Image by Heilanie via voyagegence.com
Hello, friends and family alike! Erin here. Today, we are going to interview a feisty female whom you may or may not have heard about, for her husband is much more commonly known. It is Mary Williams, a missionary’s wife!
Hello, Erin. Thank you for inviting me!
You are very much welcome! Now, would you be willing to share what your childhood was like?
Absolutely! Let’s see… I grew up in Denston Hall near Cheadle, Staffordshire. There’s not much more to say about it.
Okay, then! When did you marry John Williams?
I married him in October 29, 1816. On that day, my life changed forever.
How so? What exactly changed?
Well, less than a month later John, several other missionaries, and I traveled to various islands, preaching and sharing the gospel. My husband was always busy, and I supported him through it all. He was determined to share the gospel with all the unreached places of the earth. While he wasn’t educated in seminary, nor was he experienced, but he was energetic and enthusiastic. I supported him even when he wanted to leave Tahiti for other islands.
Where did you go next?
Over the next eighteen years, we ministered to island groups across Polynesia, including Nuuk Hiva, Tutuila, and Raratonga. We changed lives.
What exactly do you mean by that?
Well, many Polynesians killed their babies, for various reasons. They believed pregnancy and nursing made women less attractive. Further, the warriors were forbidden from having children until they retired, and the frequent wars made the area unsafe. They used these reasons to justify their actions. But when John shared the gospel, they were horrified and grieved. Through this, he shared the truth of 1 Timothy 2:15. Then… in 1837, his mission was abruptly ended.
Oh, no! What happened to him?
He was eaten by cannibals on Erromango. *stifles sob*
I’m sorry to have brought that up.
You didn’t know. I feel so proud to have had a husband who was so dedicated to God that he was willing to give up his life trying to share the gospel. I am so proud to have traveled with him everywhere he went.
If you had one thing you wanted to share with our readers, what would it be?
1 Timothy 2:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
That about sums it up, folks! Thank you for joining me as we interviewed Mary Williams, a brave woman who followed her husband to islands no man had ministered to before.
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Works Cited
KJV Bible. Youversion Bible App, https://www.youversion.com.
Gunson, Niel. “Williams, John (1796-1839).” Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, 1967, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/williams-john-2793.
Nalle, Julia. “Chapter 24: Australia and New Zealand.” The Biblioplan Companion Year 3: A Text for Early Modern History, edited by Rob Nalle, Biblioplan, Palmyra, VA, 2014, pp. 597–598.
Great interview. I just wish it were longer