Book Review: That Way and No Other

That Way and No Other

Following God through Storm and Drought

by Amy Carmichael

 Plough Publishing

Plough Publishing House

 Christian  ,  Religion & Spirituality 

Pub Date 03 Mar 2020 

I am reviewing a copy of That Way and No Other:  Following God through Storm and Drought through Plough Publishing and Netgalley:

Amy Carmichael was born on December.16, 1867 in Ireland.  She was the first child of Catherine and David Carmichael.  Her family owned the mills in the Coastal Village of Millisle.

In 1859 a Christian revival took place in the area affecting David and Catherine, and later there children as well.  From a young age Amy remembered that after the nursery lights were turned low, and she was alone she’d smooth a spot on her sheets and say “Father, please come and sit with me.”  At bedtime she would absorb the songs and stories sung to her, and read to her.

Like her Mother, Amy had a love for all living things. One of her first memories of feeling fury was when she had was when she saw a child torment a frog.

At the age of twelve Amy was sent to a boarding school, but soon financial difficulties hit the family, and Amy was sent back home from school.  On April.12.1885, David died of Pneumonia, he was fifty four.  Amy was seventeen, and she helped her Mother by homeschooling the younger children.  Amy started gathering local children in her family’s home on Sunday afternoons, and in 1888 she oversaw the construction of a metal hall for outreach to Belfast’s Mill girls.  Despite having no money for the project she believed in the power of prayer, and The Welcome was built, and is still in use a hundred and thirty years later.

When she was twenty one Amy moved to England joining a mission to Manchester factory workers.  She took a room in the slums, but her health suffered because of it.  In the months that followed as Amy was rebuilding her health she talked about mission work with Wilson.

Amy Carmichael had left everything she had known to become a missionary in India.  When a seven year old little girl named Preena, a victim of Sexual Slavery threw herself on to the protection of the newcomer.  Amy Carmichael struggles with whether or not she would be able to relinquish a religious vocation to become a nursemaid.  But as she pictured Jesus washing his disciples feet, her questioning was answered.

With a team of Indian Women, Carmichael founded Dohnavur, a community of households that provided for hundreds of girls who otherwise would have likely been sold into Prostitution.

Amy Carmichael has inspired generations of activists and missionaries.

I give Thar Way and No Other five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!