“A Yes That Changed Thousands”

In 1890, Ida Scudder was a young woman visiting her missionary parents in India, determined never to become a missionary herself. One night, however, three men from different families arrived separately at her door—each begging her to help their wife, who was dying in childbirth. Because of cultural norms, none of the women could be treated by a male doctor. Ida, not yet a physician, could do nothing.

By morning, all three women had died.

Ida later described that night as the turning point of her life. She realized that God was calling her not through a dramatic vision, but through overwhelming human need. Her “no” began to turn into God’s “yes.”

She returned to the United States, trained as a doctor, and eventually founded the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Vellore, which remains one of the leading medical institutions in Asia. Her willingness to respond to God’s call transformed countless lives.

Hearing God’s Call Through Need

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’

And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” — Isaiah 6:8

Ida didn’t hear an audible voice. Instead, she heard the cry of three families and recognized the voice of God in human suffering. Often, God’s call is not mystical but practical—He points us toward the people who need compassion today.

Ask yourself: Where is God inviting me to say, "Here am I"—not someday, but now?

A Faith That Works Through Love

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18

Ida could have remained comfortable, choosing a quiet life in America. Instead, she let love propel her into action. Her legacy is a reminder that Christian love is not passive—it builds hospitals, heals bodies, uplifts women, and restores dignity.

Your acts of love may not found a medical college, but they can change a life. God uses every obedient response, no matter how small it may seem.

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven, open my eyes to the needs around me. Give me courage to turn compassion into action. Help me hear Your call not only in sacred moments, but in the everyday cries of people You love. Here am I—send me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Dr. Johnson Cherian 

www.johnsoncherian.com