Maud Kells tells Lisburn Baptist of shooting ordeal

Not only did they have Miss Maud Kells OBE to speak at their monthly meeting but men were also welcomed on this occasion.

On behalf of the church ladies group, Jackie Madden introduced Maud to those present and thanked her for coming.

Miss Kells told how she served God as a missionary nurse in the Democratic Republic of Congo for decades. Then she shared the harrowing story of the shooting in January 2015 and God’s protection and preservation of her life when she narrowly missed death or paralysis.

Referring to Psalm 23 and verse four, Maud said, “Both missionary and African alike often quoted this verse in their prayers after I had been shot – ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.’”

She remembered thinking, “God is in control here.”

“I honestly didn’t have any fear, didn’t have any anxiety; just the peace of knowing, and the assurance that God was with me and God was in control.”

“It’s just wonderful to witness to what our Lord Jesus has done for me and what He is still doing for me today.”

Maud then reflected on the time when training to be nurse she became a Christian and her “life changed.”

“I accepted the Lord Jesus, asked Him to forgive my sins and come into my heart,” she said. “After that I wasn’t living to please myself and to do my own plans for my life but I wanted to do God’s will for my life.”

She always thought being a missionary was for someone else, but in the Sixties “sailed out to the west coast of Africa” and on overland to Northeast Congo where “the first thing was to learn Swahili,” the native language of the people.

The photos which Maud showed on screen illustrated the vast difference in life-style in the African country compared to here, as far as roads, transport, housing and health care are concerned.

“What an amazing story” was a much-used phrase afterwards. It was the fascinating story of a lady serving God in Africa since 1968, helping to build hospitals and schools and having the “great honour” of receiving an OBE in the 2015 New Year Honours List.

But, as she said herself, Maud is looking forward to that “far greater reward in Heaven,” that of “seeing our Lord Jesus face to face and hearing that ‘well done, good and faithful servant’”.

As usual at their monthly meeting, Lisburn Baptist women’s group provided a cup of tea for everyone present and the opportunity to chat with each other and the speaker as well.