Oswald Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oswald Chambers
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Chambers in 1906
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Oswald Chambers
24 July 1874 Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Died | 15 November 1917 (aged 43) |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Art University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Christian minister and teacher |
| Spouse(s) | Gertrude "Biddy" Hobbs Chambers |
| Children | Kathleen M. Chambers |
Oswald Chambers (born July 24, 1874 – died November 15, 1917) was a Scottish teacher and speaker. He lived in the early 1900s. He was a Baptist and part of a group called the Holiness Movement. He is most famous for his daily devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest. This book helps people think about their faith every day.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Oswald Chambers was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. His parents were very religious. In 1876, his family moved to Stoke-on-Trent. His father, Clarence Chambers, became a missionary there.
Later, they moved to Perth, Scotland, and then to London in 1889. When Oswald was 16, he became a member of Rye Lane Baptist Chapel. Even as a teenager, he was known for his strong faith. He helped spread his beliefs to poor people in local lodging houses. Oswald was also good at music and art.
Art and University Studies
From 1893 to 1895, Chambers studied at the National Art Training School. This school is now called the Royal College of Art. He was even offered a scholarship to continue his art studies, but he said no.
For the next two years, he kept studying art at the University of Edinburgh. During this time, he was greatly inspired by the sermons of Alexander Whyte. Whyte was a pastor at Free St. George's Church. While at Edinburgh, Oswald felt a calling to become a minister.
He then went to Dunoon College, a small school for religious training near Glasgow. Chambers soon began teaching classes there. He took over much of the school's management when the founder was injured in 1898.
Becoming a Holiness Minister
While teaching at Dunoon, Chambers met Richard Reader Harris. Harris was a well-known lawyer and founder of the Pentecostal League of Prayer. In 1905, Harris introduced Chambers as a powerful new speaker.
Through this group, Chambers also met Juji Nakada, a religious speaker from Japan. Nakada made Chambers more interested in spreading his faith around the world. In 1906, Nakada and Chambers traveled to Japan, stopping in the United States first.
In 1907, Chambers taught for a semester at God's Bible School in Cincinnati. Then he spent a few months in Japan. He worked with Charles Cowman, who helped start the Oriental Missionary Society.
Returning to Britain
When Chambers returned to Britain, he found the Holiness movement was divided. Some people wanted to start a new church, and others didn't. There were also disagreements about the "tongues movement" (speaking in unknown languages).
Chambers did not oppose speaking in tongues. However, he disagreed with those who said it was the only way to show you had the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
In 1908, Chambers went back to the United States. There, he got to know Gertrude Hobbs better. She was the daughter of friends he had known. They got married in May 1910. On May 24, 1913, Gertrude (who Oswald called "Biddy") gave birth to their only child, Kathleen.
Even before they married, Chambers saw their work together as a partnership. Biddy could write very fast using shorthand. She would write down and type his sermons and lessons.
Bible Training College
In 1911, Chambers started the Bible Training College. It was located in Clapham Common, Greater London. The building was very fancy and had been bought by the Pentecostal League of Prayer.
Chambers welcomed students of all ages, backgrounds, and social classes. He also welcomed anyone else who needed help. He believed he should "give to everyone who asks." No one was ever turned away. If someone asked for money, a coat, or a meal, they received it.
Between 1911 and 1915, 106 students lived at the college. By July 1915, forty of them were working as missionaries.
YMCA Chaplain During World War I
In 1915, a year after World War I began, Chambers closed the school. He became a YMCA chaplain. He was sent to Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt. There, he helped Australian and New Zealand troops. These soldiers later fought in the Battle of Gallipoli.
Chambers decided to offer Bible classes instead of concerts and movies. Other YMCA workers thought soldiers would leave his facilities. But they were wrong. Chambers had a special way with people. He was a great speaker and truly cared for the men.
Soon, his wooden "hut" was full of hundreds of soldiers. They listened carefully to his talks, like "What Is the Good of Prayer?" When a soldier told him, "I can't stand religious people," Chambers replied, "Neither can I."
Chambers sometimes annoyed his YMCA bosses. He gave away refreshments that the organization thought should be sold. He put out a box for donations but refused to ask soldiers to pay for tea and cakes.
Death and Lasting Impact
Oswald Chambers became sick with appendicitis on October 17, 1917. He didn't want to go to the hospital. He thought the beds would be needed for soldiers wounded in the upcoming Third Battle of Gaza.
On October 29, a surgeon performed emergency surgery. However, Chambers died on November 15, 1917, from a pulmonary hemorrhage (severe bleeding in the lungs). He was buried in Cairo with full military honors.
Before he died, Chambers had checked the manuscript for his first book. It was called Baffled to Fight Better. He got the title from a line by the poet Robert Browning.
For the rest of her life, Chambers' wife, Biddy, worked hard. She typed and published books and articles. These were edited from the notes she had taken in shorthand during his talks.
His most successful book was My Utmost for His Highest. It was published in 1924. This book is a daily devotional. It has 365 short readings from Chambers' talks. The book has always been in print and has been translated into 39 languages.
Honours
Chambers House at YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College was named to remember Oswald Chambers. This college was founded by the YMCA of Hong Kong.
