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But who was Lydia Baxter?

Well, she was born in Petersburg, New
York on 2nd September 1809. She had at
least one younger sister, called Mary -
and she plays an important role in what
happened after Lydia’s conversion at a
young age. There are many people who
reject the possibility of any foundation or
substance to a young person’s conversion, but we should never
doubt that a young child can believe and trust in Jesus. Apparently,
she gave her life to the Lord at a very young age while studying
under the teaching of a missionary at home from the mission field.
Her conversion influenced her sister, and she was converted.

The conversion of the two girls and their influence on the town,
lead to the setting up of a Baptist Church in that place, and,
unbelievably, the two young sisters became teachers!!

Lydia is known by her married name of Baxter, and it was soon
after her marriage that she caught the serious infectious disease
that left her disabled, and confined her to her bed for the rest of her
life. As mentioned earlier it didn’t let it get her down. In fact people
just wanted to visit her, because she cheered them up. She loved
the Bible. She loved to read it. She loved finding out what words
meant: what did Ruth mean? What did Naomi mean? This sort of
investigation occupied her time when alone. And when visitors
came she got them involved to the extent when they left her, they
also got involved in ‘name finding.’

When our church in Maidstone, Kent sent Madge and me to
Zimbabwe to work with Imon, a Zimbabwean pastor, we obviously
met his children. We thought one daughter had a beautiful name.
On being asked what it meant, he replied, ‘The Last One!’
Meaning, ‘no more children!’ We certainly didn’t expect
that response!

Lydia also wrote a number of hymns. One that became a favourite
with many was, “The Gate Ajar For Me.”

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