This past weekend, I had the distinct pleasure to be present in my home church for a very special and inspiring worship service, one dedicated to the lives of American Baptist missionaries James & Charma Covell. These two people not only spent their lives spreading the word of God and ultimately died for their faith, they also lived a life of service that inspires me.
In 1920, James and Charma Moore Covell began teaching English and scripture at the Nanto Gakiun University in Japan. As the second World War was dawning on the horizon and Japan became more and more militaristic, the Covells became increasingly uneasy. Their Christian values, after all, taught them peace and love and not hate and war. As early as 1932, Charma expressed her increasing concern:
“One thing I can’t but speak of is the fundamentally disconcerting fact of the attitude of Japan’s military in the face of world opinion. Perhaps you can imagine how it feels for one who is bent first of all on creating peace in the sense of cooperation as opposed to competing, to exist in this welter of nationalism – at any rate I can assure you that it is the sort of thing that scares the heart.”
The Reverend and Mrs. Covell refused to participate in the university’s increasing militarism – and as a result were removed from their posts and forced to return to America in 1939. This was, as you can imagine, a terribly upsetting moment in their lives – they had been in Japan for nearly 20 years and had developed a tremendous love and respect for their neighbors and their adopted country. They were fluent in not only the language but also the customs and traditions of Japanese culture. Not willing to give up their mission, after a brief sojourn in America, the Covells attempted to return to teaching in Japan – but were refused entry into the country. They had to settle for teaching in the Philippines, taking posts at the Central Philippine College along with 16 other missionaries. Their 3 children were sent to Manila and then eventually back to America for their educations – an action that would ultimately save the childrens’ lives.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the missionaries on their island in the Philippines met and decided to carry on with their missions as long as possible. The university was closed and many fled to inland towns. Seven of the missionaries (and five of their children) were captured and sent to an internment camp in Manila. The remaining eleven missionaries, including James and Charma, fled to a mountain hideout, which they named Hopevale. In that remote and desolate location, the missionaries gathered with American miners and their families and Filipino friends in a ravine setting they called “The Chapel in the Glen” for worship, hymns, and prayer.
In July 1942, the residents at Hopevale received word from their imprisoned colleagues in Manila that the invading Japanese army had vowed to kill all foreigners they found. The Hopevale missionaries, still unwilling to abandon God’s work, decided to stay in their makeshift home and to stay together to face whatever may come.
On December 19, 1943, Japanese soldiers invaded Hopevale during their weekly worship service. Many of the mining families had fled just hours before. All told, only the 11 missionaries, 1 missionary’s child, 3 miners and 2 of the miners’ children remained in the camp. All scattered and the men stood a fair chance of survival but, with the capture of the women and children, the men surrendered and all were imprisoned overnight. Knowing the Japanese army’s plan for foreigners, who were assumed to be spies, James and Charma pleaded for the lives of the camp’s residents. The Covells, because of their years in Japan, spoke the language fluently and knew the culture of their captors. Captain Tai Watanabe, the commander of the Japanese forces, was so visibly moved by the Covells words that he radioed headquarters hoping (we presume) for lenience. Sadly, the next day he received a response that the Covells’ insistence that they had nothing to do with the war was to no avail: the anti-foreigner mandate must stand. The American residents of Hopevale would be put to death.
Knowing that their deaths were certain, the missionaries asked for their final hours to pray together. What could they possibly have been saying to God? Was it anger? Pleading for their lives? Sorrow for time lost? Thoughts of their loved ones back in America? We will never know what those last terrifying moments must have held for those brave souls. All that is certain (having been witnessed by several Filipino residents of Hopevale) is that one by one, each adult was taken to the very mountain top and beheaded. The children were stabbed there in camp. And all of the bodies were stacked into one of their huts and burned.
An interesting side note to this story is that another missionary and a local visitor would later visit the site “as soon as it was safe to do so” and interred the bodies in a proper Christian ceremony. While performing this service, the men noticed that Mrs. Covell’s body had apparently been afforded a special honor, having been wrapped and placed carefully. Was this perhaps a sign of respect from the foot soldiers responsible for disposing of the bodies, a tribute to Mrs. Covell’s obvious knowledge of their homeland?
Part of the Covell legacy is an educational scholarship in their names given away every year in the town of LeRoy. Selection for the award is based on “academic interests, service to the community, and commitment to Jesus Christ.” I am honored to have been chosen all those years ago – how much I wish that I, as a recipient of a scholarship in the honor of these amazing people, had known more about their lives and their service to humanity! How much of a lesson I missed when, at the self-absorbed age of 18, I had not realized what an honor it was to be presented with this award!
The First Baptist Church of LeRoy is my home church – as it was the home church of James Covell. Having grown up in my own home town, this man went on to do an amazing thing. The story of the Covells not only appeals to my inner history nerd, it brings forth questions of faith and commitment. The Covells were willing to die for their faith – how many of us can claim that? And, unlike the terrorists of 9/11, the missionaries of Hopevale died for their belief in peace, nonviolence, and hope. These amazing people lived their lives in service to mankind and paid the ultimate price for that service. How glad I am that I finally got to know the rest of this truly inspiring story!
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Mr and Mrs covells were great examples to me, i have wished to join the ministry to preach to the lost souls and bring them back to God if i am giving that great opportunity i will gladly serve the lord with all my life.
What a great inspiration for us today. A brave souls who sacrificed their lives just to bring the gospel to every one. Thank You for all the missionaries.
I just read a book about this family during World War II: Wounded Tiger by T. Martin Bennett. I’ll be writing a review soon at http://awell-wateredgarden.blogspot.com
Is there a place I could get more information on the Covell family? Thank you!
I am the daughter of David Covell.
I would be happy to help you
Yes indeed such a sad yet inspirational true story. My father, David Andrew Covell, was the son of James and Charma Covell.