Christian Book Notes

Smith, Daniel. Pilgrim of the Heavenly Way. Hannibal: Granted Ministries Press. 194 pp. $15.00. Purchase from the publisher for $8.50.

Introduction

There are many missionary biographies competing for the reader’s attention. Some are famous, some are infamous and others fall into the category of unknown. Regardless, each has a story to tell and for the most part the story is about God’s grace and mercy to the missionaries as well as the people groups being ministered to. Daniel Smith probably falls into this latter category though after reading his autobiography, Pilgrim of the Heavenly Way, I am fairly certain he needs to be included the former category of “famous” missionaries.

Summary

Daniel Smith (1907-1988) was raised in a Christian home and was converted at an early age. His call to missions came shortly thereafter. The call came through Psalm 2:8, “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession.” The rest of the autobiography shows how the Lord kept this particular promise to Dan.

He never sought marriage but eventually found himself seeking marriage from a young lady named Cathie. It was a plan from above as Cathie would stand beside her husband as he sought to do the Lord’s work all over the world. Often left alone to raise their four children, Cathie never complained and Dan never took her for granted.

Throughout the course of Dan’s ministry, you will be introduced to his tiffs with the charismatic movement of speaking in tongues, Catholic priests, demon possession, his discussion with Witness Lee and his one major regret of not praying more. Throughout the book, the reader will be consumed with the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of Daniel Smith.

Review

What I appreciated most about the life of Daniel Smith was his recognition of the working of the Holy Spirit during his life and ministry. He never took that for granted. At the very least, he never wrote that he took that for granted.

As I was reading, I was struck by the reality that Dan spent a lot of time away from home. He did this in the name of the Lord’s work, but it still struck me as a bit misleading for a missionary to talk of how great a work the Lord did through him while leaving his wife behind to raise the children. That was until the end of the book when Martyn Smith, one of Dan’s sons, wrote an addendum to the autobiography. He touched on the reality that his dad was gone a lot, but he also struck the chord that the Lord provided the family with great understanding through it all.

The book concludes with a note from the publisher speaking to the necessity of Christian parents, missionaries and pastors especially, to focus on the home and to not neglect the family for the sake of one’s ministry. This was a welcomed conclusion to a book that was otherwise wrought with the hand of God throughout.

Recommendation

Daniel Smith ministered during our life time in the 20th century. This should not be lost on the reader. We have made idols of many missionaries from yesteryear for how the Lord moved in their lives and work. Often times, we say to ourselves, “If only I could be like so and so was back then…” The life of Daniel Smith does not allow that. He ministered during the 60’s—a time in the United States that most look at as being the death knell to the Christian church in America. Granted, Dan ministered all over the world and only partly in America, but the reality remains the same—he sought the Lord’s leading and is an example to us all. Pick up this book. Read and be blessed.