In 1888, Lottie Moon made her initial request for funds to help spread the Good News to China. That same year, Bertha Smith was born near Cowpens, S.C., and would soon follow in the footsteps of Lottie Moon.

Smith served for 42 years as a Southern Baptist missionary both in China and Taiwan. She retired at the age of 70, but she never stopped laboring for Christ. For another 29 years, she faithfully admonished the children of God to be light in a

world of darkness. During this time, Peniel Prayer Center, a prayer ministry founded in Cowpens and led by Miss Bertha, helped thousands to be that light so needed in a lost and dying world.

While in China, Miss Bertha wrestled with not having a family and children of her own. God was faithful in showing her that the children of China were her children. She died just a few weeks short of her 100th birthday, still caring and praying for her children in China.

Several years ago, the idea was birthed to create a Bertha Smith Scholarship Fund for Chinese students. SIAS International University located in Central China was chosen to be the recipient school. Founded in 1998, SIAS now has almost 25,000 students, and all must learn English as a second language.

Approximately 20 students have been helped over the last three years from the Bertha Smith Scholarship Fund. Many of them have moved to America after graduation to further their education at the master’s level. Once their master’s degree has been obtained, many have elected to return to China and teach at SIAS. The beautiful part of the story is that most of the scholarship recipients are now Christians, partly due to the influence of Miss Bertha’s legacy.

A 501(c)(3) organization called MorningStar International, an Alabama corporation, is the vehicle used by donors to the Bertha Smith Scholarship Fund. Those who wish to contribute to the scholarship fund may send their gift to MorningStar, Box 1111, Columbus, Ga., 31902. Each donation will be receipted, and 100 percent of all donations will be sent to SIAS.

 

– Editor’s note: MorningStar was founded several years ago by Scarborough, a CPA and former board member of Peniel Prayer Center. Scarborough was also Bertha Smith’s CPA. For more information, call Scarborough at 334-480-2080.

 

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