George Whitefield ---- 1714 - 1770
William Carey ---- 1761 - 1834
Adoniram Judson ---- 1788 - 1850
Charles Finney ---- 1791 - 1875
D.L. Moody ---- 1837 - 1899
Hudson Taylor ---- 1832 - 1905
John Hyde ---- 1865 - 1911
C.T. Studd ---- 1860 - 1931
Billy Sunday ---- 1862 - 1935
J. Frank Norris ---- 1877 - 1952
Jack Hyles ---- 1926 - present
J. Hudson Taylor
Before J. Hudson Taylor was even born, his father, an evangelist, dedicated him to the people of China. He had become very concerned about the Chinese after reading a book on the travels of captain Basil Hall. He was led to pray that if God were to give him a son, he would give him back to God to go to China to preach the Gospel. However, Hudson Taylor never knew of this promise until seven years after he had sailed to China, in 1854.
The health of young Hudson Taylor was so bad that all hope was given up to go to China. At the age of 15, he dedicated himself wholly to God to use him as He pleases. A pastor loaned him a book "Medhurst's China." When the pastor asked him why he wanted it, he told him that God had called him to spend his life as a missionary to China.
He began to serve the Lord by teaching Sunday School, passing out tracts, and visiting the poor and sick. Believing a knowledge of medicine would help him in China, he became a medical assistant to a doctor. Although his salary was very small, he decided to live on one third of his salary and give God the other two thirds. He lived on rice and oatmeal...
"On this way I had more than two thirds of my income available for other purposes and my experience was that the less I spent on myself and the more I gave away, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become."
Soon after arriving in China in 1854 at age of 22, it was apparent to Hudson Taylor that all the missionaries were staying near the coastal cities and the inland parts of China were not penetrated by the Gospel.
While studying hard at learning two dialects, he made trips into the interior. Although there were many robbers, and foreigners were warned not to go, Taylor traveled often and found the people very friendly.
To reach the Chinese, he humbled himself and shaved his head and began to dress like the Chinese. The other missionaries ridiculed him. Determined, he set out again, going village to village, preaching and passing out tracts. From May 8 to June 1, 1895, he preached in 58 cities, towns and villages. Foreigners who risked travelling to places like this without the proper papers could be tortured or even put to death as a spy.
It wasn't long enough before he found a like-minded missionary. William Burns also had a burden to reach into inland China. Like Taylor, he lived simply, believing that a Christian should have few wants. He also had a sense of humor as well. They began preaching in Southern Kiangso and North Chekiang.
Although Taylor was younger, when Burns saw the open the open doors that came to Taylor by wearing Chinese dress, Burns too began to do this. William Burns had a lasting influence on Taylor, especially his strong belief that evangelizing was the great work of the church, a view only a few had inn that day.
Many trials and unusual experiences happened to him during these years. When England bombarded Canton in 1857, news spread to Ningpo where he lived. A plot was made to kill him and the other foreigners in that city. About a month later 50 to 60 Portuguese missionaries were massacred in broad daylight. God intervened in Hudson Taylor's behalf and his life was spared.
One thing that was always a great burden to him was the fact that the Mission Society that supported him had many debts in China. He said:
"Personally I had always avoided debt, and kept within my salary, though at times only by very careful economy...but the society itself was in debt. The quarterly bills which I and others were instructed to draw were often met by borrowed money, and a correspondence commenced which terminated in the following year by my resigning from conscientious motives. To me it seemed that the teaching of God's Word was unmistakeably clear:'Owe no man anything."
Resigning was a hard decision as now he had no support. It was especially difficult because he met a young lady missionary and would soon marry her.
Two years later, in 1860, he became very ill and returned to England to regain his health . In England God began to open doors to get across his burden for Inland China. His home pastor, who was also the editor of Baptist Magazine, requested that he write a series of articles about China. In these magazine articles he gave facts such as: one of every four people in the world lived in China. He wrote that the number of missionaries had not grown but actually dropped to 90, down from 118 the previous winter.
