Amy Carmichael is remembered as one of the most devoted Christian missionaries of the modern era. Her life’s work in India, rescuing and caring for vulnerable children, continues to inspire believers today. Her courage, faith, and love for others embodied the words of Scripture:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress… (James 1:27, NIV)
Early Life and Call to Mission
Amy Beatrice Carmichael was born on December 16, 1867, in Millisle, Northern Ireland. The oldest of seven children, she grew up in a devout Presbyterian home. At the age of 15, while attending a meeting led by Robert Wilson of the Keswick movement, Amy experienced a deep spiritual awakening.
One formative moment came when she was a young woman walking home from church. Seeing an elderly beggar woman struggling with heavy loads, Amy stopped to help. From that day forward, she felt convicted to serve “the least of these.”
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40, NIV)
Mission Work in India
Amy began her missionary journey in 1895, when she traveled to India under the Church Missionary Society. At first, her health was fragile, but her resolve remained unshaken. Soon, God gave her a unique mission: to rescue children, especially young girls, who were being forced into temple prostitution.
She founded the Dohnavur Fellowship in 1901, creating a safe haven where children could grow up in a loving, Christ-centered environment. Amy became a mother to hundreds of children, who affectionately called her “Amma” (meaning “mother”).
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. (Psalm 82:3, NIV)
Her work was often dangerous. Rescuing children from temple slavery put her in direct conflict with powerful social and religious structures. Yet she pressed on, trusting in God’s protection.
Writings and Legacy
Though Amy spent most of her life in India, she also became a prolific writer. Her books, such as Things as They Are (1903), Gold Cord (1932), and If (1938), inspired countless believers to embrace sacrificial love and deeper faith.
One of her best-known prayers reflects her heart for obedience: “Give me the love that leads the way, the faith that nothing can dismay, the hope no disappointments tire, the passion that will burn like fire.”
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, NIV)
Later Years and Final Days
In 1931, Amy suffered a serious fall that left her bedridden for much of her remaining life. Despite her physical weakness, she continued writing books and letters that encouraged Christians around the world.
She never returned to her homeland, remaining in India until her death on January 18, 1951. She asked for no headstone to be placed on her grave. Instead, the children she had raised built a simple birdbath with the single word “Amma.”
Chronological Summary of Amy Carmichael’s Life
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1867 | Born in Millisle, Northern Ireland |
| 1883 | Conversion experience at Keswick meeting |
| 1895 | Sailed to India as a missionary |
| 1901 | Founded the Dohnavur Fellowship |
| 1903 | Published Things as They Are |
| 1931 | Severe fall left her largely bedridden |
| 1951 | Died in Dohnavur, India |
