Henrietta Mears opened the Bible’s background to me. Her Bible commentary told the basics in ordinary language and terms. And she did this for many other Christians who went on to preach and direct influential Christian organizations.
Mears was the youngest of seven children, born in Fargo, ND, in 1890. She accepted Christ as her personal savior at age 12 and became a Sunday School teacher. She knew then she wanted to teach for her career.
However, Mears had poor eyesight, and the doctor predicted she would be blind by age 30. Mears believed God had a purpose for her life, so she read, studied, and memorized in case her eyesight failed.
After college graduation, she taught high school chemistry and directed the plays. She continued to teach Sunday School.
While on a California trip in 1928, she met Dr. Stewart P. MacLennan at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. The church’s Sunday School contained 450 members. To Henrietta’s surprise, Dr. MacLennan offered her the job as Christian Education Director. She took the job, and within two years the Sunday School number rose to 4,000.
She searched for the right curriculum, and when she couldn’t, she wrote her own material. That was the beginning of her publishing ministry, Gospel Light Publications known throughout the world.
Mears searched for a retreat area for young adults, a place where they could feel God’s presence. She found a resort in the San Bernardino mountains, but it cost more than she could afford. So she gathered people together to pray. She told them “to dream big whenever God was involved” and to trust him to bless them at the right time. She purchased the resort property for $30,000 (valued at $350,000) and named it the Forest Home Retreat Center.
The center helped Billy Graham and Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, to find better direction in their lives. She trained many other Christian leaders by her unique understanding of the Christian life.
Besides her love of God and His people, she was known for her boundless energy, infectious laughter, and her colorful hats.
Mears died on March 20, 1963, having never gone blind.
O Master, Let Me Walk