Oswald Chambers was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on July 24, 1874, to a Baptist minister and his wife. He was the eighth of nine children. In his youth, Oswald displayed a gift for the fine arts. When he was fifteen, the family moved to London. Shortly after the move, Oswald professed his faith in Christ and became a member of the Baptist church. A period of rapid spiritual growth followed, along with a diligent effort to understand God's will for his life.