and poems.books and poems.

Amy Carmichael’s HomecomingAmy Carmichael’s Homecoming Amy Carmichael died at the Amy Carmichael died at the

age of 83 in 1951. After a age of 83 in 1951. After a simple service in The House simple service in The House of Prayer, her body was of Prayer, her body was buried in “God’s Garden” buried in “God’s Garden” on the Dohnavur grounds.on the Dohnavur grounds.

Her grave is marked with a Her grave is marked with a simple stone table inscribed simple stone table inscribed with the word, “Amma”, her with the word, “Amma”, her Indian name, which means Indian name, which means “Mother”.“Mother”.

Dohnavur Fellowship TodayDohnavur Fellowship Today Today, Dohnavur Today, Dohnavur

Fellowship is still a Fellowship is still a thriving ministry more thriving ministry more than 50 years after Amy than 50 years after Amy Carmichael’s death.Carmichael’s death.

Dohnavur continues to Dohnavur continues to accept children in accept children in danger from poverty, danger from poverty, abuse, and neglect.abuse, and neglect.

Dohnavur Fellowship TodayDohnavur Fellowship Today Set on 400 acres in Set on 400 acres in

Tamil Nadu, India, Tamil Nadu, India, Dohnavur Fellowship Dohnavur Fellowship includes a hospital, 16 includes a hospital, 16 nurseries, a school, and nurseries, a school, and other facilities.other facilities.

Many books and a Many books and a movie have been movie have been produced about the produced about the inspiring life of Amy inspiring life of Amy Carmichael.Carmichael.

Amy Carmichael, Inspiring Others Amy Carmichael, Inspiring Others to Become Missionariesto Become Missionaries

Elisabeth Elliot, a Elisabeth Elliot, a famous author, speaker, famous author, speaker, and missionary to tribal and missionary to tribal people drew her life’s people drew her life’s inspiration from Amy inspiration from Amy Carmichael and has Carmichael and has written a biography of written a biography of Amy’s life.Amy’s life.