Henrietta Mears
One of a series: Great Mentors I Have Known
by Dr. Waylon B. Moore
Imagine a chubby lady with thick glasses, dressed in red with a flamboyant hat, multiple
rings, and pizzazz! She speaks with passion and commitment . . . strong, warm, and full of
the Bible. That's Henrietta Mears, one of the great mentors I have known. God used her deeply
in the beginning ministry of Billy Graham. He wrote about her,
“I doubt if any other woman outside my wife and mother has had such a marked
influence on my life. She is certainly one of the greatest Christians I have ever known.”
Never marrying, she had hundreds of “spiritual children.” She became Educational
Director at Hollywood Presbyterian. Some of her many mentorees included Dick Halverson, who
became Chaplain of the US Senate, Bill & Vonette Bright, along with Dr. Bob Munger.
They found in this older lady a vision for a great God. She was a model of
Christ-centeredness. With her drive for souls, and ability to plan and prepare, the church
grew with a great pastoral team to over 4,000! On Sundays for Bible Study, I heard her talk
to 500 university students and singles. Many of the church Bible study groups attracted
businessmen and well-known movie stars to Christ. Needing strong biblical literature for
hundreds of new believers, she began to write her own, and Gospel Light Press
click here was born.
She also bought and directed Forest Home Conference grounds.
I met Miss Mears when she was mentoring Bill and Vonette Bright; they lived with her near
the UCLA campus. For a 6 a.m. Bible study I can still see her appearing down a winding
staircase, smiling, perfectly dressed, and full of energy. She spoke loudly to our
sleep-startled group of guys, “Well, what's the Lord taught you since you got up this
morning?” All was quiet. She would look us over, then share something from the
Scriptures that blessed her. You didn't meet her again without time with God. She was
a pacesetter, a confronter with the anointing of the Spirit. Her goal: “Only the best
possible is good enough for God.” She had a world vision. She prayed with an openness
to a limitless God.
With the multiple millions who have been saved through the ministries of Graham and Bright,
Miss Mears shares in those and many other harvests. She was nearly blind, and could read
only with great difficulty. She said about this challenge,
“My failing eyesight has been my greatest spiritual blessing. It has kept me
absolutely dependent on God.”
Order her biography — Dream Big: The Story of Henrietta Mears, Gospel Light Press
— from your local Christian book store.
Other web sites which speak about Miss Mears:
SheLovesGod.com
In Touch
Historical Renewal
History's Women
A Worldwide Christian Mentoring Ministry Equipping
Believers To Evangelize, Nurture, Disciple and Multiply