Norman Grubb
Encyclopedia
Norman Percy Grubb (2 August 1895 – 15 December 1993) was a missionary
statesman
, writer and theological teacher
.
as a lieutenant
in World War I
. After the war, in which he was wounded in one leg, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge
. Later he married Pauline Studd, the daughter of the famous British cricketeer and missionary to Africa C.T. Studd. He left for the Belgian Congo
with Pauline in 1920 to follow in the footsteps of his father-in-law, having not yet completed his final term at Cambridge.
While recovering from his bullet wound in 1917 Grubb was handed a tract about the Heart of Africa Mission
and the work of C.T. Studd in the Belgian Congo. After reading this tract he felt a calling to join Studd in his missionary activities.
Before setting out for Africa, however, Grubb studied for a while at Cambridge, where he had the vision for Inter-Varsity Fellowship (now the University and Colleges Christian Fellowship) whose goal was the sharing of the Christian message with other students.
Before finishing his studies at Cambridge Grubb met Pauline Studd and married her. During their engagement, however, a dispute arose between them regarding Norman telling her that he loved God more than he loved her. The disagreement almost resulted in Pauline calling off the wedding. Fortunately the two were reconciled to one another when Pauline came to accept Grubb’s dedication to serving his God, even though it meant that she would have to take second place in her husband’s life.
In 1920 the newlyweds left for the Congo. They spent ten years there, working with C.T. Studd in evangelising the Africans. While there he was struck by the words of Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth within me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” This verse was to become central to his philosophy. The kernel of his Christian belief was Jesus Christ’s teaching that He is the vine and we are the branches, and that Christians are new creations in Him and therefore exist in union with him.
Before C.T. Studd’s death in 1931 Norman and Pauline returned to England where they ran the mission from its London headquarters. Under Norman’s leadership and direction the mission flourished and became known as the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade (WEC International
). It grew from one mission field with 35 workers to a worldwide mission operating in over 40 fields with thousands of workers from around the world, all living according to the principle that all needs will be supplied by God with no appeals to man. The mission still runs to this day under the name of Worldwide Evangelization for Christ.
Three books of Norman Grubb's letters have been published and are available through AuthorHouse or www.normangrubb.com.
áItalic text
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, writer and theological teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Early life
Grubb was born in London, the son of an Anglican vicar. He was educated at an English Public School before joining the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war, in which he was wounded in one leg, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. Later he married Pauline Studd, the daughter of the famous British cricketeer and missionary to Africa C.T. Studd. He left for the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
with Pauline in 1920 to follow in the footsteps of his father-in-law, having not yet completed his final term at Cambridge.
Missionary Work and Beliefs
Despite having a Christian upbringing it was only at the age of eighteen that Grubb seriously began to consider what it meant to be a Christian. It was a conversation with a family friend that challenged him to think more deeply about his faith, and from that point on he became committed to evangelistic work.While recovering from his bullet wound in 1917 Grubb was handed a tract about the Heart of Africa Mission
Heart of Africa Mission
Formed by C.T. Studd in 1913 the Heart of Africa Mission later became more widely known as WEC International....
and the work of C.T. Studd in the Belgian Congo. After reading this tract he felt a calling to join Studd in his missionary activities.
Before setting out for Africa, however, Grubb studied for a while at Cambridge, where he had the vision for Inter-Varsity Fellowship (now the University and Colleges Christian Fellowship) whose goal was the sharing of the Christian message with other students.
Before finishing his studies at Cambridge Grubb met Pauline Studd and married her. During their engagement, however, a dispute arose between them regarding Norman telling her that he loved God more than he loved her. The disagreement almost resulted in Pauline calling off the wedding. Fortunately the two were reconciled to one another when Pauline came to accept Grubb’s dedication to serving his God, even though it meant that she would have to take second place in her husband’s life.
In 1920 the newlyweds left for the Congo. They spent ten years there, working with C.T. Studd in evangelising the Africans. While there he was struck by the words of Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth within me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” This verse was to become central to his philosophy. The kernel of his Christian belief was Jesus Christ’s teaching that He is the vine and we are the branches, and that Christians are new creations in Him and therefore exist in union with him.
Before C.T. Studd’s death in 1931 Norman and Pauline returned to England where they ran the mission from its London headquarters. Under Norman’s leadership and direction the mission flourished and became known as the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade (WEC International
WEC International
WEC International is a mission agency which focuses on church planting, and emphasises the importance of shared life in a local church as a vital expression of Christian life...
). It grew from one mission field with 35 workers to a worldwide mission operating in over 40 fields with thousands of workers from around the world, all living according to the principle that all needs will be supplied by God with no appeals to man. The mission still runs to this day under the name of Worldwide Evangelization for Christ.
Writing
During his time as the General Secretary of WEC Grubb began writing. To begin with he produced tracts and magazines for the mission, and then in 1933 he published a biography of C.T. Studd. After this came a string of other books, including his autobiography Once Caught, No Escape, and The Key to Everything. Other books penned by Grubb include Continuous Revival, Rees Howells' Intercessor, God Unlimited, Who Am I?, Spontaneous You, Law of Faith, Touching the Invisible and Yes I Am.Three books of Norman Grubb's letters have been published and are available through AuthorHouse or www.normangrubb.com.
Retirement
Upon retiring from the position of International Secretary for WEC in 1965 Norman Grubb travelled, mostly around England and the United States, preaching Paul’s “mystery of the gospel, which is Christ in you” in churches and conferences and to anyone who would listen. He carried on this work until his death in 1993, having lived 98 years.Death
Grubb died on December 15, 1993, at the ripe old age of 98 at his home in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania.áItalic text
Further reading
- 'Once Caught, No Escape' by Norman Grubb
- 'After C.T. Studd' by Norman Grubb
- 'Continuous Revival' by Norman Grubb