March marks 150th anniversary of birth of ‘Streams in the Desert’ author
Lettie Burd Cowman (1870–1960), an American writer and missionary, is best known for her devotional book “Streams in the Desert.” She was one of the co-founders of the Oriental Missionary Society (OMS). This month is the 150th anniversary of her birth.
Cowman was born to Isaac and Margaret Burd on March 3, 1870, in Afton, Iowa. She met her future husband — Charles Cowman, a telegraph operator — when she was 13. They married six years later in 1889.
On Aug. 11, 1900, Charles had a definite call to be a missionary in Japan. The Cowmans and their missions partners founded OMS.
In February 1901, they left for Japan. By 1903, they had opened two Bible training institutes. These schools had day classes and evangelical services at night.
In 1913, the Great Village Campaign was started. Its goal was for every person in Japan to hear the gospel.
Between 1912 and 1918, OMS sent groups of Christians to every home in Japan, distributing Bibles and Christian literature.
Charles’ health declined in 1917. He and Lettie returned to America. In January 1918, they received news that the gospel had been shared with about 60 million Japanese people.
Lettie began writing “Streams in the Desert” while caring for her husband. It was published in 1925 under the name of Mrs. Charles Cowman. She often said, “I did not write ‘Streams.’ God gave me ‘Streams.’”
The book continues to be one of the most popular daily devotionals and has been compared to the success of Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest.”
After her husband died in 1924, she found a note addressed to her: “Go on with my unfinished task.”
In 1928 she became the third president of OMS. Until then its work had been in Japan, Korea and China. Lettie felt a calling to proclaim the gospel to other nations. In Eastern Europe the work expanded into such countries as Poland and Czechoslovakia. Then missionaries reached Cuba, Mexico and Columbia. OMS is now called OMS International.
During her missionary work and afterward, Cowman continued writing. Following “Streams,” she wrote 10 other books including “Springs in the Valley,” “Missionary Warrior” and “Praise Changes Things.”
She died on Easter — April 17, 1960.
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