Frank Laubach is not a name most are familiar with, yet he is a great teacher and humble example of a man seeking to serve our Lord.
Frank was an Evangelical Christian missionary to Muslims in the Philippines, lived from 1884 to 1970. His witness and prayer life led to millions of illiterate people around the world learning to read through his innovative methods.
His journal entries were later published as Letters By a Modern Mystic, an all time great classic of Christian devotion. His words of prayer, his thoughts and experiences are read by millions of people around the world every year.
Laubach taught a variety of practical methods for practicing God’s presence in love for the people we serve.
Along with the book " Brother Lawrence’s Practicing the Presence of God (link) I would also recommend "The Game with Minutes" by Frank Laubach" (link)
Living Each Moment with a Sense of God’s Presence: Frank Laubach
Introductory Note:
What a pleasure today to acquaint (or reacquaint) you with Frank Laubach. A pioneer in global literacy and an acclaimed educator and administrator, Laubach was above all (or maybe we should say “beneath all”) a man of prayer. Letters by a Modern Mystic is a collection of letters Laubach wrote while living on the Philippine island of Mindanao. It reveals a man utterly dedicated to an “experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God.” Carolyn Arends Director of Education, Renovaré
"Introduction to the Author
In 1915 Frank Laubach went with his wife to the Philippine Islands as a missionary. After founding churches on the island of Mindanao, he established and became dean of Union College in Manila. In 1930 he returned to Mindanao to work with the Mohammedan Moros who regarded the Christian Filipinos as their enemies. Laubach, however, went with a heart filled with the presence of God and sought only to live among them, not trying to coerce them into Christianity, but living each moment with a sense of God’s presence.
It is estimated that through his educational efforts he was responsible for teaching one-half of the ninety thousand people in that area to read and write. More than that, he has brought thousands of people to a richer experience of God. The following reading comes from the letters he wrote during his Mindanao days.
Excerpts from Letters by a Modern Mystic
1. Open Windows
January 3, 1930
To be able to look backward and say, “This, this has been the finest year of any life” — that is glorious! But anticipation! To be able to look ahead and say, “The present year can and will be better!” — that is more glorious! I have done nothing but open windows — God has done the rest. There has been a succession of marvelous experiences of the friendship of God. I resolved that I would succeed better this year with my experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God than I succeeded last year. And I added another resolve — to be as wide open toward people and their need as I am toward God. Windows open outward as well as upward. Windows open especially downward where people need the most!.." from the article: Living Each Moment with a Sense of God’s Presence: Frank Laubach