Power Walk - Mary Jones

1784–1864

This poor Welsh girl would be unknown to history except for one determined journey. Mary Jones, daughter of a weaver in what is now Gwynedd, used to walk two miles to a neighbor’s farm in order to read the Bible. Her family was Calvinistic Methodist, and she had professed faith at age eight, but the Scriptures were scarce in her native language. She knew how to read, thanks to a traveling education program initiated by clergyman Thomas Charles, but how could she read God’s Word with no copies available?

Mary decided she wanted to buy a copy for herself, so she saved up her money. She heard that Thomas Charles had some Bibles for sale, but he lived in the town of Bala, twenty-five miles away. No matter—she would walk there. Barefoot, this fifteen-year-old navigated the hills and streams of the Welsh countryside until she reached the Charleses’ home, only to be told that all the Bibles were sold or spoken for.

But a couple of things happened in the heart of Thomas Charles as he encountered this resolute girl. First, he took pity on her, and he sold her a Bible he had been holding for someone else. Second, he was inspired to launch a ministry that would make Bibles available to people everywhere.

This became known as the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has pioneered Bible distribution around the world. The organization still tells the story of “Mary Jones and her Bible.” And that very Bible now sits in the society’s archives in the Cambridge University Library. Mary herself proudly inscribed it: “I bought this in the 16th year of my age [that is, before her 16th birthday]. I am Daughter of Jacob Jones and Mary Jones His wife. The Lord may give me grace. Amen.”

Sometimes we Christians treat the Bible as a textbook. There’s nothing wrong with earnest study, but that can often replace something even more important—a passion for God’s Word. The Bible speaks of Scripture as sweeter than honey, an object of desire. That’s where we encounter the Lord we adore!

Mary Jones knew this, and her passion drove her twenty-five miles on bare feet. Surely we can reach for a book on the shelf and plunge into an experience with God.

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

Psalm 119:35