Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China (With Links on Missions, Prayer, and Home Schooling)

Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China

Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was raised in a devout Christian home filled with much Bible reading and prayer.  Often, missionaries would come to visit the house and share their stories. At his birth, his parents prayed that he would eventually become a missionary to China. Despite his Christian upbringing, Hudson somehow managed to wander away from the faith during his teen years.  He had been working at the bank where his co-workers were a bad influence.  However, a problem with his eyes forced him to return home for several months to recover.  During this time, he happened to pick up a Christian gospel booklet called “It is Finished” in his father's apothecary shop.  He promised himself that he would only read the interesting story at the beginning and then set it down when it got to the religious part at the end.  However, he was so fascinated that he read the whole thing.  The Holy Spirit worked in his heart to trust in Christ's “finished work” – his sacrifice on the cross for our salvation.  Hudson didn’t know it at the time, but that very day his mother, who had been away for weeks visiting her sister, had been gripped with a desire to pray fervently for her son.  After several hours of praying, a sense of peace came over her and she was certain her son had become a Christian.  Some time later, Hudson mistakenly picked up his younger sister Amelia's notebook, thinking it was his own, and read that she had been praying every day for his salvation for a month prior to his conversion. 

Later that year, Hudson became convinced that God was calling him to be a missionary to China.  To prepare for this, he had to learn the Chinese language, get used to living simply without a lot of money or comforts, and start training to be a doctor so he could go as a medical missionary.  (He didn’t finish his medical training then, because it seemed urgent for him to go to China, but he did complete them later when he was on furlough back in England.)  On the way to China, his ship nearly ran aground on an island with cannibals, but Hudson prayed and a strong breeze blew them away from the shore.  He arrived in China at the age of 21.  During his 51 years of service there, he faced many hardships, including civil war, people who were hostile to the Christian “foreign devils”, riots, severe illness, more eye problems, the death of his first wife and four of his children, deep depression, lazy fellow missionaries, conflicts with the mission agency, difficult travel, a fire which destroyed his supplies, and the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, in which 56 CIM missionaries were killed.

However, Hudson Taylor’s work was still very fruitful.  In his own lifetime, he founded the China Inland Mission, established 20 mission stations, recruited 849 missionaries to work in China, trained about 700 Chinese workers, raised $4 million by faith (instead of appealing for money), developed an evangelistic Chinese church of 125,000, and revised a Chinese translation of the New Testament.   It is believed that he personally baptized about 50,000 people.  To help his efforts at reaching the Chinese people, he even dressed and wore his hair like them.

Hudson Taylor’s legacy continues.  After the communist (atheist) takeover of China in 1949, the China Inland Mission removed its workers from China and reassigned them to other countries.  The name was changed to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship, which still serves today in many Asian countries.  Even though CIM missionaries left China, there is still a strong “underground” Chinese church that grew from their efforts.  John and Betty Stam, Lottie Moon, and Gladys Aylward were some other famous missionaries to China, though they weren’t with CIM.  Although mission work is officially forbidden, many Christians still go to China as teachers and build personal relationships in order to share their faith.

Hudson Taylor’s work was birthed in the prayers of his family, and he became quite a prayer warrior himself.  His son Howard’s book, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, is about the strength he gained from prayer. Here are few of Hudson’s quotes about prayer:

"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."

"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him."

"You must GO forward on your knees." 

~*~*~

I compiled this information for a handout to supplement the study about China in the World Geography class I teach three days a week.  I wrote much of it years ago, but added to it today using information obtained on-line.  Here are some resources for further study:

• J. Hudson Taylor at Christian Classics Ethereal Library - includes download of free e-books
• James Hudson Taylor at Wholesome Words - includes links to many other articles
• James Hudson Taylor at OMF 
• CIM/OMF History

Here are several of my related blog posts about Hudson Taylor, world missions, prayer, and home schooling to make a difference in the world:

