Quick Biographies: Henrietta Cornelia Mears

Have you ever heard the term, “Oops Baby”? It normally refers to a baby born to a couple after a relatively long hiatus from childbearing, one that wasn’t “planned,” or perhaps one that puts the number of children in the family above the social norm. But while I believe God has a sense of humor, he certainly never says “oops!”

An Early Start

Henrietta Cornelia Mears was born in 1880 in Fargo, ND, the last of seven children and the youngest by 11 years. Most of her childhood was spent in Minneapolis, MN, where her family attended First Baptist Church. She was seven years old when she professed her faith in Christ and was baptized. From that point on, Henrietta felt God’s call on her life and was teaching classes for new Christians at a mission in Minneapolis at age 11 (gives one new perspective on 1 Timothy 4:12, right?). By the time she attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in chemistry, she was the superintendent of a Sunday School Junior Department and leading a women’s Bible-study class. She was drawn to education, working as a chemistry teacher and principal at a high school after graduation, while also helping in Sunday school, a youth program, and leading a Bible study for young people.

Singly Focused

If I’m honest, reading the accomplishments of Henrietta Mears can be exhausting, intimidating, and possibly even discouraging, as her resume seems too lofty an aspiration. But that would be my pride speaking, or perhaps jealousy of the unique work God called Henrietta to do for his glory and the spread of the gospel. She never married. She never had children. While other women her age were raising families, she dedicated herself to creating a class for young women that grew to a participation of 3,000 over 10 years, as well as a discipleship group for young married women. In 1928, then in her thirties, she accepted the position of Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, CA. She continued to work there for the next 35 years.

A World-Sized Sunday School

The reach of Henrietta’s influence is almost inestimable. Under her direction, the Sunday school grew from 450 to 6,500 members, requiring the construction of three new educational buildings to facilitate the classes. She also led the college group, which grew to over 600 and produced more than 400 church and ministry leaders. In order to meet the demand for the curriculum she developed, she founded Gospel Light Publications, enabling churches around the world to learn her methods. She later founded the National Sunday School Association, the Forest Home Christian Conference Center, the Hollywood Christian Group, and Gospel Literature International.

Henrietta passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 83, but her legacy lives on. Among those who were heavily influenced by her teaching were Billy Graham, Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ), and Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Life. While she never served as a pastor and would have refused ordination if offered it, she threw her efforts into developing young men into strong leaders, knowing that if they led well, the followers would come. She did not see her role as a Sunday school teacher as anything less than God’s calling on her life, and she dedicated herself completely to her work, sometimes spending 20-hours a week on a 30-minute Sunday school lesson.

A God-Sized Vision

Henrietta Mears is a shining example of God’s power at work through a willing servant. And I think that’s the secret to not becoming overwhelmed or intimidated by her example. She knew that it was God working through her, not her own ability, that granted her success in her efforts. What work would we undertake, how might God display his goodness, if we labored being confident in the knowledge that it is him working in and through us?

“The secret of power and of being in the will of God was not something that I had to sweat and strain for; it was, rather, what I had to recognize as already present in my life. God's will is God Himself, and that is my power.” Mears, 1970, p. 103

“There is no magic in small plans. When I consider my ministry, I think of the world. Anything less than that would not be worthy of Christ nor of His will for my life.” Mears, 1970, p. 38