A Day's March Nearer Home: Autobiography of J. Graham Miller

In Graham Miller’s autobiography, A Day’s March Nearer Home, we discover why there is seldom a day of national mourning appointed for an evangelical, as happened in Vanuatu upon his death of Graham Miller in 2008. He had contributed to the nation’s history, and elsewhere- especially in New Zealand and Australia- the lives of individuals and churches were changed by his ministry. Many were his roles during 94 years: lawyer, missionary, preacher, author, and intercessor. His great aim was to point others to Jesus Christ, and so winsomely did he do this that the influence extended far beyond the southern hemisphere. After his teaching at the Keswick Convention in 1963, the Daily Express (a leading British newspaper) reported, ‘the popular New Zealander can claim to have 7,000 new friends’.

The value of this autobiography is increased by the fact that it was not written for publication. The author’s modest hope was that ‘children’s children will browse through these family archives with interest and surprise’. But the appeal of what he writes will be far wider. His personal experiences- in the home of his childhood and youth, and in the 65 years with his beloved Flora- cannot be read without a deepening appreciation of what the Christian life really means. He lived the line of the hymn he learned in his youth, A day’s march nearer home. The approval of God, and faithfulness to Scripture, were Graham Miller’s first concerns, and his autobiography will surely stir the same ambitions in others.

Contents

1. Childhood in New Zealand
2. The Dunedin Years
3. New Hebrides, ‘the uttermost part of the earth’
4. Growth on Tongoa
5. The Teacher Institute
6. Blame and Praise
7. Ministry in New Zealand
8. Overseas: Letters to Flora
9. ‘An Unexpected Bend in the Road’
10. New Hebrides Again
11. St. Giles Sydney
12. Wangaratta: ‘Home Sweet Home’
13. Books for Islands and Nations
14. Grateful Recollections

Appendix 1: Preaching and Public Worship Appendix 2: Sermons Preached at St Giles’, 1975-1980 Appendix 3: Published Writings Appendix 4: The Miller Family Appendix 5: Letter from President of Vanuatu

Endorsements

"I have counted the friendship of Graham and Flora Miller as one of the richest privileges of my life."
— IAIN H. MURRAY

"The chapters on his old age are remarkably moving. I want to grow old like Graham Miller. He is an example for ministers in retirement."
— PAUL LEVY

"I finished the autobiography of Graham Miller yesterday. I’m sorry that it has come to an end! If I judge the helpfulness of a Christian biography by the number of times I note things that are helpful or subjects I would like to add to my index, then this comes at the top of the list of those I have read in recent years. I hope it has a wide readership."
— DEREK PRIME