Phoebe Holmes was born in Michigan, USA, in 1891. As a teenager, she found her faith through the Salvation Army, an experience that set her on a lifelong path of Christian service.
Feeling a distinct calling to China, Phoebe, aged 19, set out in 1910 to begin her missionary work in the village of Waang Kong, 30 miles northwest of Canton. There, she and a colleague rented a building and held evangelistic meetings, which were well attended. Phoebe found that her teaching brought many to faith. She was a natural evangelist. She travelled tirelessly, sharing the gospel message throughout villages within a 15-mile radius. They opened a boys’ school.
They moved on to Chong Kong, renting a building there for their meetings. There they opened a girls’ school. Their work was hampered by civil unrest at that time. In 1920 when Chong Kong was burned during civil war, Phoebe was rescued by another group of missionaries, amongst whom was John Rutherford Spence. Their partnership blossomed both personally and in ministry and in 1921 they got married in China. Chinese marriage and feasting at that time was an expensive matter and couples often went into a lifetime of debt after their marriages. John and Phoebe resolved theirs should be a simple celebration.
For several months, the newlyweds lived in Canton, where John attended language school while Phoebe continued her ministry.
In August 1922, their first daughter, Margaret Blanche, was born during a family holiday in Macau. Soon after, the couple was called further inland to take over the demanding work in Waitsap (Huaiji) and Leung Tsuen, overseeing multiple stations and seeing to meetings, conversions, and baptisms.
Their time in China was fraught with danger, because of the Communist civil unrest. On one occasion, the Spences had to be rescued and escorted to safety when Waitsap was encircled by hostile forces.
In 1924, the family relocated to Sainam, thirty miles northwest of Canton, where Rev Spence took on the superintendence of the Assemblies of God’s work in South China. This new role included managing the Missionary Home. Phoebe ran the Home, managing supplies from Canton and caring for Margaret with the help of their amah, Ah Luk. The Home became a hub for missionaries—some learning language, others passing through—while Rev Spence was often away, overseeing meetings, baptisms, and communion services.
Phoebe’s second pregnancy prompted a furlough in 1924, during which she returned to Michigan, USA and gave birth to Ellen Jean. She settled in Flint with her two daughters and her parents, but she did not remain idle. Instead, she ministered in local churches and travelled across Canada, speaking at missionary conventions, where many young people came to faith under her teaching.
After ten months apart, John Spence returned from China in March 1925, reuniting the family in Flint. The demands of missionary conventions were great, especially for Phoebe, whose schedule eventually led to a breakdown in her health while visiting Chicago. She struggled with asthma from then on.
In January 1927, Spence sailed to China but returned in April, with Phoebe’s health being a pressing concern. He took up a pastorate in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba. There, a revival was underway, and during their two-year stay, 150 people were saved and baptised, with many going on to serve in missions or church leadership.
In April 1928, a third daughter, Patricia Holmes, was born. Ever the hospitable soul, Phoebe’s home became a sanctuary for young people in Gilbert Plains, hosting weekly street services and a variety of activities.
After a period of recovery, the Spences returned to China in 1929. Back in Sainam, Phoebe resumed management of the Missionary House, while John became District Evangelist. After three years, they moved to Sz Wui (Sihui), transforming the ground floor of their rented house into a chapel that soon overflowed with new believers. However, Phoebe’s fragile health caught up with her once more, and she developed pneumonia. She was sent to recuperate in Kunming the mountains of Yunnan, where the high altitude (7000 ft) and cool air helped her recover, though she relapsed upon her return.
Despite her physical struggles, Phoebe’s commitment never wavered. When her health limited her, she turned to a ministry of intercession, praying through the nights when sleep eluded her.
She made another visit to Kunming with her “Bible woman” which brought renewed strength.
In 1936 the whole family, including the two older daughters, was in Hong Kong. The doctor advised the best thing for Phoebe would be for the Spences to move to Kunming, which they did. Almost immediately Phoebe was better and able to sleep at night.
Unusually they were offered a mansion by one of Chiang Kai Shek’s generals which was perfect for making connections, holding meetings, (the dining room held 200) and ministering to children, adults, and students. Thus they began a work in this city.
In 1939, John Spence was cabled to return to Canada for a Missionary Convention, and he left Phoebe in Kunming, not knowing it would be his final farewell to her.
On April 7th 1939, while he was speaking at the Missionary Convention in the Evangel Temple in Toronto, Canada, John Spence was telephoned to be told his wife had died. She passed away in Kunming among the people that she loved and with two of her daughters. She was in her early 40s and her last words were in Cantonese. She was buried there in Yunnan Province.
Writing of her later, Spence said she was ‘a good wife, a splendid mother, a joyous Christian, a real prayer warrior.’ Hundreds had been brought to faith through her teaching in China, America and Canada.
After the war, John Rutherford Spence remarried and continued his missionary work in China. He died in 1976.
Phoebe Spence’s story is one of remarkable faith, resilience, and dedication – her influence extended from rural China to North America. She touched many lives.
Sources:
Consortium of Pentecostal Archives
Flower Pentecostal Heritage Centre
In Perils Oft in China by J Rutherford Spence (FPHC)
James (sic) Rutherford Spence by Don Kauffman (FPHC)
Phoebe Holmes Spence by Don Kauffman (FPHC)
Starvation Behind Barbed Wire by J Rutherford Spence (FPHC)
When You Were Absent by Frances Cook
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