[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Elden1971

Margaret Barber, Surrey Chapel and the Visitors from China

D.M. Panton became Pastor of Surrey Chapel in 1901. A lady missionary called Margaret Barber (1866–1930), who had returned to England from service in China, left the Church of England and joined the Chapel around 1907. There were some suggestions of a possible romance between Panton and Barber, but in the end the call to return to China for Margaret Barber was stronger. It was a period of missionary fervour in the Chapel, when, during the years 1906 to 1917, as many as nine individuals went to serve in China. Margaret Barber went back to China as an independent missionary, sent and supported by Surrey Chapel in 1909.
So this year, 2009, is the centenary of her sending to China by Surrey Chapel. For the Chinese visitors this was a most significant event in their own history. In China, Margaret Barber met an 18-year-old Christian man, Watchman Nee. She personally tutored him in God’s word, directed his study and encouraged him in his spiritual development. Watchman Nee became one of the most influential Christian leaders in the history of the Chinese church – and the visitors to Surrey Chapel in 2009 were all from churches whose roots are in Nee’s ministry. And this is why they were so excited to be visiting Surrey Chapel in Norwich. As they saw it, in the sovereign purposes of God, they were Christian believers today because Surrey Chapel had sent Margaret Barber to China one hundred years ago!
There in the Chapel, we sang together a hymn written by Margaret Barber and enjoyed a thrilling time of prayer and thanksgiving. More photographs and numerous handshakes and hugs and then they returned to their coach – on their way to visit the John Lewis car park!
Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree …’ (Matthew 13.31–32).
Derek Haylock, March 2009

So .... Elden1971 .... has this little story changed your mind about Barber, Panton, Govett, or Nee?