A Little Girl With a Big Dream — and a God Big Enough to Fulfil It

On the day of her eighth birthday, Helen Roseveare sat in Sunday school, cutting and sticking pictures of faraway countries. And in her heart, she made a decision: "When I grow up, I will travel the world and tell other boys and girls about Jesus."

She had no idea what that decision would cost. Or what it would produce. Or how the God who heard that childhood prayer would take the life of an ordinary girl from Hertfordshire and use it to change the lives of thousands of people in the heart of Africa.

Helen Roseveare is a beautifully illustrated children's biography that is part of the Do Great Things for God series, designed to show kids that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Written by Laura Caputo-Wickham and illustrated by Cecilia Messina, it tells the true story of one of the most remarkable Christian women of the twentieth century — in a way that is accessible, engaging, and genuinely moving for young readers and the adults who read with them. Westminster Bookstore

The Doctor Who Kept Going No Matter What

Helen was born in Hertfordshire, England, and went to Newnham College in Cambridge to study medicine. From there, she followed God's call to central Africa — to the Belgian Congo — where she served as a missionary doctor, building hospitals, training nurses, and bringing medical care and the gospel to communities who had little access to either. Amazon

But the road was not straightforward. Helen faced opposition, exhaustion, culture shock, and the peculiar loneliness of life as a single woman in demanding missionary work. And then, in 1964, when civil war broke out in the Congo, she was taken prisoner — held captive for months by rebel forces, experiencing suffering that would have broken a person of lesser faith.

The book shares the reality that Helen was captured and imprisoned for some time, presenting it in a way that is relevant but not scary or overwhelming for little readers. It reminds them of the Scripture that was near and dear to Helen's heart and displays her perseverance and trust in God as her protection. Goodreads

Through it all — the achievements and the hardships, the answered prayers and the suffering — Helen kept going. Because the God she trusted was bigger than everything she faced.

A Story That Inspires Without Airbrushing

One of the distinctive strengths of the Do Great Things for God series is its refusal to present Christian biography as a smooth, untroubled story of triumph. Laura Caputo-Wickham writes about Helen's life with honesty — the struggles are real, the suffering is acknowledged, and the faith that sustained her is shown to be genuinely tested rather than effortlessly maintained.

This honesty is one of the things that makes the book so effective for young readers. Children encounter a real woman who faced real difficulties and kept trusting a real God — and they come away not just inspired by Helen but drawn toward the God who kept her going.

As one endorser writes: "I would love to think that this powerful story of faith, sacrifice, courage and perseverance would inspire another generation of children to give their lives in the service of Jesus."

Features That Make This Book Exceptionally Useful

Beyond its beautifully illustrated narrative, Helen Roseveare includes several features that make it particularly valuable for families, churches, and educators:

A real-life photograph of Helen Roseveare — connecting the story to the actual person and making her tangibly real for young readers
A timeline of Helen's life — giving historical context and helping children place her story within the sweep of twentieth-century history
Discussion questions — helping children engage actively with what they have read and reflect on what it means for their own lives
Free downloadable extras — worksheets and additional resources available from The Good Book Company, making the book ideal for homeschool, Sunday school, missions events, and more

These books are perfect for young readers, families, and are great to share with your church family, especially during story time and during Sunday School. They also make a really lovely gift. 10ofthose.com

What This Book Covers

Helen's childhood decision to serve Jesus in faraway places — made at the age of eight in Sunday school
Her medical studies at Cambridge and her call to missionary service in central Africa
Her life as a missionary doctor in the Congo — building hospitals, training nurses, and bringing medical care and the gospel to underserved communities Amazon
The challenges and hardships of missionary life — including loneliness, opposition, and cultural difficulty
Her imprisonment during the 1964 Congo civil war — and the faith that sustained her through months of captivity
Her continued service after release and the lasting legacy of her life and work
The central theme that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things

What Children Will Discover

That God can take a childhood dream and use it to change the world
That faith in God is not the absence of difficulty but the presence of God in the midst of it
That missionary work is real, costly, and filled with the faithfulness of God
That women of faith — like Helen Roseveare — have played a vital role in the history of the church and the advance of the gospel
That keeping going, no matter what, is possible when you trust in the God who is always faithful
That they too are called to do great things for God — whatever those things may look like in their own lives

Who Should Read This Book

Parents of children aged 4–7 wanting to introduce their children to the lives of inspiring Christian missionaries
Families who want to share these books with their church family, especially during story time and Sunday school 10ofthose.com
Sunday school teachers and children's ministry leaders wanting a beautifully illustrated, discussion-ready missions biography
Churches in India running missions events or children's programmes — Helen's story of gospel-driven service in a non-Western context resonates particularly powerfully
Homeschooling families wanting a high-quality biography for early readers that combines faith, history, and character formation
Grandparents and family members looking for a meaningful and beautifully produced Christian gift for a young child
Anyone wanting to give children a hero worth admiring — not a fictional superhero but a real woman who trusted a real God

What Endorsers Are Saying

"Helen Roseveare's story engages and inspires the reader. Children will relate to Helen's emotions and dreams as she was growing up. They will be inspired by her courageous life and service. They will hear stories of God's faithfulness. I'm going to give copies to as many families as I can." — Women's worker at St Nicholas Sevenoaks, Kent Westminster Bookstore

"I love this book! It's beautifully written and perfectly illustrated. Helen's story of bravery, trust and deep joy in her Lord in the midst of great suffering is truly inspirational — for both young children and their parents. It left me deeply moved and hugely encouraged!" — Women's Ministry Coordinator, Uptown Church; author, The Envy of Eve Westminster Bookstore

"I have great pleasure endorsing this little book about my dear friend and missionary colleague, Dr Helen. It is so well written and illustrated that it should inspire and excite many children." — Missionary colleague of Helen Roseveare

About the Author

Laura Caputo-Wickham is a children's author originally from Rome, now based in Kent, UK with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, Laura works as a school librarian, sharing her love of books with students. She is also actively involved in her church community, leading Bible studies with her husband and helping run the church's bookshop. She is the author of several titles in the Do Great Things for God series, including books on Fanny Crosby, Betty Greene, Gladys Aylward, and Amy Carmichael. Her writing is characterised by warmth, narrative accessibility, and a genuine gift for making the lives of great Christian women engaging and inspiring for very young readers. Christianbook.com

About the Illustrator

Cecilia Messina was born and raised in Sicily, Italy. As a child, she loved drawing her favourite characters from comic books, illustrated books, and animation movies. Her vibrant, expressive, and emotionally engaging illustrations bring the world of Helen Roseveare to life for young readers — depicting the range of countries, cultures, and emotions that Helen's extraordinary life encompassed. Christianbook.com

About the Do Great Things for God Series

The Do Great Things for God series is designed to show kids that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. The series explores the lives of inspiring Christian women and will enthuse young children about the great things they can do for God. The books can be read to young children aged 4–5 and read independently by children aged 6 and above. Amazon10ofthose.com

Other titles in the series include: