The One-Eyed Apostle of
Wales
Christmas Evans
"Born on Christmas Day!" the peasant father exclaimed. "Aye, we don't have much to give him but a name. And what'll that be, lassie?"
Joanna Evans' eyes turned tenderly toward the infant snuggling beside her. "We'll name him Christmas because that's his birthday," she said simply.
And so was born in the year 1766, the boy later to be known as the apostle of wild Wales.
In his early years, Christmas Evans experienced many unpleasant situations and near-tragedies. After his father died, he lived with his cruel uncle. Then he farmed himself out as servant to whoever would feed him. He was stabbed in a quarrel. He was rescued from drowning. He fell from a high tree with an open knife in his hand. A horse he was riding ran away, dashing through a low, narrow passage.
At eighteen he could not read a word. But he knew that he was a sinner and that but for the providence of God he would be in hell. When a spiritual revival flamed up among the youth of Cardiganshire, the homeless boy sought refuge in Christ.
"I must read the Bible," he told the Welsh villagers at the Arminian Presbyterian church he attended.
"That's good, Christmas," they told him. "But, lad, not one in seven in these parts can even spot a letter."
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A few months later, Christmas Evans amazed his acquaintances by stumbling through a Scripture passage. Then he set more tongues to wagging by announcing, "God has called me to preach."
He sought out his pastor for help. "Sir, will you teach me?" he stammered, the light of learning brightened his craggy features.
The minister agreed, and so he taught young Christmas for six months. Then, his funds running low, the youth decided to journey to England. "I'll work in the harvest, then return for more schooling," he told his teacher.
On the road he was overtaken by a mob. They beat him fiercely leaving him bruised and sightless in one eye.
But Christmas Evans did not give up. He came home and studied harder, mastering Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. He threw himself into a wearisome itinerant ministry that carried him by horse and gig along thousands of miles of rugged trails, and earned himself the name Apostle of Wales. Thousands were converted and many new churches established through his ministry.
