The book In the Province of the Dragon: A Pioneer Deaconess in Southern China from the Boxer Uprising to the Communist Insurgency, by Robert and Linda Banks, offers a poignant and inspiring account of Sophie Sackville Newton, a pioneering deaconess whose mission work in China profoundly impacted the lives of countless Chinese people. Through this heartfelt narrative, Sophie emerges as a transformative figure—not only as a missionary but also as an advocate for women's education, social reform, and the establishment of Christian communities during a time of immense cultural and political upheaval.
Before arriving in China, Sophie's life in Australia had already been shaped by a deep and personal walk of faith. Born in 1867 and baptized in the Anglican church, Sophie felt a calling to Christian service from an early age. Her teenage years were shaped by her devotion to Daily Light, a widely used devotional booklet, which became a guiding influence in her life. Sophie faced significant personal challenges, including the death of her father and the economic struggles of her family, but she remained steadfast in her faith, trusting that God would guide her path.
In 1886, while caring for her ailing aunt in Mudgee, Sophie entered a courtship with a promising young man—the son of a wealthy grazier and businessman. He proposed marriage, and she accepted. Yet as the relationship deepened, Sophie began to sense a tension in her spirit. After much soul-searching, she painfully ended the engagement, feeling that God was calling her toward a different path—one that required singleness and a willingness to wait for His direction. This quiet but defining decision became the first of many acts of surrender in her lifelong journey of service. In 1892, Sophie's calling was formally recognized when she was ordained as a deaconess. She had already begun preparing herself for missionary work by studying materials on China and engaging with local Christian communities.
The path became clearer in 1895, when tragedy struck in Fukien Province, China. On Flower Mountain, above the village of Hwasang, ten missionaries and a child were brutally killed by memebers of a militant anti-Western group known as the "Vegetarian Society." The massacre shocked mission communities across the globe. While some questioned the safety and even legitimacy of missionary efforts, the event stirred a powerful resolve in others—particularly among women. Many stepped forward to take the place of those who had fallen. Sophie was one of the first to do so. Her decision to go to China in the wake of such danger reflects not only courage, but a deep faith that transcended fear.
Sophie's ministry was rooted in a Christian commitment to love one's neighbor and serve God's will in practical ways. One of the clearest examples of this was her relationship with Ding Ngu Seük-ching and her two children, Daik-hok and Ai-cio, into her care. Fleeding domestic abuse and homelessness, the family arrived at Sophie's mission station with nothing but desperation. Sophie welcomed them without hesitation, offering shelter, stability, and care. She encouraged the mother to enroll in the Women's School and later supported her as a "Bible-woman" involved in local evangelism. When Ai-cio came of age, Sophie took great delight in preparing her wedding trousseau and giving her away in marriage, as any proud mother would. When Daik-hok later joined the anti-Qing revolution, Sophie endorsed his partiotic commitment, gently urging him to keep his love for God above all else.
Sophie's educational efforts were as radical as they were compassionate. In 1899, she founded the Women's and Girls' Schools in a culture where women's roles were rigidly confined to the domestic sphere. She taught her students literacy, arithmetic, hygiene, household management, and the Bible. Within a few years, her school was sending graduates to Teacher's Training College in Fuzhou—unheard of achievements for women of that time. But education wasn't just about academics. Sophie actively intervened in unjust practices like child marriage. In one instance, she learned that a student had been forcibly engaged by her mother to become a second wife to a non-Christian man. Though the engagement was already publicly sealed with gifts and a feast, Sophie and her team prayed fervently, counseled the girl, and made repeated visits under sweltering heat to both families. Against all cultural expectations, the engagement was broken, and the girl was freed. Sophie later described going away with a light heart—proof that prayer, persistence, and love could disrupt even the most entrenched social customs.
Her time in China was not without disruption. Floods delayed school terms. The Boxer Uprising brought fear and instability. Political changes, health crises, and spiritual fatigue all came in waves. Yet through it all, Sophie remained steadfast. Her schools grew, her community deepened, and her faith endured.
Sophie's influence extended beyond education to broader social reform. Whether combating opium addiction, opposing foot-binding, or advocating for the poor and the sick, Sophie's faith motivated her to act boldly in a turbulent period. Her work, documented in this book, continues to inspire those who believe in the transformative power of faith.
In January 1931, after 34 years of faithful service in China, Sophie left Fukien Province and returned to Australia. She settled in the quiet town of Woodford in the Blue Mountains, living simply in a cottage she named Tisleham. Though officially retired, she continued to serve as a deaconess and remained deeply involved in church life, writing letters, praying for the people of China, and offering support to furloughed missionaries. Her heart never really left the land she had once called home.
Sophie passed away on July 24, 1957. For her great-nephew Robert Banks, the story truly began after her death. As a child, he had only heard of "China Auntie", it wasn't until his mid-teens that he met her in person, by then a resident of a missionary retirement home in the city. During one memorable visit, she welcomed him with warmth and energy, spoke little of herself, and much of his life, faith, and future. At the end of their conversation, she knelt and prayed for him—a moment that left a lasting impression. After her passing, Robert was suprised to discover that Sophie had left him her personal papers: journals, letters, prayer diaries, annotated Bibles, and even a small fragment of an ancient Jewish scroll. In choosing him as the steward of her story, Sophie had planted a seed of writing her biography in Robert's heart that one day would grow into this very book.
Decades later, during their visit to China, Robert and Linda Banks had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Chen Maoring, the daughter of Daik-hok. In her early nineties, Mrs. Chen welcomed them into her home, sharing personal stories about her "grandma." She spoke of the persecution her father faced and his banishment to a labor camp during the hard times. Despite the hardships, she emphasized, "All through the hard times, I kept the faith in my heart." In a later visit to Fuzhou, Mrs. Chen brought her extended family, most of whom were Christians, to meet the authors. As they exchanged stories and gifts, Mrs. Chen's words left a lasting impact: "If grandma had not adopted my father and aunt, none of these people here would have existed!" These words reflect the deep and lasting influence Sophie had on generations of her adopted family.
Sophie's unwavering commitment to God's service, her profound love for others, and her role as a catalyst for change make her story a timeless example of faith in action. In the Province of the Dragon is not just a biography, but a tribute to a life that fully embraced the gospel of Christ, inspiring readers to live out their own faith with purpose and conviction.
As the book's preface beautifully states, "To single female servants of God who have risked all for the sake of Christ," Sophie's life is indeed a perfect record of devotion. She dedicated her entire life to the Lord, living out the words of Psalm 37:3-5: "Trust in the Lord and do good... Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will do this."
