by Joyce Reed
Does God lead children to yearn for the mission field and hope to go? Will God use people in missionary service who let sin ruin their testimony? We can look to George Grenfell’s life for answers.
George was born in Sancreed, England, August 21, 1849, and the family moved to Birmingham when he was three years old. He began attending Sunday School at Heneage Street Baptist Church at ten years of age and was saved and baptized at fifteen. Early on, he was interested in African missions, being influenced by men of the church and a book by David Livingstone.
In 1873, George was approved for missionary training, and in November 1874, the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) accepted him for service in the Cameroons, West Africa. He set sail with Alfred Saker, his hero. Because Alfred and George believed in self-sustaining economic life within a Christian community, they taught practical skills to the young men of the missionary community.
George married Mary Hawkes in 1876. Tragically, she died in 1877 after giving birth to a stillborn child. Desperately lonely, troubled, and confused, George began a series of exploratory journeys inland looking for the best route to the interior. In 1877, the BMS sent George and Thomas Comber on an exploratory journey of the Congo River with the idea of establishing a mission station. Unfortunately, on August 20, 1878, George resigned from the BMS. Rose, his Jamaican housekeeper was pregnant with his child. They married and named their child Patience. Was God through with George?
Thomas Comber made thirteen unsuccessful attempts to establish a route between Sao Salvador and Stanley Pool. However, it was even more important to establish a depot on the mouth of the Congo River, so Thomas requested the BMS reinstate George to run it. On April 23, 1880, the board reinstated him with restrictions. They would never have reason for regret.
George assembled a purchased steamer which was launched in 1884. He made six explorations of the upper Congo, preaching everywhere he went. George’s vision was to evangelize the whole Sudan Belt, and he made great contribution to that end.
Will God call children to the mission field? George’s life answers a resounding, “YES!” Can a child of God still serve in God’s work after backsliding and losing testimony? Yes, George served God for the rest of His life!
What are you letting hinder you?
Spring 2026