Angels Around Us

By Hope Price (excerpts of her book, Angels)

               Marie Monsen was a Norwegian missionary in China during the 1920s. At that time lawlessness was rife in China, and the Chinese army was not beyond reproach. One night the leader of the soldiers promised them that they could loot a city, as he had been unable to pay them for so long. This city housed the headquarters of the mission for which Marie worked, and she was there that night. Rumors had been heard that the looting would start at 10 p.m., but the soldiers were impatient and began at 8 p.m.

               Marie and the Chinese Christians with her heard shooting and shouting all night, but no soldier came to bang on the door of their compound.

               However, all through the night, terrified neighbors kept arriving to take refuge with them. They climbed into the compound over the walls, each carrying a little bundle of valuables in case the soldiers burned their homes to the ground. There were many fires to be seen around the city and much commotion everywhere.

               All night Marie and the Chinese Christians with her welcomed the fearful neighbors, made them comfortable and shared with them the peace that only God can give. The non-believing neighbors saw the difference a Christian faith made to these people, who had no fear of the citywide attack happening all around, which could have invaded their own compound at any moment.

               As the bullets whistled overhead, Marie shared with all of them the comfort in the words of Psalm 91:5 in the Bible: “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,” in her own words substituting “bullets” for “arrows.” The Scripture goes on to say that the Lord will send angels to keep His children safe.

               The following morning, many of the other people who lived near the compound came to ask who their “protectors” were. At first Marie was not sure what they meant, until she heard the same account from so many that she knew it was true. They all separately said they had seen three tall foreign soldiers standing on the high roof of their Gospel Hall, one at each end and one in the middle. A fourth protector was sitting on the porch over the main gate, keeping watch in every direction. They were there all night, and all the accounts said they “shone.” Neither Marie nor any of her Christian friends had seen them. Only the nonbelievers living nearby had seen these angel protectors, to convince them that God takes care of all who trust in Him.