It began like a fairytale-amidst mint
juleps and magnolias in Mississippi. But
as their love grew, its fruit flourished
and spread to a most unlikely place-
across the mission fields of Africa. The
Yankee Officer and the Southern Belle is
the vivid recollection of how God called
Nell and Jack Chinchen from the comforts
of their "perfect" life to a risky,
lifelong journey they would never
regret. More than forty years ago, the
Chinchens arrived in Liberia, West
Africa, as missionaries. They had left
family, thriving ministries and a
successful business. Their new life in
the jungle would bring perils: tropical
diseases, witch doctors, fire and even
rebel invasion. Yet joy overflowed in
their faithfulness to God's call-
training pastors, teaching children,
pioneering medical ministry. And their
work wouldn't stop at the boundaries of
their bamboo mission station. As the
ministry expanded, God led the Chinchens
to establish African Bible Colleges and
Radio ABC, sending the Gospel across the
continent. Looking back now, as the
Chinchens live and work in Malawi, Nell
is certain about the author of her
story. "Africa," she says... "the place
that God had written on my heart before
the foundation of the world."
juleps and magnolias in Mississippi. But
as their love grew, its fruit flourished
and spread to a most unlikely place-
across the mission fields of Africa. The
Yankee Officer and the Southern Belle is
the vivid recollection of how God called
Nell and Jack Chinchen from the comforts
of their "perfect" life to a risky,
lifelong journey they would never
regret. More than forty years ago, the
Chinchens arrived in Liberia, West
Africa, as missionaries. They had left
family, thriving ministries and a
successful business. Their new life in
the jungle would bring perils: tropical
diseases, witch doctors, fire and even
rebel invasion. Yet joy overflowed in
their faithfulness to God's call-
training pastors, teaching children,
pioneering medical ministry. And their
work wouldn't stop at the boundaries of
their bamboo mission station. As the
ministry expanded, God led the Chinchens
to establish African Bible Colleges and
Radio ABC, sending the Gospel across the
continent. Looking back now, as the
Chinchens live and work in Malawi, Nell
is certain about the author of her
story. "Africa," she says... "the place
that God had written on my heart before
the foundation of the world."