• Missions page with links to helpful books
• Christian Biography and Report Questions
• A Sense of Calling for Life
• Nations & Generations: Home Schooling to Make a Difference in the World
• All Saint's Day and Quotes on Prayer
• What Are You Looking For?
• Praying for Your Children
• "Teaching Our Children to Walk With God" by Shiela Catanzarite
• And They Are Strong and Bold... (Girls and the Grand Adventure)
• A Ship in Harbour is Safe...
• To Bolivia with Love (poem)
• Come With Me Here

A Sense of Calling for Life

A Sense of Calling for Life
by Virginia Knowles

One big goal of home schooling is to prepare our children for their role in the adult community as they move into the working world. This is not just an academic exercise in career planning, but a matter of the heart. You see, God has designed each one of us for a special spot in the scheme of history. At each season of life, he places us where our unique gifts and abilities can be developed and put to productive use. At times, it seems like our talents are hidden away, but he brings out each one of his treasures as he has need of them.

The saga of Joseph in Genesis 37-50, illustrates this concept beautifully. From Joseph's teen years, God gave him grand dreams for his life -- dreams which made his older brothers so intensely jealous that they sold him into slavery. From there he bounced back and forth between servitude and power. He was ultimately appointed second-in-command of Egypt, in charge of stewarding the nation through seven years of famine. Later, when Joseph had both excuse and opportunity for retribution against his brothers, he realized that though they had intended to harm him, it was all part of God's perfect plan. The Lord fulfilled the calling over a period of twenty years, even when Joseph was oppressed and “forgotten.” His purpose was not just to turn Joseph from a shepherd boy into a powerful ruler, or even to spare Egypt and the surrounding nations from starvation. These events ultimately played crucial part in Jehovah's redemptive plan for all nations in history through the earthly lineage of the Messiah. He also has a destiny for each of us which interlocks with his eternal agenda! He doesn't reveal the details all at once, but neither does he leave us clueless about where we fit in. He expects us to faithfully use the gifts he has given:

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

Do your children have any idea of what God is calling them to do in life? Are they aware of how he has endowed them with gifts and talents to be used for his service? Do they have any inkling of how to use their spiritual influence to impact the nations for Christ? Not only do we have spiritual gifts, we also have “secular” talents which can be used for God's glory. He has equipped artists, engineers, nurses, car mechanics, chefs, linguists, inventors, receptionists, computer whizzes, bricklayers, research scientists, plumbers, authors, politicians, farmers, bookkeepers, and everyone else. What would we do without them? Where does your child fit in? What will he or she do for a living? Of course, not all of these talents will be used in a paying career. Some will be used in the family, among friends, in the church, and in the community. Perhaps we can't put a price tag on these efforts, but we can still appreciate their worth.

God's gifts and callings are not always apparent in young children, but are illuminated slowly over the years as they explore their interests and aptitudes. Often, God's direction for a person is affirmed by those who know him well. Other times, profile tests can be useful. It is important for us to be more aware of these things so we can plan a logical course of study leading to proficiency and enjoyment in the targeted occupation or ministry. In all our plans, let's seek the will of the Sovereign Lord, who can instantly change the course of our lives in very unexpected ways.

“Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'” James 4:13-15

“Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

As we think about preparing our children for their calling in life, we can learn some lessons from the life of Hudson Taylor. I once read a biography of Hudson Taylor to my children which gave me some insight into home schooling. Hudson’s parents, James and Amelia, home schooled the children through reading aloud, dictation, grammar, French, Latin, arithmetic and plenty of heart-enriching nature study. More importantly, however, they were carefully trained in the Scriptures, having family devotions after breakfast and at afternoon tea. Next came a time of fervent prayer. James also gathered the children at bedtime for prayer with his arms around them. Then he would dismiss them to their own rooms for a time of private Bible reading, saying, “Learn to love your Bible, for God cannot lie. He cannot mislead you. He cannot fail.” Visiting preachers would delight the children with conversations about theology and missions around the family table.

