About the Author
Shirley-May Hardy is a Christian missionary and prayer intercessor whose extraordinary testimony spans seven decades of faithful service. From her roots on a Lincolnshire farm to prayer ministries across the globe, Shirley’s life demonstrates that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Though officially retired for 24 years, this intercessor continues her work, proving that God’s calling has no age limit.
Shirley’s testimony, All in God’s Time, was written with Joy Vee, who grew up listening to Shirley’s stories of God’s faithfulness. Joy writes: “Auntie Shirley isn’t a celebrity or a ‘famous Christian’. She is a person who surrendered her life fully to God and who delights to spend time with Him. She proves God can use anyone, even someone from a farming community in rural Lincolnshire.”
Welcome to our blog, Shirley! Can you tell me more about yourself, where you live and who you live with?
I live alone in the beautiful village of Melton in Suffolk. Although I’ve been officially retired for 24 years, I’m still a missionary with an organisation that doesn’t have an age limit for stopping, so I’m still enjoying many things! I’m especially grateful to be part of a church in Capel St Mary, and I’m continuing with all the work I started in Australia.
So, why did you start writing?
Since I became a Christian at 14 years old, I’ve been involved in the church as an intercessor and missionary. Over the years, many people have asked me to put my experiences down on paper. With the help of Joy Vee, I finally did it.
What do you want your writing to communicate?
That whoever we are, the Lord wants to use us, and there is nothing – health or education or anything else – that needs to get in the way or to stop us. My missionary testimony shows that God’s calling isn’t limited by our circumstances. I was born prematurely with physical disabilities, without much formal education, and living on limited means, yet God used me to establish prayer ministries and travel the world. If He can use me, He can use anyone who is willing.
What keeps you writing on your darkest day? What’s your passion?
The Lord keeps me going, because He is the one who has worked many miracles in my life over and over again. When I look back at how He provided, guided, and opened doors that seemed impossible, I want to share my testimony and encourage others in prayer and intercession.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on another book with details of how I set up different prayer teams, taught people, and encouraged groups of people to take the first step in what God has put in their heart.
Wow! Thanks so much for joining us, Shirley.
Inspired by Shirley?
At Broad Place Publishing, we operate on a partnership model where we ask people like you to partner with us to support our authors in their ministry. We don’t believe they should have to pay thousands of pounds to bring amazing God-honouring content into the world, but sadly, that’s the reality with most publishing models in these challenging times. If you want to support Shirley with a regular or one-off donation, you can do so by joining her VIP club here. If you want to pray for Shirley, you can sign up to her prayer team here.
Interested in All in God’s Time?
You can also support Shirley by purchasing her book. Writing a book takes hundreds of hours of work, and you get to benefit for just a few pounds (similar to a cup of coffee and slice of cake).
While you’re considering that, why not pray about someone who could benefit from the message of All in God’s Time, and buy them a copy as a gift too?
Read more about All in God’s Time here.
Purchase All in God’s Time here.