Lived: 1891 to 1944.
Born in rural Canada, Amy accepted Christ at age 17 in a revival meeting led by Robert Semple. Months later, she married Semple and traveled with him to China to spread the gospel there. Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, however, both contracted Malaria. Aimee was a few months pregnant when Robert died.
Alone, terrified, sick, pregnant, and just 19, Aimee called out to God. Morning after morning of the month that followed, I would wake up with a scream as my great loss swept over me, she said. Then the comforter would instantly spring up within me until I was filled with joy unspeakable, and my hot, dry eyes would flow with tears of love and blessing. Aimee eventually gave birth to a little girl, worked hard, and made enough money for the two to return to America.
After remarrying, God called Aimee to preach. For months, she wrestled with that call. She had another child, and eventually had a nervous breakdown.
As she lay in her bed, not sure if she was going to live or die, Jesus appeared to her and said, go preach my word. Aimee made excuses as to why she couldn’t, but Jesus was adamant: do the work of an evangelist. The time is short, I’m coming soon. The moment she accepted the call, God healed her.
Eventually, Aimee moved to Los Angeles and planted a church. She arrived in 1921 with just a tambourine and $10 and opened a 5,300-seat church-debt free-a year later. The walls of her church were lined with the crutches, wheelchairs and canes of the people God healed. Her illustrated sermons were copied by Hollywood: she rode in on a motorcycle once and hired dozens of animals on another occasion. During the Great Depression, she set up a food bank and free store, helping 1.5 million people.
All I could do was say one word when I prayed: Jesus!