His burden was overwhelming: "Meanwhile a million a month were dying in that land, dying without God. It was burned into my very soul. For two or three months the conflict was intense. I scarcely slept night or day more than an hour at a time, and feared I should lose my reason. Yet I did not give in. To no one could I speak freely, not even to my wife. She saw, doubtless,that something was going on; but I felt I must refrain as much as possible from laying upon her a burden so crushing--these souls.."
Sunkiang, he and a Chinese passenger were preparing to come ashore from boat. When he looked around he noticed the passenger had disappeared. He heard a splash and thought the man must have fallen in the water. The boatman told him in a very unconcerned manner, "Yes, it was over there he went down." Feeling helpless he told how he found some fisherman with a dragnet--just what he needed.
"Come and drag over this spot. A man is drowning!" 'Veh din' was the amazing reply:'It is not convenient.' Don't talk of convenience! Quickly come, or it will be too late.' We are busy fishing.' 'Never mind your fishing! Come--only come at once! I will pay you well.'' How much will you give us?' Five dollars.' But I have not so much with me. I will give you all I've got.'
And how much would that be?' Oh I don't know. About fourteen dollars"
Finally they came and the first time they passed the net through the water they brought up the missing man but it was too late. His death was most certainly the result of their indifference. Indignation and rage swept through the audience as they could hardly believe anyone could be heartless. But, a terrible sense of guilt came over the audience as he continued his message:
"Is the body, then, of so much more value than the soul? We condemn those heathen fishermen. we say they were guilty of the man's death--because they could easily have saved him, and did not do it. But what of the millions whom we leave to perish, and that eternally? What of the plain command 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature..."
He went on to say that in Scotland with a population of 4 million, several thousand ministers were needed, an average of one pastor for every 2,000 people. In China, there was not even one missionary for every 4 million souls. What if Scotland had only one preacher with its 4 million souls? He preached on:
"Do you believe that each unit of these millions has an immortal soul and that there is 'none other name under heaven given among men' save the precious name of Jesus 'whereby we must be saved?' Do you believe that He and He alone is 'the Way, the Truth, and the Life' and that no man cometh to the Father but by Him? If so, think of the condition of these unsaved souls and examine yourself in the sight of God to see whether you are doing your utmost to make Him known to them or not. It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With this facts before you, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call at home. If in the sight of God you cannot say you are sure that you have a special call to stay at home, why are you disobeying the Saviour's plain command to go?"
The conviction ran so deep that the meeting broke up in silence. Soon after this, Hudson Taylor started the China Inland Mission. He describes what kind of missionary they were looking for:
"While thankful for any educational advantages that candidates may have enjoyed, we attach far greater importance to spiritual qualifications. We desire men who believe that there is a God and that He is both intelligent and faithful, and who therefore trust Him; who believe that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, and are therefore men of prayer. We desire men who believe the Bible to be the Word of God, and who, accepting the declaration 'All power is given unto me' are prepared therefore, to go to the remotest parts of the interior China, expecting to find his arm a sufficient strength and stay. We desire men who believes in eternity and lives for it...We do not send men to China as our agents. But men who believe that God has called them to work, who go there to labour for God, and can therefore trust Him...to supply their temporal needs, we gladly cooperate with--providing, if needful, outfit and passage money, and such measure of support as circumstances call for and we are able to supply. Our faith is sometimes tried, but God always proves Himself faithful, and at the right time and in the right way supplies all our need. The only men who will be happy with us, are those who have this world under their feet: and I do venture to say, that such men will find a happiness they never dreamed of or thought possible down here...If, after prayerfully considering the matter, you still feel drawn to engage in such work, I shall be only too glad to hear from you again."
His friend and supporter of many years, Mr W.T.Berger, worked with Hudson Taylor in representing him in Great Britain while Hudson Taylor went back to China with 24 missionaries; each one coming to china by faith.
