God’s Battle Axe – Jackie Pullinger

I confess that I knew nothing about the ministry of this daughter of the most High God until a preacher, Leonard Ravenhill mentioned her in one of his teachings. In fact, he said she was one of the most anointed women of God he had ever encountered. I knew right away that God brought her to my attention for a purpose. We are featuring her biography in this edition of the magazine to enable other believers benefit from her ministry.

       Jackie was in London in 1944. After attending the Royal College of Music, she left for the mission field. She went to Hong Kong in 1966, where she is still ministering. Jackie wanted to be a missionary from the time she was a young child. Even before she really knew what missionaries do she made the decision to be one in her Sunday School class at age five when she heard a missionary speak. Growing up, she put her thoughts of missionary work aside and lived as any other young girl in Britain. Eventually she went to the Royal College of Music.

       After visiting with Christian friends, she had a dream about missionary work and was determined to follow her girlhood dream and serve the Lord in the mission field. She decided to go to Hong Kong. She would end up working in the Walled City, a place known for violence and drugs. The Walled City was a mere six acres, but had a population of at least 30,000 people. Many of the addicts used a method where they smoked the opium rather than injecting it. Injected drugs were very strong and it was too easy to overdose.

When Jackie got to Hong Kong, she started a Youth Club. Many of the boys who came to her were members of the Triad gangs. These boys were rough and used to violence, including murder. They were sceptical of the British woman but gradually began to trust her over the years as she continued to live among them. Who else would live in one of the most dangerous places in the world for the rest of her life? Most missionaries who went to Hong Kong only stayed a few weeks or a few months. They had money and lived in nicer homes. As soon as their money ran out or they got tired of the filth of the Walled City, they went home. They did not have much credibility with the gangs. The gang members expected Jackie to leave like the rest. Nevertheless, Jackie not only stayed, she lived among them.

       One by one, many of the gang members became Christians. When the gang members kicked the drug habit, they stayed away from drugs forever. Many of those who turned to Jesus went on to witness to their families and former gang friends. When the addicts who really wanted to change could see the miracle of healing that faith in Jesus brings, they were willing to listen to the Gospel.

         Some of the former drug addicts were afraid of going ‘cold turkey’ from their addiction. The pain of the withdrawals was horrific and some even died during withdrawal. Many of those who turned to Christ for forgiveness and trusted in Him for their new life never went through the withdrawals. Some did not even have so much as a headache. These miraculous healings helped to draw others to Christ.

       Not everyone of course had complete relief. Some who turned to Christ did not reform immediately. They needed help. Jackie opened up homes and soon many were begging her to give them a place to stay and overcome their addition. Jackie would try to keep them for as long as possible while they reformed and really learned how to live a Christian life. Many of the boys who had been converted worked in the homes. This freed Jackie to continue to go out into the streets and tell people about Jesus.

Over the years, Jackie’s efforts led to an amazing degree of success. She not only helped gang members kick their habit, she even had a chance to speak to some of the dangerous gang leaders. She won their respect. In fact, on one occasion, after vandals destroyed her Youth Club, a gang boss sent guards to watch her building and make sure it did not happen again.

       The gangs had a rule that no member could leave. It was therefore, dangerous for the boys to abandon their groups and embrace Christ. Jackie had told them that they could not serve two masters; they had to choose Jesus or their gangs. Those who left their groups were bound to face retribution or even death, but God intervened. Jackie got the gang leaders to promise that they would not bother the boys who surrendered their lives to Jesus. As strange as it may seem, the gang bosses did not like their men to be on drugs, as a drug addict was considered worthless.

       The gang leaders wanted to make money by selling drugs to others, but they wanted their own men to be free of the stuff. Since Jackie had success in getting men and boys to give up drugs completely, and the gang leaders had been unable to do so, they had much respect for her. Subsequently, the drug bosses renounced their claims on any of the boys who became Christian. This was unprecedented in the history of Hong Kong.

     Years rolled by and Jackie opened several more homes. The work expanded and with the help of some American missionaries, she set up St. Stephen’s Society. It is still in existence today, and is one of the most successful organisations in the world, rescuing hundreds of young people from a life of misery on the streets.

      In the 1990’s, Hong Kong authorities pulled down Walled City and cleaned it up. However, Jackie continued her work in the new city. Today, there are over 200 people living in different homes coming off drugs and being helped to a new life. The work has expanded to other countries, including the Philippines. She has continued to give her life to the poor and forgotten. Her desire to reach the lost for Jesus is being realised everyday as those rescued from drugs go out into the world with the Gospel.

       Jackie’s story should inspire us to do more for the Kingdom of God. Yeshua said in Luke 12:31, “He (God) will always give you all you need from day to day if you make His Kingdom your primary concern.” In 2 Corinthians 5:8 we are told that “All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” The only reason God saved us and left us on earth is to lead others to Christ. Our lives should be the fragrance that draws people to Him. Jackie has shown us the way by sacrificing our life for the poor and forgotten in Hong Kong and the Philippines. May the Lord help us to do the works He has ordained for us to prosper His Kingdom (Ephesians 2:10)

Culled from ‘The Biography of Jackie Pullinger’, https://www.auntyfaith.com