This sounds like the ideal home school setting for spiritual growth, and indeed it was. However, there were some significant bumps along the way! At age 15, Hudson went to work for a bank, but unfortunately his materialistic and skeptical co-workers had a big influence on the boy. He wrestled with doubt about his childhood faith, and eventually turned away from it. Providentially, after several months, an eye disease forced him to quit his job. He sulked gloomily around the house, which irritated his father, who wasn’t aware of his son’s spiritual struggles. One day, shortly before he turned 17, he picked up a Gospel booklet in the parlor and decided he would read the story at the beginning but close it when it got to the “preachy” part. However, he read it all the way through, and was so taken by the concept of “the finished work of Christ,” that he was gripped with conviction and prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior. Unbeknownst to him, at that very moment, his mother, visiting a relative 50 miles away, was called by God to pray for the conversion of her son. She stayed on her knees in fervent intercession until she received assurance that her pleas had been answered. Hudson’s younger sister Amelia had also been praying every day for a month for her brother.

After a period of spiritual growth and local service, Hudson felt called by God to go as a missionary to China, where the Gospel was virtually unknown. He did not know until many years later that his parents had prayed, shortly before his birth, to bear a son who would bring God’s word to that very country. He did indeed! After going through medical school (while living austerely and trusting in God alone for his finances) he set sail for China. Adopting native dress and hairstyle, he was a faithful evangelist, Bible translator, doctor, and mission organizer. By the time of Hudson Taylor’s death at age 73, the China Inland Mission had recruited 800 missionaries, raised 7.5 million dollars and converted 30,000 Chinese people to Christianity.

I think this story can give hope to parents who are doing the best they can, but they have children who may or may not always “get” the message of the Christian life. Get a vision, lay the foundation, build on it wisely, and as you go, pray, pray, pray! Don’t get resentful if your child seems to reject your faith and values because that will only drive him further away. Wait and see what God can do. It could be that he doesn’t want you to depend on your efforts, but fully on his grace to save and transform your child’s life. He must get the glory!

~~~

This article is excerpted from the chapter "Aim for the Heart" in my book The Real Life Home School Mom.  You can read the PDF of the book for free by accessing it from the sidebar of http://www.virginiaknowles.blogspot.com/.

Praying for Our Teens -- Not Just a Workshop!

Dear friends,

"Praying for Our Teens" is not just a workshop title, it's something we mothers need to do every day!

I know that very few of you -- if any! -- will actually come to that session, and that's just fine with me. The real thrust of it is that I'm going to be there to pray for you, and so I know God will show up, too! If you want to request intercessory prayer for your teens, feel free to write it down and hand it to me at lunch. I'll be delighted to pray for you whether or not you come in the room for the prayer workshop.

When Cheryl asked me a few weeks ago if I would consider doing a second workshop session, I told her that I didn't think so since she and Meredith already have great ones during that time, but I would see what God laid on my heart. I prayed about it, that is what came to mind, and my husband Thad confirmed it when I mentioned it to him. When I brought it up to Meredith, she asked if Cheryl had already told me that they wanted to have a prayer room open during the day! Well no, but I have to say that so often "praying minds think alike" because we are trying to listen to the Lord's leading!

As the three of us prepare for Finish Well, our heart is for God to pour out his grace on your families, and that is not going to happen just by us telling you what we know about home schooling. We all need God's divine anointing! Let's all humble ourselves and ask for the guidance and strength to honor him in all we do. Please intercede for us, too, as we get ready for Saturday!
I will have handouts to give to anyone who wants them on Saturday. You can also find my tentative version on my web site at www.VirginiaKnowles.com/PrayingForOurTeens.

Praying God's most abundant blessings on you and yours,

Virginia Knowles, for Cheryl and Meredith

Praying for Our Teens by Virginia Knowles

Home schooling through high school is not something we can successfully do in our own strength and wisdom. We need God's help! Raising teens for Christ in our "culture of compromise" requires spiritual warfare and divine guidance. During this session, Virginia will briefly encourage moms in how to pray for their teens according to the Scriptures. Then we will put this into immediate practice by interceding specifically for each others' families. Come be refreshed and strengthened in your spiritual foundation for home education and life.

This workshop will be presented during Session 2 at 11:15 AM.