I recently enjoyed the privilege of speaking with Faye Burkwall, a relative of Lottie Moon (🤩!!!🤩).

“Distant relative,” Faye made sure to point out.

“Got it,” I assured her.

Once I calmed down, Faye and I had a great conversation about some of her amazing experiences and insights. She offered a unique perspective on Lottie’s legacy and the ongoing importance of prayer in mission work.

Stepping into Lottie’s Shoes

Faye has a special connection to Lottie Moon beyond her family ties. For decades, she has performed a monologue on stage as Lottie, which she loves doing.

“I just became Lottie,” Faye said. “For a little while, I was not me; I was Lottie.”

This transformation is fitting because, as it turns out, Faye and Lottie have lived remarkably similar lives.

A Life of Mission

Like Lottie, Faye dedicated her life to missionary work. She spent 33 years in Africa: 5 years in Ghana, 25 in Nigeria, and 3 in Zambia. During this time, Faye and her husband, Paul, wore many hats, “doing whatever needed to be done,” she said.

They worked in evangelism, church planting, and theological education. They started a high school and ran a medical clinic.

“When our son was little, I had a play school for him and other little children,” Faye said. “We did a lot of different things, but our primary purpose was evangelism.”

One of their most significant achievements was pioneering gospel work with the Fulani people. What started as a small, faithful effort has now grown into a movement with thousands of Fulani believers, some that the Burkwalls still keep in touch with today.

The Lottie Moon Connection

Interestingly, Faye grew up with an aunt named Lottie Moon but didn’t firmly connect to the famous missionary until her older brother delved into their family history. That’s when they discovered ties to Pleasant Moon.

Pleasant Moon was Lottie’s cousin. While she was teaching in Kentucky after the Civil War, he invited her to come start a school for girls in war-torn Georgia. (More on that in chapter 31 of Becoming Lottie Moon.)

Faye admits she never made a big deal out of the connection, but she enjoyed performing the monologue and appreciated Chinese culture through her husband’s family ties.

A Tangible Connection to China

Faye shared a fascinating personal connection to China through her husband’s family.

“We have a lot of Chinese relics from his family,” she explained. “His grandfather was with the British and Foreign Bible Society. When they went around China distributing Bibles, they would take their tea set with them. We have that original tea set he used while spreading Bibles across the country.”

Remarkably, this missionary work coincided with Lottie Moon’s time in China.

“That was at the very same time Lottie was there, around 1900,” Faye noted.

What?? 😮 After I calmed down again, Faye continued…

Her husband’s grandparents arrived in China around 1895, while Lottie had been there since 1873. This overlap links Lottie Moon’s era and Faye’s family history. 

Before Faye knew of her own family connection to Lottie Moon, she said it was her husband’s connection to China that most impacted Faye’s heart for Chinese people, culture, and history.

Carrying the Torch

Faye had heard of Becoming Lottie Moon, read it, and I’m relieved to report that she enjoyed it! She even said she is excited to read my next book about Lottie. (Phew!) 

I told her I was researching and writing the sequel, and I asked her what I should be sure to include in the book. Faye emphasized two key points that I didn’t expect:

1. “Never give up on China.” Faye stressed the importance of continuing to pray for believers and the underground church in China and seeing missions as an ongoing effort, not just a historical event.

2. The power of prayer. Faye shared amazing stories about the impact of prayer, both on the mission field and at home.

Prayer story 1: A Birthday Wish Come True

Each year, Faye made a big list of things she wanted to happen on April 13 because she knew millions of people would be praying for her on that day—her birthday. The WMU works with IMB and NAMB to publish a prayer list of missionaries who have birthdays that month. 

One year, “I prayed for a man,” Faye said. “We started working with the Fulanis, and Paul had baptized 26 of them, but these were all new believers. We had no pastor, and we were just learning their language. We just hoped somebody could help us somehow. So I prayed for a man on my birthday.”

It was a tall order—a mature Fulani Christian who spoke Fulfulde, the local language, and had time to help the Burkwall’s ministry as a pastor.

“I promise you—On my birthday, we were eating breakfast, and there was a knock at the door. I went to the door, and the man said, ‘I came from Benin. I’m a Fulani. I speak Fulfulde. I sing. I’m a Christian, and I came to help you.’ His name was Adam—‘man.’ I got a man for my birthday! He became our first pastor of all the Fulanis.”

Isn’t God so good, y’all? 😊 

Prayer story 2: How Can I Reach The Whole World?

Before Faye sat down with me, she met with a group of women earlier in the day. One of the women shared that her mother had recently died, and the last thing her mother said to her was, “I want you to go to the whole world and tell everybody about Jesus.” The woman started crying and said, “How can I do that?” Faye told her, “By praying for those who are going out all over the world. You are going in a way, because you’re praying for them and you’re giving to send them.”

“That was our challenge for today—somehow we’re going to reach the whole world,” Faye told me. “And I think that would be Lottie’s.”

Indeed, through her letters, Lottie challenged and pleaded with Christians in America to pray and give and even go themselves so that people around the world who don’t have access to hear and respond to the gospel can have a chance.

A Parting Thought

Faye recounted a moving story about Lottie’s final moments, when she requested to hear “Jesus Loves Me” before she died.

“Lottie was a very intelligent lady,” Faye said. “But in the end, the last thing she wanted was ‘Jesus Loves Me,’ the very simple truth of what life is all about.”

This simple, profound truth encapsulates the heart of mission work—sharing God’s love with the world.

As we reflect on Lottie Moon’s legacy and Faye Burkwall’s experiences, may we be inspired to continue supporting and engaging in mission work through prayer, giving, and going.

Support this newsletter and the sequel to Becoming Lottie Moon!

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Until next time!

Emily