Prince Kaboo’s head hung over his chest. Every part of his body ached from being tied to a wooden cross and then beaten. His back stung like fire from whippings with poisonous vines that also caused chills and fever.
All Kaboo could think about was death, and he welcomed it. Then the continual torture and starvation would stop, inflicted by the powerful Grebo tribe, who’d taken him captive in central Liberia. They used Kaboo to extort “peace payments” from his father, chieftain of the neighboring Kru tribe. He was only fourteen years old; the year, 1887.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared over Kaboo. The ropes that held him to the cross fell off, and a voice called, “Kaboo! Run!” He felt miraculous strength return to his emaciated body.
Kaboo did as the voice commanded, dashing for the jungle and hiding inside a hollow tree until nightfall. Questions swarmed in his head. Where had the light come from? Who spoke to him? How did he become instantaneously strong? Kaboo had no answers.
The young prince did know he could not return home. The Grebos would just come for him again. So Kaboo determined to go in the opposite direction. At nightfall when he emerged from the tree, Kaboo was startled to see the light still shining above him. It guided him through the jungle.
Kaboo walked many days and finally came to a farm where he met one of the workers who happened to come from his tribe. That young man introduced Kaboo to the boss, who gave him a job.
The fellow tribesman took Kaboo to church on Sunday.
There he heard the story of a man named Saul who saw a great light and heard a voice.
“That’s what happened to me!” Kaboo exclaimed. He realized the same Jesus who spoke to Saul had spoken to him, and he invited Jesus into his life. Soon after, an American missionary, Miss Knolls, gave Kaboo a new name: Samuel Morris, after her benefactor.
Months later Kaboo met a boy who’d been a slave in the Grebo tribe when Sammy (as he came be known) was held hostage. The boy told Sammy, “We didn’t know what happened to you. A bright light flashed over you, someone called your name, and then you were gone!”
Sammy explained the miracle of his escape and the boy became a Christian too.
A dream began to form in Sammy’s heart, to head for America where there’d be knowledgeable teachers and many books about God. He was hungry to learn. So Sammy set out on foot for the coast where he found a ship headed to America.
He offered to work in exchange for passage but the captain declined.
“Oh Lord,” Sammy prayed. “Change his heart!”
And God answered. One of the sailors became sick and Sammy was assigned his tasks. Others on board mistreated him, but Sammy’s kindheartedness won them over, and by voyage’s end many chose to believe in Jesus, including the captain.
Upon arrival in New York City, Sammy set out to find Stephen Merritt. According to his missionary friends back in Liberia, this superintendent of a homeless mission would gladly help him.
Sammy stayed several months with Stephen, learning to know God better and assisting with the mission work. His passion for Jesus was contagious and many of the men who came through the mission also accepted Christ into their lives.
Stephen urged Sammy to go to Taylor University in Indiana to continue his education. The superintendent contacted the school’s president, Thaddeus Reade, on Sammy’s behalf.
This was the same university where the missionary, Miss Knolls, had attended. By December of 1891, Sammy had enrolled at Taylor and planned to become a missionary himself to the people of Liberia.
On May 12, 1893, the unthinkable occurred. Sammy died from a respiratory infection.
Some would say, “Why would God allow such a tragedy?”
But here’s what happened.
A few days after Sammy’s funeral, one Taylor student declared in a prayer meeting, “I feel impressed this moment that I must go to Africa in Sammy’s place, and I pray that as his work has fallen upon me, the mantle of his faith may also fall upon me.”[1]
Two more of that group affirmed they felt God wanted them to go to Africa also. Instead of one missionary—Samuel Morris—there would be three. And many more have followed.
In addition, five books and a film chronicle his life. In Sinoe County, Liberia, stands the Samuel Morris Educational Resource and Conference Center—a joint project of Taylor University, the Sinoe County Association of the Americas (SCAA), and local agencies in Liberia. At Taylor, scholarships and a dorm bear his name, and the school still prepares missionaries to serve around the world.
“Samuel Morris was a divinely sent messenger of God to Taylor University. He thought he was coming over here to prepare himself for his mission to his people, but his coming was to prepare Taylor University for her mission to the whole world. All who met him were impressed with his sublime, yet simple faith in God.”[2]
Thaddeus Reade
[1] https://pillars.taylor.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=samuel-morris
[2] https://www.taylor.edu/about/samuel-morris
Sources:
https://www.taylor.edu/about/samuel-morris
https://wellsofgrace.com/biography/english/morris.htm
Photo sources: http://www.picryl.com; http://www.wikimedia.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.picryl.com; http://www.wikimedia.org.
From the Inside Out 
I don’t know when I’ve ever been more inspired by a person’s story of salvation, Nancy. What miracles young Samuel encountered by the hand of God, and he chose to listen, follow and obey all the days of his life. We may not always see a blinding light and an audible voice, but God is speaking directly to us each and every day if we open our hearts and our minds to Him and His will.