Upon arriving in China in 1865, he found that some of his new recruits were not prepared to take on the Chinese dress and live by the principles they had claimed to believe. Some complained about living conditions, which were better than Hudson Taylor's were when he first arrived in China. An older missionary from another missionary society became jealous of Taylor and began to sow the seeds of discontent among the missionaries. Several wrote to Mr Berger exaggerating the difficulties they faced and criticized Taylor, asking that he be removed.
Taking the course of true friendship, Mr. Berger wrote to Taylor, sending him letters and said, "..be sure, my dear Brother, Whatever Mr.--may have penned, you hold the same place in our hearts as before."
In spite of this heartache of seeing the attitude of these new missionaries, Taylor never became bitter. He wrote back to Mr. Berger:
That you may be enabled to cast upon god the terrible trial resulting from Mr.---'s conduct, and from those acting with him, I earnestly pray. Let us not fear, dear Brother, anything but our own failings...I quite expect God will appear for us in the right time...The Lord will bring all these things to a calm in due time, I quite think."
If this were not enough, it seemed God would allow one more trial to come. In 1867, he wrote Mr. Berger again, of his little eight year old daughter, Gracie:
"Beloved Brother, I know not how to write or how to refrain. I seem to be writing,almost, from the inner chamber of the King of kings. Surely this is holy ground I am trying to pen a few lines by the couch on which my darling little Gracie lies dying. Her complaint is hydrocephalus. Dear Brother, our flesh and our hearts fail, but God is the strength of our heart and our portion forever. It was no vain nor unintelligent act when, knowing this land, its people and its climate, I laid my wife and children, with myself, on the altar for this service. And He whom so unworthily, with much of weakness and failure, yet in simplicity and godly sincerity, we are and have been seeking to serve, and not without some measure of success-- He has not left s now."
He makes no mistakes; but the loss was overwhelming: "Our dear little Gracie! How we miss her! As I take the walks I used to take with her tripping at my side, the thought comes anew like a throb of agony. Is it possible that I shall never more feel the pressure of that little hand, never more see the spark of those bright eyes? And yet she is not lost. I would not have her back again. She is far holier, far holier than she could ever have been here."
Through it all he never complained. He once said this: "It is not the greatness of our troubles as the littleness of our spirit, which makes us complain."
Three years later, on July 7, 1870, his wife Maria gave birth to a son. An attack of cholera took the baby's life 13 days later. Three days after their son was buried, Hudson Taylor faced his greatest trial of all, the loss of his dear wife.
I've read the lives of a number of great missionary wives, but none exceeded the godliness of Maria Taylor. I've not read of one who encouraged her husband more. He shares of his last moments with her:
"By the time it was dawn, the sunlight revealed the deathlike hue of her countenance. Even my love could no longer deny, not her danger, but that she was actually dying. As soon as I was sufficiently composed, I said:
'My darling, do you know that you are dying?'
Dying!' she replied.'Do you think so ? What makes you think so?' I said, 'I can see it, Darling. Your strength is giving way.''Can it be so ? I feel no pain, only weariness.'' yes, you are going home. You will soon be with Jesus.'
My precious wife thought of my being left alone at the time of so much trial, with no companion like herself, with whom I had been wont to bring difficulty to the Throne of Grace. 'I am so sorry,' she said, and paused as if half correcting herself for the feeling.'You are not sorry to go to be with Jesus?' Never shall I forget the look with which she answered, 'Oh, no! It is not that. You know, Darling, that for ten years past there has not been a cloud between me to leave you alone at such a time. Yet...He will be with you and meet all your need."
For 35 years after he buried hes wife and two children, Hudson Taylor gave his life to the Chinese people. God blessed him because he always tried to follow the Lord. He once said: "God gives His best for those who leave the choice with Him."
He prayed and trusted God to send a great number of workers for Inland China. He believed that you just never trust the Lord too much?"
