BOOK REVIEW
Book: The Rising Sun: The Story of Matilda Hatcher
Author: Cyril J. Barnes
On January 1st, 2020, I challenged myself to read at least 26 books in the year, with titles that begin with the 26 letters of the alphabet. In March, COVID hit the world and every library around town closed. I found myself looking through the old bookshelves at the Corps and found this very small book.
In this little book we find the life story of Matilda Hatcher. Born in 1870, to a poor farming family in England, Matilda is one of 10 children, who all attended Sunday services faithfully. Challenged at 9 years old by a visiting missionary, that if she would like to be one of God’s messengers, she should go home and find a place where she could be alone and tell God about it. Matilda went straight home and found a little cubby hole where her father kept a woodpile. She began to pray and made a commitment to go wherever God wanted her to go.
Discouraged many times in her teens, because she is a woman, she keeps seeking God’s direction. A door opens for Matilda when she finds an envelope on the sidewalk…an invitation to be a slum sister. And that was just the beginning of her service for the Lord!
One of my favorite parts is when Matilda’s ‘mum’ comes to visit and the outcome of Matilda’s faithful witness to her ‘mum’… If you find this little book on a Corps bookshelf, pick it up. It’s a great one evening read and you’ll feel good about what you discover. I was reminded that little ones listen to challenges – and we have no idea what those challenges can mean for the future of the church, or for the future of an individual. I loved this book.
Order your copy today online at Amazon.
