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Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor (1832–1905). Born on May 21, 1832, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, to a Methodist chemist and lay preacher, Hudson Taylor was a British missionary, evangelist, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM, now OMF International). Converted at 17 through his mother’s prayers and a tract, he committed to missionary work, studying medicine and Mandarin in London before sailing to China in 1853 with the Chinese Evangelisation Society. Disillusioned by coastal-focused missions, he adopted Chinese dress and ventured inland, founding CIM in 1865 to prioritize unreached areas without soliciting funds, relying on prayer. Taylor’s preaching led to thousands of conversions, establishing 300 mission stations and training 849 missionaries by 1905. Despite personal tragedies—losing his first wife, Maria Dyer, in 1870, four children, and second wife, Jennie Faulding, in 1904—he persevered, authoring China: Its Spiritual Need and Claims (1865) and Union and Communion (1894). Known for his motto “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply,” he inspired global missions. Taylor retired to Switzerland but returned to China, dying on June 3, 1905, in Changsha. He said, “God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.”
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James Hudson Taylor preaches about the importance of holding onto God's faithfulness, drawing examples from biblical figures like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and the Apostles who trusted in God's promises and overcame challenges. He emphasizes that all of God's giants were weak men who did great things because they relied on God's presence with them. Taylor encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness in every aspect of their lives, whether in missions work, facing difficulties, or seeking success, reminding them to serve God daily with unwavering faith.
Faith in God's Faithfulness
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22). Hold God's faithfulness. Abraham held God's faith, and offered up Isaac, accounting that God was able to raise him up. Moses held God's faith, and led the millions of Israel into the waste howling wilderness. Joshua knew Israel well, and was ignorant neither of the fortifications of the Canaanites, nor of their martial prowess: but he held God's faithfulness, and led Israel across Jordan. The Apostles held God's faith, and were not daunted by the hatred of the Jews, nor by the hostility of the heathen. And what shall I saw more, for the time would fail me to tell "of those who, holding God's faithfulness, had faith, and by it subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of aliens." All God's giants have been weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them. See the cases of David, of Jonathan and his armour-bearer, of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and many others. Oh! beloved friends, if there is a living God, faithful and true, let us hold His faithfulness. Holding His faithfulness, we may go into every province of China. Holding His faithfulness, we may face, with calm and sober but confident assurance of victory, every difficulty and danger. We may count on grace for the work, on pecuniary aid, on needful facilities, and on ultimate success. Let us not give Him a partial trust, but daily, hourly serve Him, "holding God's faithfulness".
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James Hudson Taylor (1832–1905). Born on May 21, 1832, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, to a Methodist chemist and lay preacher, Hudson Taylor was a British missionary, evangelist, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM, now OMF International). Converted at 17 through his mother’s prayers and a tract, he committed to missionary work, studying medicine and Mandarin in London before sailing to China in 1853 with the Chinese Evangelisation Society. Disillusioned by coastal-focused missions, he adopted Chinese dress and ventured inland, founding CIM in 1865 to prioritize unreached areas without soliciting funds, relying on prayer. Taylor’s preaching led to thousands of conversions, establishing 300 mission stations and training 849 missionaries by 1905. Despite personal tragedies—losing his first wife, Maria Dyer, in 1870, four children, and second wife, Jennie Faulding, in 1904—he persevered, authoring China: Its Spiritual Need and Claims (1865) and Union and Communion (1894). Known for his motto “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply,” he inspired global missions. Taylor retired to Switzerland but returned to China, dying on June 3, 1905, in Changsha. He said, “God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.”