Rees Howells, Intercessor
by Norman Grubb
This biography of Rees Howells is perhaps one of the best expositions of what goes into the making of a true intercessor before God. I believe it is essential reading for anyone who calls themselves an intercessor, or for those who are being called into it. It describes a life far different from that pursued by a 'prayer warrior' and there is even a chapter that describes the difference between them. If you have ever wondered what was going on in your life, you may find your answers here.
Rees Howells (10 October 1879 – 13 February 1950) was a Welsh miner, and founder of the Bible College of Wales. His entire life was a life of faith and trust in God to live up to and keep His promises. He didn't live his life as a challenge to God, but was taught of God to this end. This autobiography gives us a detailed look at the inner workings of what it takes to conform a man into such. Many of his stories concern his faith and trust for God to provide, and the many tests he went through until he came to the place where God could use him to buy the properties that constituted the Bible College with as little strain on his faith as if he were changing his socks.
Rees Howells also recounts the many trials he had to endure, one of which was the giving up of their son to be raised by another family member while they went to Africa, where he was used to begin a revival that fulfilled the promise of 10,000 souls for the Kingdom of God. Other trials were his own health, as well as that of his wife and many others.
God used the great faith of Rees Howells and the students of the Bible College he founded to accomplish two things. One was to intercede before God concerning the issues of WW2, including Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, Sarajevo and many other battles. It is possible that everything that preceded this time was just training to endure the strain, and to be able to hear from God despite all evidence to the contrary. In fact, it was this period of intercession that broke his health and body. It was also this during this time of intercession that God promised him there would be 10,000 others who would lay down their lives as he had, to see the Gospel preached to every creature before His return.
You will learn more from this little book concerning prayer and intercession, the costs, the training, and the rewards than you will anywhere else. I believe it should be necessary reading for anyone who believes or desires to be an intercessor, and absolutely for anyone who is called of God to this purpose. It has been a guiding light for my own walk, and has helped me to understand more of what God was doing in my own life than any teaching I received anywhere else. Even if intercession is not your calling, it still bears reading, if only to be able to understand and support those who are.
As a final word, the testimony of his enduring legacy is that the Bible College of Wales is still in operation, at one of the properties originally purchased. It has also produced many great men and women of the faith, including the evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, founder of Christ for the nations. For those who want to learn more about Rees Howells, the history of this Bible College or find out more about its programmes, you can find out more here.