Oswald Chambers
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Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a prominent early twentieth century Scottish Protestant Christian minister and teacher.
Chambers was born 24 July 1874 in Aberdeen, Scotland to devout Baptist parents. He converted in his teen years. While walking home from a service conducted by Charles Spurgeon, he mentioned to his father that, had there been an opportunity, he would have become a Christian. His father, a Baptist minister, wasted no time and helped his son convert right on the street. Chambers developed quickly in his faith, but did not plan to go into ministry. He studied at Kensington Art School and attended the University of Edinburgh, where he studied fine arts and archaeology. But while at Edinburgh, he felt called to ministry, and transferred to Dundoon College. An unusually gifted student, Chambers soon started teaching classes and started a local society dedicated to Robert Browning, his favorite poet. But during this time, Chambers did not find satisfaction in Christianity, finding the Bible 'dull' and uninspiring.
Finally, after four years of spiritual dryness, Chambers realized that he couldn't from himself be holy. Once he realised that the strength and peace he was looking for was Christ himself, Christ's life in exchange for his sin, he experienced great renewal so much so that he described it as a “radiant, unspeakable emancipation.”
With new-found strength, Chambers travelled the world, stopping in Egypt, Japan, and America. It was on one of his trips to America that he met Gertrude Hobbs. In 1910 he was married to Hobbs, whom he affectionately called "Biddy". On 24 May 1913 Biddy gave birth to their only daughter, Kathleen.
In 1911 he founded and became principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham in London. In 1915, feeling called to the war effort (World War I), Chambers applied and was accepted as a YMCA chaplain. He announced that the Bible Training College would be suspending operations for the duration of the war. Chambers was assigned to Zeitoun in Egypt, where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops.
Chambers died 15 November 1917 in Egypt as the result of a ruptured appendix. He suffered the extreme pain of appendicitis for three days before seeking medical attention, refusing to take a hospital bed needed by wounded soldiers.
While there are more than 30 books that bear his name, he only penned one book, Baffled to Fight Better. His wife, Biddy, was a stenographer and could take dictation at a rate of 150 words per minute. During his time teaching at the Bible Training College and at various sites in Egypt, Biddy kept verbatim records of his lessons. She spent the remaining 30 years of her life compiling her records into the bulk of his published works.
[edit] External links
- Oswald Chambers Publication Association
- My Utmost for His Highest Online
- Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections
[edit] Reference
McCasland, David [1993]. Oswald Chambers: Abandoned To God : the life story of the author of My Utmost for His Highest. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Discovery House Publishers. ISBN 1-57293-050-0.
