An astonishing experience of the power of God

Missionary work is rarely easy, but when you are taking the gospel to a tribe of cannibals the stakes are especially high, as Henry Garlock found when he had to preach to save his life – in a language he had never learned

Henry Bruce Garlock (1897-1985) is a name little known to most of us. Born in New Jersey, USA, he was a missionary, administrator and pastor, becoming the first African field director for the American Assemblies of God.

However, it was during his time as a missionary for the Pentecostal Holiness Association that he had an astonishing experience of the power of God, which not only saved his own life and that of one of his carriers, but was instrumental in turning an entire tribe to Christ.

In 1920, Garlock and his wife, Ruth, volunteered for missionary work among the Pahns, a small but dangerous tribe in the interior of Liberia. No missionaries had ever worked there for the simple reason that the tribe was made up of cannibals.

On arrival in Liberia, together with a group of African Christians, the Garlocks set up camp on the borders of Pahn country. Almost immediately, Mrs Garlock fell ill with malaria. Their meagre medical supplies were soon exhausted but still her fever rose. Garlock had the difficult job of persuading the local natives to take the short route to the coast for more medicine. The natives’ reluctance was understandable because the route lay through Pahn country.

However, early the next morning, with great misgivings, a group set off, hoping to skirt the danger areas and bring back the medical supplies which might well save the missionary lady’s life.

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