Stanley Dale

Overview

Dense jungles. Nearly impassable ravines. Stone-age villages. Demonic opposition. Daring advance.

The author of Stanley Dale’s biography had no need to sensationalize this life story. The facts alone crackle with suspense, and Richardson skillfully conveys them to the reader. He begins with the spiritual plight of the people group in Papua New Guinea that Dale would go to reach. The harrowing details show this isolated tribe’s need for God and salvation.

Then, Richardson backtracks to tell the backstory of God’s messenger for these people–Stanley Dale. His colorful background shows his unique preparation for this kind of missions work. Richardson shows Dale’s strengths and weaknesses–both of which would factor into the tragedy and triumph of God’s work.

When Dale is martyred, the story goes on. The climax is still ahead. God’s work does not end with Dale’s sudden departure. Just as Dale had quoted and believed Matthew 16, the gates of hell could not prevail against God’s church that had sprung up in that remote jungle. What happened in the aftermath of this tragedy glorifies God for His sovereignty in the face of evil men and for His omnipotence to save even the farthest from Him and His gospel message.

Highlights

  • How God led a former Australian commando to Christ and missions.
  • How the gospel came to a completely unreached people group.
  • How the martyrdom of Dale led to gospel advance.

Quotes

  • “We have not come into this valley at the word of men, but at the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, ‘Go into all the world and make disciples among all men!’ He also said, ‘And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world!’ That means He is with us in this very place, and nothing can stand in our way, not even the demon they say lives in that hut. . . . In fact, if that demon knows what’s good for him, he’ll be high-tailing it for some other valley before we even cross that stone wall!’ And then he translated into Dani the immortal promise of Jesus: ‘I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!’ And that goes for hell’s stone walls too!” (p. 164)
  • “In spite of all that has happened I believe that the Word of God will prevail. It cannot become as nothing, no matter what its enemies may do!” (p. 351)
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Other Sources

Stanley Dale is highlighted in Daring Devotion, Day 18.