Frank Laubach

Frank Charles Laubach was born on September 2, 1884, in Benton, Pennsylvania, to devout Christian parents who instilled in him both a love of learning and a sense of mission. His father was a blacksmith who later became a farmer; his mother taught school. The family's modest circumstances did not prevent Frank from excelling academically. He graduated from Princeton University in 1909, then earned a master's degree from Columbia University in 1915, and finally a doctorate in sociology from Columbia in 1915. His dissertation examined the contribution of missions to economic development in the Philippines — a subject that would prove prophetic for his own calling.

In 1914 he married Effa Seely, with whom he would have one son, Robert. That same year the Congregational Church commissioned them as missionaries to the Philippines. Laubach was assigned to establish educational work among the Maranao people, a Muslim tribe on the island of Mindanao. The early years were marked by frustration and what seemed like failure. The Maranao were suspicious of Christian missionaries, and Laubach found himself isolated and discouraged. In 1930, after sixteen years of modest results, he experienced a spiritual crisis that would reshape both his inner life and his approach to mission.

Alone on Signal Hill overlooking Lake Lanao, Laubach began what he called his "experiment in prayer" — a deliberate attempt to maintain moment-by-moment awareness of God's presence. He wrote in his journal: "I feel simply carried along each hour, doing my part in a plan which is far beyond myself." This practice of continuous prayer, which he would later call "practicing the presence of God," became the foundation of everything that followed. The change was immediate and visible. The Maranao people, sensing something different in this American missionary, began to trust him. Within months, the work that had languished for years began to flourish.

His Writing and Influence

Laubach's breakthrough came when he developed a literacy method based on the principle that "each one teaches one." Starting with the Maranao language, he created simple reading charts using pictures and phonetic associations. Students who learned to read were immediately expected to teach others, creating a multiplication effect that spread literacy rapidly through the community. By 1935, he had adapted this method to 103 languages across the Philippines and beyond.

This practical success opened doors throughout the developing world, but Laubach's deeper contribution lay in connecting literacy work with contemplative prayer. His spiritual journals from the 1930s, later published as Letters by a Modern Mystic (1937), documented his experiment in maintaining constant communion with God while engaged in demanding practical work. The book influenced a generation of Christians who found in Laubach a model for integrating contemplative spirituality with active service.

Game with Minutes (1961) developed his prayer method more systematically, offering practical exercises for remembering God throughout ordinary activities. Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World (1946) expanded his vision to encompass global transformation through what he called "prayer warriors" — people committed to interceding for world leaders and social change.

After World War II, Laubach became an international figure in the fight against illiteracy, working with governments and organizations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. His literacy campaigns reached an estimated 60 million people. He wrote more than fifty books and established Laubach Literacy International, which continues his work today. The combination of mystical depth and practical effectiveness made him unique among twentieth-century Christian leaders.

Laubach died on June 11, 1970, in Syracuse, New York, still actively involved in literacy work at age eighty-five. His grave marker reads "Prophet of the Silent Billion" — a reference to the world's illiterate population for whom he spent his life advocating.

Who should read Laubach: Those seeking to integrate contemplative prayer with active service in the world. His work is particularly valuable for readers who have felt the tension between "being" and "doing" in Christian life — Laubach demonstrates their essential unity. He is for those interested in global mission, social justice, and educational work, but who want these efforts grounded in deep spiritual practice. He is not for readers looking for purely devotional writing divorced from practical engagement with human need.