This week in Christian history: Pope Francis leads mass in NYC; London Missionary Society forms
Ernst Faber dies – Sept. 26, 1899
This week marks the anniversary of when Ernst Faber, a German-born missionary to China known for books about Chinese culture and science, died at age 60 from dysentery.
A native of Koberg, Germany, Faber traveled to Canton Province where, in addition to evangelism, he also launched schools and provided medical care for the local Chinese.
He also wrote multiple books about Chinese botany and zoology, as well as works that offered commentaries about the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Notable publications included Civilization—Chinese and Christian and China in the Light of History.
“Faber believed in carrying the Gospel to all lands simply because Christ commanded it,” wrote Dan Graves of The Christian History Institute. “He was convinced that every missionary had to make a personal appropriation of the Christian life in order to shine forth as an example.”
“After his death, a note was found among his papers, which read in part: ‘I wish to state that in joyful faith in Jesus Christ the Savior of all men, who has had mercy on me and prepared me by His Holy Spirit, I depart from this terrestrial world.’”
