Meet Florence Howland whose life was all prayer. She helped those suffering the miseries of poverty and saw the lives of women in prison changed.
Talking with Florence Howland about her varied and interesting life is a lesson on prayer. Through all her life, prayer has given Florence the strength to do the work God has had for her.
Florence has always lived by Hudson Taylor’s words that ‘God’s work done in God’s way never lacks God’s supply.’ Her life has been all prayer, she says.
Florence Howland has been living her retirement years in Pukerua Bay in the north of New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. She was born to Salvation Army parents in England in 1914.
Living by Faith
Her life of faith began early. Before she turned four years of age she gave her heart to Jesus at a Salvation Army meeting. “It was there and then that I became committed to the Lord. This experience lives with me as vividly today, 87 years after, as it did then. Some people will scoff at this, I am quite aware of that, but I do assure you that it does teach us that little children can have a real understanding of spiritual truths, if parents from an early age tell them the basics of Christian living in a simple form.”
Later as a teenager when Florence was seeking to find the truth for herself she came under criticism from her mother for going to movies. She wants parents to understand this need of teenagers, as true today as it was then, to make the faith their own. It was the real love of God coming to her one evening in her room that brought the answers she was seeking. “From that night on I never doubted again, all thoughts of atheism and abandoning my faith went and never returned.”
Living by Prayer
At about the age of twenty Florence began hearing the words “China Inland Mission” and soon began training with the mission. Health problems prevented her from going to China but after reading a job interview she applied for the position of Deaconess for the Kensal Medical Mission in North Kensington. This led to living by faith as taught by Hudson Taylor and years of helping those living with poverty, violence, alcoholism and other social problems. There were many prayers answered during this time.
Florence and her good friend Valerie Mitchell emigrated New Zealand in 1953, and Florence continued walking by faith in public service at Arohata Borstal Training Centre (later Arohata prison).
God Speaks through Prayer
She had been warned off the job of Deputy Superintendent. But during a time of prayer Florence heard God saying, “You didn’t even consider it.” In the light of God’s voice she accepted the position. During her time at Arohata she continually drew on God for strength. Prayer was her daily ally. Assembly was held every morning with a hymn and a Bible reading. There were modern readings such as “He is my Prison Warden.” “How Great thou Art” was a special hymn.
Florence’s motto was constancy, kindness and firmness, and she gained a high spirit of co-operation. While there was always apprehension that major problems could occur, many people’s lives were changed for good at Arohata. This was shown by the numerous letters of thanks from women who were grateful for the help they received.
It’s exciting to meet someone like Florence, who has faced the challenges of life with faith and prayer and a positive outlook, and has managed to help many people along the way.
