Missionary doctor, preacher, writer, professor and evangelist Rosewell Graves recognized the decades-long problem of taking the gospel to Chinese women, who often stayed in their homes. After failed attempts at evangelizing, he decided that only women could break down that barrier. He trained and encouraged Christian women to take the Bible from house to house, sharing the good news of Jesus with unbelieving females. The results of this novel approach were undeniable in China and quickly became key to spreading the gospel throughout the country.

Rosewell wrote to his mother, Ann Graves, about the new strategy. Ann was deeply moved by her son’s message and she began to meet regularly with women to learn more about mission strategies and to pray. These meetings sparked a movement of women supporting missionaries, and this vital movement would become the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU).

Rosewell spent 56 years in China. He stayed until his death in 1912, the same year that Lottie Moon passed away.