Greetings members of the Press looking for information about Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert.
This media page is focused on Overflowing Faith (published in June 2023 through Amazon White Glove) and Lettie Cowman herself. It also includes information about the author and sample interview questions.
About Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert
Most people familiar with the 1924 devotional Streams in the Desert know little about the author Lettie Cowman. Overflowing Faith describes how personal heartbreak and a need to fill her own thirsty soul led to Lettie penning the devotional.
One hundred years later, with untold millions of copies sold, Streams in the Desert still speaks to weary hearts, particularly those dealing with personal grief and despair in a world gone mad.
Biographer Michelle Ule traces how a girl from Iowa grew up to co-found a pioneering mission in Japan, leading to 10.2 million gospel tracts left on every doorstep in the country between 1912-1918.
As the first female president of an international missionary organization, Lettie prompted the final gospel crusade through Eastern Europe before WWII. Using Streams in the Desert as an opening, Lettie Cowman worked tirelessly to share the gospel before the Iron Curtain sealed off believers from the western world for 50 years.
This story of a remarkable woman’s earnest desire to share the gospel provides insight and encouragement for modern Christians facing a hostile, unbelieving society.
Who was Lettie Cowman?
Born in 1870 Iowa, Lettie Cowman is most well-known as the author of the remarkable devotional Streams in the Desert, which will mark 100 years in print on January 1, 2024.
But Streams in the Desert was only the hingepoint in her remarkable life.
Lettie Burd Cowman also was:
- Cofounder of the Oriental Missionary Society (with four others), and the Bible Training Institute in Japan 1901.
- Deputation speaker for the Oriental Missionary Society from 1901 until her death in 1960.
- Participant in the Great Village Campaign, Japan 1912-1918.
- Prolific article writer for God’s Revivalist Magazine, and others, including Electric Telegram, Missionary Standard, and others.
- Author of six devotionals: Streams in the Desert, Streams in the Valley, Consolation, Mountain Trailways for Youth, and Traveling Toward Sunrise, in addition to Charles Cowman’s biography Missionary Warrior, and numberous pamphlets.
- First female president of an international missionary organization (Oriental Missionary Society).
- A friend of Rees Howells (of the Bible College of Wales—who prayed every night of WWII for England), Lettie launched her Every Creature Gospel Campaign after following his orders to pray for a word from God.
- The Every Creature Campaign which poured gospel tracts into Eastern Europe in the years leading up to World War II–the last gospel distribution before the Iron Curtain closed off the area for 50 years.
- She met Haile Selassie during his WWII exile in England and prophesied his return to the Ethiopian throne.
- While all her Board of Trustee members were interned in the Far East during WWII, she launched a ministry into South America—by emptying the Streams in the Desert coffers.
Author Biography
Michelle Ule is the biographer of Mrs. Oswald Chambers: The Woman Behind the World’s Bestselling Devotional, an essayist, a long-time blogger, and a bestselling author of inspirational historical novellas.
A 40-year Bible study teacher in various Christian settings and denominations, she studied English Literature at UCLA and trained as a reporter. Michelle’s also an amateur genealogist.
Michelle lives with her family in Northern California.
You can learn more about her and read her blog posts about Lettie Cowman, the Oriental Missionary Society, and Streams in the Desert at www.michelleule.com
Photos
Praise for Overflowing Faith
“Behind a classic book, like Streams in the Desert, there is often a deeply compelling story. In the life of Lettie Cowman, Michelle Ule has captured an epic story in an unforgettable way.
One of the great souls of modern missionary history has met with just the right author: one to tell this remarkable story as it should be told. There is richness, meaning, and inspiration in the telling.”
— Kevin Belmonte, author of D.L. Moody: A Life
“Streams in the Desert has always been a treasured and comforting voice in my life—especially when I’ve traversed deep valleys of personal trial and loss. Little did I know that those encouraging words were the result of Lettie Cowman’s personal valleys, including years when she could not understand why God did not heal her beloved husband.
Michelle Ule’s compelling biography of this warrior for the gospel illuminates a life driven by an inspiring and challenging commitment to Christ, a life that modeled biblical perseverance.”
Stephanie Grace Whitson Best-selling author
Sample Interview Questions
Overflowing Faith Suggested Questions
- Why write a biography of Lettie Cowman?
- Why now?
- Who can be inspired by Lettie’s life story—why and how?
- What is the significance of Streams in the Desert?
- What does it mean that Streams in the Desert was only the hinge of Lettie Cowman’s life?
- How did writing this book change your perspectives on missionaries?
- What was the Great Village Campaign (GVC)?
- 120 years later, Japan’s Christian population is only about 2 million people—or 1% of the population. Was the GVC a success?
- What part did Streams in the Desert play in world-wide evangelism efforts following its 1924 publication?
- What inspired Lettie Cowman to lead the final gospel crusade to Eastern Europe prior to Hitler and the Iron Curtain?
- How did a girl from Iowa, a contemporary of Laura Ingalls Wilder, end up meeting heads of state around the world—and why?
- What sort of a friendship did Lettie Cowman have with Oswald and Biddy Chambers?
- Who was Juji Nakada and why was he important in Far Eastern Christianity?
- Why did the Oriental Missionary Society move into Shanghai, China even as other Western missionary societies fled?
- How did Lettie Cowman receive “words” from the Lord?
- Why could she apply these surprising concepts to her role as OMS president?
Other Items of Interest
Joanna Weaver featured Lettie’s Story on her podcast, The Living Room, and her Youtube channel:
Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert appeared on Christianity Today’s Women List: 34 Books to Add to Your Reading List.
