Beatrice Hankey (1858-1933) was the ninth of ten children in a moderately wealthy, secure, happy and close knit family. Towards the end of the nineteenth century she became active in mission work both at Walmer, Kent where she lived, and also in other towns. She became drawn towards those who were alienated from God and from their community, and she particularly enjoyed working with men.
In 1902 however, God called her to found a fellowship for young women from the more leisured classes, who at that period had little opportunity to pursue a vocation. She was not immediately willing to agree to this call. She records a wet Whitsunday walk during which she wrestled with God about this change of direction. By the end of the walk she had chosen to obey the new call.
Help was inspired and nourished by God’s love, and transmitted and communicated this in all her actions. Under her leadership and within the fellowship, members made the amazing discovery that they possessed freedom, strength and gifts to be used for God. Help’s message was one of total commitment and devotion, and her own obedience in 1902 to her (unwanted) call served to pioneer and enhance the ministry of women, though as time went by the Fellowship expanded to include men.
Somehow with Help even the commonest acts of everyday life were different, they became parables and opened the locks that kept people imprisoned in fear and despair. She taught the eternal truth that no one has the right to do anything for another from any other motive than love – and behind love for one another must lie the love for our Father. Help’s message and vision still speak to us today as we seek to follow the King and ‘By love, serve’.