Blessings, my friend!
Not many young men Sammy’s age are so committed, so in tune with God. His story inspired me; I’m glad you found inspiration here too, Martha!
An Amazing story. We serve an amazing God who sees far ahead.
Amen, Gary, and thank you for the reminder. Sometimes my shortsightedness gets in the way!
This story makes me want to fall to the floor and praise Jesus. Thank You Lord!
Praise God Sammy’s story inspires worship! “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted” (Job 5:9)!
This is such a powerful story! Thank you for sharing!
Isn’t it amazing what God did in Sammy, for Sammy, and through him? I’m looking forward to meeting him in heaven!
fascinating story. Taylor is about an hour or little more from me and I have been to that campus several times, Didn’t know this story though, Amazing!
Taylor University happens to be my alma mater, Jean. I’ve know about Sammy for decades, but learned much more as i researched for this post. I agree: his story IS amazing!
Yes!
Thank you for your suggestions, Mitch!
this man of God’s legacy lives on. i didn’t realize Taylor University had been around this long. this is inspirational, friend …
Taylor was established in 1846, although its first campus was in Ft. Wayne, IN. It moved to Upland, IN in 1893. If I remember correctly, Sammy was scheduled to sing and speak at the dedication service for the new campus, but died several weeks before the event. So glad you found inspiration here, Linda!
I had never heard this story before. Very inspiring! Isn’t it amazing what God can do in one life that is committed to Him. I’m so glad that you shared this story with your readers.
Thank you, Kathy. Sammy’s story IS thrilling, from the miracles in his life to his broad influence–all because of his passionate commitment to Christ–just as you noted!
What a powerful story of the sovereignty of God! So inspiring and thank you Nancy!
You’re so welcome, Pam! I’m delighted that others are finding his story as inspiring as I have.
A moving and masterful telling of Morris’ story Nancy! At any point in his story, it is easy to pose a “why did this have to happen” yet read on and the answer comes in the salvation of others. God’s plans are far greater than our question “Why?” Morris’ life certainly shows that the “Why” should be traded in for a “Wait and see what God does.”
Wonderful insight, Beth! Thank you so much for sharing. You are so right: we’d do well to trade in our “Why” questions for a “Wait and see what God does” statement of faith and expectation.
Nancy,
God always has a bigger plan. But Samuel was a missionary and his life left behind proved it. In Christ, Gary
You’re right, Gary. Sammy’s missionary work continues as others take the good news of Christ to the places he desired to go.
Really inspirational story! We will never know how or why God works in HIS time and mysterious ways but we can know that he cares for us inspite of what we have to go through. Thanks Nancy for this wonderful story.
Amen, Sam! (You have my permission to remind me of what you said, when severe challenges arise!)
What a wonderful story Nancy! We can never know how God uses people and why! It sounded like a very sad story but only God knew how Sammy’s life would encourage others to do God’s work. Also, I am very familiar with Taylor! I spent many som
God did use Sammy in an unexpected way. That’s good truth to keep in mind–that God’s ways don’t always coincide with what we think is right. But his ways are PERFECT. / Were you going to say you spent summers at Taylor? (Perhaps at one of their sports camps?) You’ll have to come back and finish this comment! For some reason it got cut off.)
Thanks so much for the detailed description of Sammy’s life journey. How inspiring to learn more of his conversion. A beautifully written history that I’ll never forget. I am so thankful that the Lord led me to Taylor University where I met you, Nancy!
And I feel the same! We were honored, weren’t we, to follow in Sammy’s footsteps at Taylor (though not at the same campus).
Wow! What an inspiring story! Thank you!
Thank you for stopping by, Bridget. So glad you found inspiration in Sammy’s story!
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it, Nancy.
I’m so glad you found wonder in Sammy’s story, Ann. He is a worthy example for us to follow!
Thanks for sharing this story, Nancy! Bill and I saw the movie, and were moved by it.
I’ve never seen it–will have to look for it! Thank you for the recommendation, Mary.
What a wonderful story, and new to me! Thank you Nancy. Beautifully written too.
Thank you, Colleen. Delighted I could introduce you to Sammy Morris!
This story is such a powerful lesson of life; that is, leave a legacy. It seems those who live their lives most meaningfully are the same ones whose missions live on for years, if not indefinitely. Thank you for sharing this story, Nancy. The first paragraph reminded me of those brutal scenes in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”, but the rest of the story was so captivating I soon forgot how it even started.
I’m sure Sammy would be surprised to know his story is still being told, and would-be missionaries are still inspired by his life. Then again, perhaps he already knows as others have come through heaven’s gates on account of him–even today due to the ripple effect.