The China Inland Mission grew to over 1,300 missionaries. Many churches were started and probably more souls were saved as a result of the life of Hudson Taylor than any other missionary.
No one loved China like Hudson Taylor. He told a friend one day, "If I had a thousand lives to give, China would claim every single one of them."
Although few men ever saw the results of revival like Hudson Taylor, he is not remembered most for this but rather by his Christ-like-ness. Arthur Glasser says it best in his book "J. Hudson Taylor--God's man in China".
"In the first place, Hudson Taylor was ambitious without being proud. His ambition was nothing less than 'to evangelize all China, to preach Christ to all its people by any and all means that come to hand.'Significantly, God largely granted him his heart's desire. Men strongly differed with him and harshly criticized his methods. They thought the vast range of his vision almost arrogant. They were repelled by tenacity with which he pursued his objectives. They could not help having misgivings over the drive that took him to the forefront of all missionary work in his day. Such consuming ambition!
"And yet, Taylor's sharpest critics again and again went out of their way to comment on his humility: 'How lowly he remained in his own eyes. God was able to take that beloved man and make him a prince among all the missionaries of the Victorian era.'
"The second of Taylor's notable qualities was that he was unselfish in his concern for different fields in the world...
The China Inland Mission was his great creation. To all its details he paid the closest attention. He loved organization and was a master at it. And yet, those who knew Taylor intimately found that his heart extended far beyond China and the CIM.
"A friend commented:'It was just as much joy to him when men went to Africa, or Japan...as it was when they went to China...It was the world that he wanted for Christ.'No downgrading of other missions. No criticism of those whom he couldn't surpass...His call to peers was that they trust one another more, and fear one another less.
"Third, Hudson Taylor was biblical without being bigoted. He was primarily a man of God--the God of the Scripture. Because his life was filled with Bible Study, prayer, vision, and faith, he was buoyant in spirit, venturesome, hopeful.
"Hudson Taylor's loyalty to Christ and His word made him aggressive in his defense of faith...Taylor often used the illustration of a Russian who tossed out children one by one to the pursuing hungry wolves, in order that he himself might escape their violence. 'Why appease the clamor of these critics,'he would thunder, 'by tossing out vital truths of the faith? Don't have less faith in God than you have in man!' Here was a man of strong convictions...And yet, he was surprisingly free from bigotry.
"Finally, Hudson Taylor was charismatic without being selfish. One of his greatest gifts was the ability to create strong ties of esteem and affection between himself and others. When he spoke, men listened. When he challenged them, they responded. When he went forward, they followed. Those who hardly knew him spoke of their sudden discovery--when in contact with him that he had a 'burning Christian heart'...Some publicly doubted his ability to hold together his motley crew.' And yet, they lived to see him weld this crew into a strong missionary band. Some of his most unlikely co-workers became outstanding missionaries.
"In this Hudson Taylor saw himself--God's 'exciter'-- surrounded by men of far greater potential than his own. This greatly humbled him, and resolved to try to bring out the potential he saw in his fellow workers. "Charismatic, but without any trace of self-centeredness. No misusing of God's gracious gift to him. No empire building, no pyramiding of financial or personal power, no suppression of fellow Christians. Hudson Taylor sank all personal interests into a consuming desire to serve, no matter how humble or difficult the service...Here is the end of the matter: Hudson Taylor was Christlike."
J.Hudson Taylor was a man who dared to believe in the faithfulness of God no matter what the test. And, because he acted on that belief, he became a man who saw revival.
Home
George Whitefield ---- 1714 - 1770
William Carey ---- 1761 - 1834
Adoniram Judson ---- 1788 - 1850
Charles Finney ---- 1791 - 1875
D.L. Moody ---- 1837 - 1899
Hudson Taylor ---- 1832 - 1905
John Hyde ---- 1865 - 1911
C.T. Studd ---- 1860 - 1931
Billy Sunday ---- 1862 - 1935
J. Frank Norris ---- 1877 - 1952
Jack Hyles ---- 1926 - present
