Tim Shenton usually writes books about well-known characters from church history. Audrey Featherstone, along with her husband, worked in Congo with Regions Beyond Missionary Union (RBMU) for twenty-five years, but her name is probably unknown to most Christians.
In the first chapter of this biography, Tim Shenton explains why he decided to write Audrey’s story. He met her at church as an elderly lady, was impressed by her godly character, and, having heard her story, felt compelled to share it with a wider audience. In a sense he sees her as a representative of the many unsung heroes and heroines who have lived a life of dedication and sacrifice on the mission field.
The book follows Audrey from her somewhat troubled childhood to her early working life and conversion in London during the blitz, and from her call to the mission-field to her marriage to Elleea, a missionary in Congo.
The Featherstones worked for the Lord in various locations in Congo. They knew particular upheaval and danger during the Simba rebellion, when they saw much of the work destroyed and many of their friends traumatised or even killed. In spite of this, they continued to work there until 1969.
To accompany the story there are photographs, maps and drawings. There are two appendices — one giving the history of the RBMU, and the other a short story written by Audrey herself in the early sixties, which gives insight into what life was really like in Congo at that time.
This book would probably hold most interest for anyone who served in Congo or with RBMU, but it also fulfils the aim for which it was written — to show how God can use ‘ordinary’ people — and to challenge us all to ask ourselves if we are as devoted to the Lord’s cause as we ought to be.
