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Articles
 Jennifer Miskov is currently doing her PhD on the life and theology of Carrie Judd Montgomery. Miskov has also just published her first book called Silver to Gold: A Journey of Young Revolutionaries, which is a short story or allegory inspiring people to take risks and pursue all that God has for them. You can learn more about her book, as well as read a biography of Carrie Judd Montgomery, by connecting to her website at www.silvertogold.com. Faith in the midst of the Credit Crunch: Carrie Judd Montgomery taking steps of faith by Jennifer Miskov Not
too long after her healing, in 1880 and at only 21 years old, Carrie
Judd Montgomery (1858-1946) published Prayer of Faith. Her book Shortly after publishing her first book, Carrie continued to receive a flood of letters from sick people who were interested in learning about Divine Healing. Carrie and her brother Charlie both had the same idea that she should publish a monthly magazine on the subject. Her brother offered to give her $50.00 as a tithe to help her get set up. After speaking with a well intentioned Methodist elder she knew who discouraged her from the project, she continued “to wait on God about this matter.” This minister “thought it would be too much of a venture for me to make, and he evidently thought that it would not be a success.” 1 Interesting here how Carrie had to choose to discern what she believed to be the voice of God. She put weight on what the community of Christians around her was saying (her brother and the minister) but at the same time made her own decision according her own interpretation of hearing God’s voice. Finally, she was convinced that starting the periodical was something God was leading her to do. She decided to put her brother’s entire donation into 1,000 copies of the first issue and to trust God after that.2 She dived completely into this project that could have easily failed after the first issue. Having absolutely no resources for issue number two, she knew that if people didn’t respond favorably and quickly then that would be the end of her endeavors with the magazine. Nevertheless, she avidly distributed the copies of her first issue to everyone interested. To her great joy, many people who received her journal began to send in money for subscriptions. Thus, Carrie successfully launched her journal, Triumphs of Faith, in January of 1881 and would continue writing and editing it for over 60 years. A
couple years later in 1882, while “in silent prayer beside an invalid
friend,” the idea for a faith home came to Carrie.3 Several
months after that account, in her February 1882 journal, Carrie first
introduced her idea for Faith Rest Cottage. Carrie was only 23 years
old when the time had “fully come” for her to share with her readers
the vision of the house. She had already been receiving some money here
and there that she put aside for this possible work. Carrie urged her readers to pray alongside her
for the possible home. People began to donate money towards this cause
which she recorded in her journal. While Carrie did not initially have
enough money beyond the first few months rent, she took a step of faith
and believed that God would continue to provide for this work. She found
a home in her neighborhood and rented it from a Christian lady who was
sympathetic toward her cause. Faith Rest Cottage was officially opened
on April 3, 1882 and informally consecrated a few days later. The home
remained running into the 1890’s before it closed because Carrie moved
west. Carrie was the first person, even before John G. Lake, to open
up a healing home on the West Coast. She opened the Home of Peace in
California in 1893 which is still there and running even to this day,
over sixty years after her death.
Carrie Judd Montgomery was a risk taker. Trusting on God’s promises rather than on visible resources, she chose to look at the unseen rather than the seen. In her early twenties, she took some big risks and watched the provision of God not only initiate the work He put in her heart, but also provide the means for her to accomplish and finish the work that He started. Without knowing what would be around the corner, without seeing a net below her feet, she chose to jump, to leap and then watched the net appear. Complete failure could have awaited her. Or maybe she believed that God was the Alpha and Omega and what He starts He was going to finish. Or maybe the promise found in Romans 8:28 was embedded deep within her heart. Maybe she realized that if she didn’t 100% accurately hear from God, that as she moved forward in seeking Him, He would turn around all situations for her good anyway. Thankfully her acts of faith came to fruition and became significant parts of her entire life. Both the things she started in her early twenties, her periodical and her healing home, she continued until her death. What if in the midst of this current Credit Crunch, we, like Carrie, could see God as the Source of all things, our money and jobs included? Looking to Him as the Controller and Director of our lives rather than looking at the somewhat depressing economic circumstances? Life could be good, not safe and most likely dangerous and scary, but good nonetheless. |
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was revolutionary for that time. As there had not been many other books
on the subject of divine healing published at that time, this would
prove to be the start of Carrie embarking on a journey that would establish
her as a key influence in the Divine Healing Movement. Her writing on
this subject at that time brought new insight to many and a new hope
that people could actually be healed.