The Prayer of Faith and the Farmer’s Patience in Reaping the Harvest of Human SoulsThe Biography of Missionary James Fraser

Experienced ministers working in the ministry fields don’t expect quick results. Yet the long wait for the first sprouts of the sown Gospel seed can be exhausting. That’s when doubts and subtle whispers come: “Did God really tell me this?” “If there are no results, what am I even doing here?” “Your prayers go unanswered, no one hears the message of Christ, all your efforts are in vain!”

The biography of James Fraser vividly illustrates the full spectrum of a missionary’s struggles in spiritual battles—overcoming discouragement, tasting first victories. It shows how, through deeper knowledge of God in the prayer of faith and His work, not only do long-awaited answers come, but the heart itself undergoes transformation.

The author, Eileen Crossman, the daughter of the missionary, invites readers behind the curtain of her father’s soul—a man who dedicated his life to God and His work in the remote, frigid mountains of Tibet at the beginning of the 20th century.

On the pages of this biography, readers encounter a worthy example in the life of the first British missionary to the Lisu people of China—how to serve in the midst of powerful worship of evil spirits, preserve faith, overcome despair, love the people God has entrusted, and enjoy life in spite of it all. His words still inspire readers to continue the Great Commission.

The book is composed of ten chapters that, in chronological order, tell the story of James Fraser—his life, work, family, and contributions as a missionary.

At 22, James Fraser left behind a comfortable and promising future as an engineer, saying farewell to a rising musical career as a pianist already well known in London, all for God’s calling.

The young Briton set out for the mountains of Tibet, where people had never heard the name of Jesus. He forever tied his life to the Lisu, a tribe despised even by the Chinese, who mocked them as “monkey people.”

After his first encounter with the Lisu high in the mountains, James felt a prayer burden for them take root in his heart. Loving them deeply, “Brother Number Three”—as the Lisu named him—fought daily spiritual battles on their behalf, confronting their centuries-old superstitions and devotion to evil spirits.

But his faith and the farmer’s patience, waiting for the precious harvest, proved true: thousands of believers in the Living God and churches in the Tibetan mountains still exist today.

The author strips away the romantic notions of missions, presenting the hardships of missionary life as they really were. James Fraser battled loneliness, often depression, and illness brought on by a climate harsh and unfamiliar to a Briton. His life was constantly at risk—hunted by hostile local tribes, ambushed by bandits, shot at, robbed. Once, he was nearly sacrificed to idols.

Remote mountain villages sometimes lay at altitudes of 23,000 feet. Upon reaching them, the minister might sleep in a small straw-roofed hut on a dirt floor, often hungry, at times forced to eat rats. His feet would swell from days-long treks, and no matter how many blankets he piled on, the cold of Tibet’s mountains was nearly unbearable.

The author paints an honest portrait of the man, marked not so much by clever words or details, but by a daughter’s love for her father and her desire to introduce readers to the one so dear to her. The picture that emerges is not just of a missionary, but of a real man.

The book also openly addresses the problem of the shortage of missionaries. James Fraser served in a region unpopular among missionaries at the time—southwest China—and was the only preacher within a 150-mile radius.

The stories of new Lisu believers are striking—many, in their early fragile faith, fell back to idolatry, sometimes with tragic consequences.

So far, the book has been translated only into Russian and is available at an affordable price.

This is a work not just to read, but to study for its missionary approaches and strategies of the prayer of faith. It challenges readers to take on the minister’s motivation and ask: What would I be willing to surrender for Christ?

The biography of James Fraser serves not only those sensing God’s call to missions in Asia, but also helps every Christian grasp the depths of spiritual warfare—whether in the mountains of Tibet or within one’s own family—because this is the struggle to which all believers are called.

Quotes from Missionary James Fraser

“I think it’s dreadful that so few go out to the ministry fields.”

“Scripture nowhere teaches us to wait for opportunities to serve, but to do what we can right now.”

“Only through the prayers of His children does God bless this work. Deep and fruitful ministry is done on our knees. What I long for most is serious, faith-filled prayer.”

“A missionary who expects smooth sailing in any work of God is far too naïve.”

“Deliverance from the powers of evil comes only through determined conflict at the foot of the Cross.”

“Preparation, delay, and growth are characteristics of God’s ways in both history and nature.”

“I truly believe that if any of the prayer groups back home, praying for new churches on the mission field, should stop, the young Christians here would be swept away by the floods of darkness. Just as a plant dies without water, so God’s work can perish without prayer support.”

“I always thought prayer should come first and teaching second. Now I see prayer must come first, second, and third—and teaching fourth.”

“What do I long to see everywhere? A sacrificial spirit for the Lord who redeemed us with His Blood.”

“I often reflect that very few, through strict self-discipline (so unpopular today), prepare their whole lives for complete surrender.”

CITA Ministries Press Center.