By Faith and by Love

In 1861 a young farmer, drafted into the Confederate Army, was wounded in battle and sent home to die. For two days he lay on a railway platform, begging passengers to contact his family in the hills. At last, an old slave who had purchased a wagon along with his freedom gently loaded him into his cart. The old man drove him to his family's farm, bathed his wounds in a stream, carried him to his cabin, and delivered the soldier to his astonished young wife. By Faith and By Love is the story of that soldier's grandson, who grew up poor in small South Carolina mill towns. While many of his neighbors take out their frustrations with the legacy of the Civil War by joining the Ku Klux Klan, this soldier's grandson must honor his grandfather's rescuer by finding another path. ""Paced like a suspense novel, this lively account of a missionary family in the United States and Burma is gripping. Whether one is interested in the adventure of life in Burma just before and after WWII, the complications of being a witness for peace during civil rights struggles, or the story of family joys and separations, this story of the lifelong mission of Martin and Mabel England is compelling. . . . But most of all, this is simply a good read about family life under adventurous and difficult circumstances."" --Deborah Bingham Van Broekhoven, executive director, American Baptist Historical Society, Atlanta, GA ""Martin and Mabel Orr England were two of the most remarkable people I ever met, and their lives were connected to some of the most momentous events of the twentieth century. Beverly England Williams has written a compelling account of Martin's and Mabel's experiences on the forefront of social justice, from war-torn Burma to the Jim Crow American South, a tribute to the power of modest people to bring about extraordinary change."" --David Stricklin, manager, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Little Rock, AR ""Like good teachers, Martin and Mabel England likely never knew the many lives they touched, changing the course of those lives for good. Living in the community they co-founded, I benefit daily from their sacrifices made and their witness freely given. Williams whimsically weaves their story, giving a glimpse of much that they accomplished and the good that comes from lives well lived. Through this book, the Englands will continue to touch and forever change lives."" --Bren Dubay, director, Koinonia Farm, Americus, GA ""This is one of the most extraordinary biographies I have ever read in my life! And it is the story of not just one, but two inspiring people, Martin and Mabel England. In a world filled with racism and war, two young people joined their efforts to follow Jesus faithfully. For the rest of their lives, they brought light into the darkness--and it's still shining. Thank you, Beverly Williams, for this great story!"" --Don Mosley, co-founder of Jubilee Partners, Comer, GA ""By Faith and By Love is a heartening true story that shows how one act of compassion can reverberate across generations and miles."" --Eileen Flanagan, author of Renewable Beverly England Williams is an English as a Second Language teacher and tutor. She resides with her husband, Wallace Williams, in Arlington, MA.