My Utmost: A Century of Oswald Chambers Devotion

I visited Wheaton College on October 20, 2017 to attended My Utmost: A Century of Devotion, the life and legacy of Oswald Chambers.

My invitation came from The Oswald Chambers Publication Association, Ltd. (OCPAL), Wheaton College and Discovery House Publishers.

The invitation came months ago, my husband and I bought our plane tickets and looked forward to the event.

It became even more important when we flew to Chicago as Sonoma fire evacuees.

Fortunately, our mandatory evacuation order released about the time we landed.

That made the conference far more enjoyable!

Dedicated to Oswald Chambers

The conference focused on Oswald Chambers and My Utmost for His Highest, as it should.

Everyone, however, recognized Biddy Chambers’ contributions to the books and to her husband’s ministry.

That’s where I came in!

I enjoyed meeting people with whom I’d only corresponded in the past, along with others I’d read about.

I felt very honored to attend.

A Century of Devotion

The Century of Devotion event took place from one to six in the afternoon and featured speakers, a music group, and a performance group.

Discovery House livestreamed A Century of Devotion, and made three 90-minute videos watchable at their My Utmost for His Highest Facebook Page.

The program began with a welcome from Nicholas Gray and Rob Wykes, members of the OCPAL.

Out of the Dust, singers from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, punctuated the afternoon with music.

The hip-hop performance group Streetlights added a unique and modern interpretation of My Utmost for His Highest.

We saw a biographical video about Oswald from OCPAL and  one with Joni Eareckson Tada discussing what My Utmost for His Highest meant to her.

Here’s a copy of the program:

Different Perspectives on My Utmost for His Highest

Oswald’s biographer, David McCasland, spoke on “The Mind of Oswald Chambers” to help us understand Oswald’s unique way of seeing life.

While the program featured insightful talks about Oswald Chambers, it also included timely interpretations of his life and writings.

Out of the Dust sang a song prompted by an Utmost reading.

Streetlights performed a unique interpretation of the July 13 reading (which happens to be Biddy birthday).

Writer Patricia Raybon spoke on “Race, Grace, and Oswald Chambers: What the White Bible Teacher Would Say to All Believers Today.”

Pat’s presentation included photos from both the past as well as the present racial tensions in the US.

One photo in particular shocked me–a close up of the final picture taken of Oswald, calling us to pray.

What does Oswald have to say to us about racial tensions today?

Pat had three points:

1. Get on our knees. (Prayer is the greater work!)

2. Read your Bible.

3. Stay at the Table. (Get to know others, especially if they disagree with you)

I came away from her talk with a list of books to read and much to think about.

A Century of Devotion panel discussion

The day ended with a panel discussion with biographer David McCasland, memoirist Macy Halford, Christianity Today editor emeritus Harold Myra and me, Biddy Chambers’ biographer.

Daniel Ryan Day asked insightful questions and we had a lovely time.

In preparation for the panel, he read my book, Mrs. Oswald Chambers, right after he finished McCasland’s book Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God. Day noted the two biographies presented both a female and male perspective on their lives.

True.

It was fun to talk with people who knew the story and My Utmost for His Highest well.

Videos of the afternoon

You can view the three videos made from the October 22 A Century of Devotion live streaming at the My Utmost for His Highest facebook page here.

Use the program to gauge where to find each talk.

If you’re an Oswald Chambers fan, you’ll enjoy them.

Tweetables

My Utmost: A Century of Devotion–the program. Click to Tweet

A day devoted to Oswald Chambers and My Utmost for His Highest. Click to Tweet