The True Story of Amy Carmichael, A Missionary Who Shared Christ’s Love with Hundreds of Women and Children in Asia

The following text is the full biography featured in the back of our new children’s book exploring the inspirational story of Amy Carmichael’s life. It is part of our Do Great Things for God series, a collection of beautifully illustrated biographies written to excite young children about the great things they can do for God. This book can be read to young children aged 4-5 and read by children aged 6 or older. Click here to download free biography worksheets for kids to fill in. 

1867 In the small town of Millisle in what is today Northern Ireland, Amy Carmichael was born to David and Catherine Carmichael. She was the oldest of seven children.

1883 During her time at boarding school, while thinking about the hymn “Jesus Loves Me,” Amy realized that she could not rely on her parents’ beliefs but needed to experience “the mercy of the Good Shepherd.” It was then that she came to know and love Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

1892 As Amy read through her “Ask and Receive” prayer journal, the words that Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye,” sounded in her head. Later that year, Amy committed to spending her life sharing the good news of the gospel.

1893 Amy left for Japan to begin her life as a missionary. With prayer as her driving force, she and her co-laborer, Misaki San, saw many locals repent and believe in Jesus.

Sadly, Amy began to suffer from neuralgia, a condition that caused shooting pain and headaches. Her doctor recommended that she take a long rest. While doing so, Amy felt the Lord leading her to continue her missionary work in Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon.

1895 Amy’s plans suddenly changed when she received news that a dear friend had had a stroke. She left Sri Lanka and returned to England to visit him. Amy decided to continue serving God as a missionary in India instead of returning to Sri Lanka. She left for India at age 27 and never returned.

1898 Amy passed her exam in Tamil, the local language in the region of India where she lived. Two years later, Amy moved to Dohnavur, a Christian village, where she would start the Dohnavur Fellowship.

1901 The first girl whom Amy adopted from slavery in a local temple, Preena, arrived at Dohnavur.

Amy became like Preena’s mother and would go on to become like a mother to many more orphaned Indian children, many of whom she rescued from slavery.

1931 While touring a medical clinic that was being built, Amy fell into a hole and was severely injured. She never recovered full physical mobility, but from her bed she wrote many books that are still widely read today, such as If, A Rose from Brier, and Candles in the Dark.

1951 Amy died and was buried in the garden at Dohnavur. Her grave is marked by a stone bird table inscribed with the word “Ammai,” which means “Mother.”