Finlay and Julia Graham

When a young, widowed missionary woman with a son fell in love with a Scottish missionary, the couple made plans for their future. But would God continue to open doors for them in the Middle East?

DECADES OF SERVICE
1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

MINISTRY EMPHASIS
Evangelism & Church Planting

AFFINITY GROUP
North African and Middle Eastern Peoples

When a young, widowed missionary woman with a son fell in love with a Scottish missionary, the couple made plans for their future. But would God continue to open doors for them in the Middle East?

Julia was devastated by the loss of her husband, but she knew one thing for certain: God intended for her to stay in the Middle East and serve as a missionary. In order to improve her Arabic skills, she moved to a new area with her young son for language study. Struggling with advanced Arabic, she was grateful for the tutoring offered by Finlay Graham, a missionary from Scotland. In time, they fell in love, and Finlay was approved for appointment by the Foreign Mission Board on their wedding day.

Since both had committed themselves to missions in the Middle East, they followed a request from the FMB to begin Baptist work in a new country. The work was not easy, and they faced resistance from not only Muslims, but also from anti-evangelical sects. When Finlay boldly held services in a village controlled by a local bishop, he was threatened, and violence broke out against those who gathered to hear about Christ. The bishop, upset that 25 people had publicly professed their faith in Jesus, ordered others in the village to avoid the “heretical” teachings of the missionary. But still they gathered, hungry for truth. The Grahams continued to see churches planted, and Baptist work grow in the Middle East.