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C.T. Studd

C.T. Studd (December 2, 1860 – July 16, 1931) was an English preacher, missionary, and evangelist whose radical devotion to Christ transformed missionary work in China, India, and Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born Charles Thomas Studd in Spratton, Northamptonshire, England, to Edward Studd, a wealthy indigo planter, and Dora Thomas, he was the third of four sons in a privileged family. Educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A., 1883), he excelled as a cricketer, captaining Cambridge and playing for England in the 1882 Ashes series. Converted at age 18 in 1878 during a revival meeting led by D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey, he initially resisted a preaching call, focusing on sports until his brother George’s near-death experience in 1883 prompted a full surrender to missionary service. Studd’s preaching career began when he joined the "Cambridge Seven" in 1885, sailing to China with the China Inland Mission (CIM) under Hudson Taylor, where he preached the gospel in rural villages for a decade, often adopting Chinese dress and customs. Returning to England in 1894 due to health issues, he preached revival across Britain and America before serving in India (1900–1906) with the Salvation Army, focusing on the untouchables. In 1910, inspired by a tract titled "The Chocolate Soldier," he founded the Heart of Africa Mission (later Worldwide Evangelization Crusade) and moved to the Belgian Congo in 1913, preaching amidst disease and isolation until his death. Married to Priscilla Livingstone Stewart in 1888, with whom he had four daughters, he gave away his inherited fortune (£29,000) to ministries like CIM and Moody Bible Institute, dying at age 70 in Ibambi, Congo, leaving a legacy of sacrificial evangelism and the motto, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
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C.T. Studd passionately conveys the urgency of spreading the Gospel, emphasizing that Christ's command is for all believers to share His message without favoritism. He expresses a willingness to face hardships and dangers in distant lands to seek the lost, inspired by Christ's own suffering for humanity. Studd reflects on the joy of eternal life and the anticipation of meeting fellow believers and biblical figures in heaven, highlighting the importance of living a life dedicated to serving Jesus. He acknowledges his own shortcomings but finds hope in the grace of God and the joy of worshiping together in heaven. The sermon encourages Christians to embrace their calling and find delight in serving Christ and others.
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Christian's Delight
Now Christ's command is simple, And meant to be obeyed, "Go ye and preach My Gospel In every land," He said. Christ hadn't any favourites; He lived and died for all! So all should know the Message, And hear His gracious call. So I'll go and face the music In some dark far off land, Where no one's ever been before For Christ to make a stand. I'll leave the ninety-nine behind, And seek the wandering sheep, To bring it back to Jesus Christ, And lay it at His feet. The way may not be easy, The grub not over good, The climate may be treacherous, The men a devil's brood. But what of that? My Jesus Suffered torture and the cross For me the chief of sinners, Lest I should suffer loss. It may mean death or poverty, Or grief-or pain-or shame, But what of that? The martyrs lived And suffered just the same. I wouldn't want to live at all Unless it was to fight For Jesus Christ and sinful men, Morning, noon and night. And in some fierce, hot battle, Fighting I'd love to die, Watching for Jesus' coming, To carry me home on high. But when I walk the golden street. I'll blush a scarlet red, And hide my face in shame until The crown drops off my head. The crown that Jesus won and gave To His unworthy son, Who'd done so little, and badly, too, Even the things he'd done. And if it won't drop off I'll cast My crown at Jesus' feet, Then run and seek the lowest place Upon the lowest seat. And then I think I'll weep and weep Till Jesus dries my eyes, As I realise at last the depth Of His great sacrifice. And that I can't go back to earth, And have another try To serve Him better than before, To suffer and to die. And then I'll shout with rapture With all the heavenly host, "Glory to God, the Father, The Son and Holy Ghost." And then the joys of meeting The loved ones gone before, And watching for the others To enter at the door! My word! what introductions To all God's family, And leave to ask them questions With impunity. I'll want to hear from Jonah Of his time inside the fish, And how John Baptist laughed to see His head upon the dish. How Daniel felt descending Into the lion's den; What Gideon thought when marching out With but three hundred men. What Nebby thought about the three Who nearly caught a cold, When thrown into the fire because They wouldn't worship gold. And what they felt like when they found That they had merely come To have a walk with Jesus, Who Had just arrived from Home. We understand that Nebby got Converted on the spot, And right away for infidels Began to make it hot. We need a few like Shadrach, Meshach, And Abednego To pay a little visit now To Christendom, I trow. They'd say we were behind the times, And just as much demented, As poor old Uncle Nebby was Before he had repented. The image then was on the plain, But now it's come to town, And has as many votaries To worship and bow down. Elijah's thoughts on Carmel When he faced the mighty throng- My! how he chaffed the Baalites, Laughing loud and long. And what the Apostles felt and thought, And what the women said, When first they gazed on Jesus Christ Risen, from the dead. The comical grimaces of Philippi's magistrates, When they had to beg Paul's pardon And escort him to the gates. The thoughts of Simon Peter When he felt the chains drop off; And the gates began to open Like a lion going to cough. And why poor Rhoda's mistress thought She'd gone stark, staring mad, Because she said that Peter stood Outside the door. Too bad! The faces of the Sadducees, When the fishermen declared In future they'd obey the Lord, Not men! They must have stared. For well they knew that Peter Had so late denied the Lord, In mortal fear of women, too, Though neither had a sword. It must have been as though they saw A Baa-lamb on its legs; Deploring their pernicious taste For eating addled eggs. Their nonplussed looks, when Peter told The godless Roman soldiers, "Kindly crucify me, with My head below my shoulders." And when the oil began to boil, The aspect of the crowd, As John within began to sing, And thank the Lord aloud. In heaven no amusement? I venture to declare There's never been such fun on earth As we shall have up there. The joy will be without alloy Within our home above, A perfect Father's family And every soul in love. Enthusiastic service for A perfect Master too, And every servant singing, "I want more work to do." All hearts will glow with rapture, As we gaze on Jesus' face, While we sing the wondrous story, Of the Father's matchless grace.
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C.T. Studd (December 2, 1860 – July 16, 1931) was an English preacher, missionary, and evangelist whose radical devotion to Christ transformed missionary work in China, India, and Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born Charles Thomas Studd in Spratton, Northamptonshire, England, to Edward Studd, a wealthy indigo planter, and Dora Thomas, he was the third of four sons in a privileged family. Educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A., 1883), he excelled as a cricketer, captaining Cambridge and playing for England in the 1882 Ashes series. Converted at age 18 in 1878 during a revival meeting led by D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey, he initially resisted a preaching call, focusing on sports until his brother George’s near-death experience in 1883 prompted a full surrender to missionary service. Studd’s preaching career began when he joined the "Cambridge Seven" in 1885, sailing to China with the China Inland Mission (CIM) under Hudson Taylor, where he preached the gospel in rural villages for a decade, often adopting Chinese dress and customs. Returning to England in 1894 due to health issues, he preached revival across Britain and America before serving in India (1900–1906) with the Salvation Army, focusing on the untouchables. In 1910, inspired by a tract titled "The Chocolate Soldier," he founded the Heart of Africa Mission (later Worldwide Evangelization Crusade) and moved to the Belgian Congo in 1913, preaching amidst disease and isolation until his death. Married to Priscilla Livingstone Stewart in 1888, with whom he had four daughters, he gave away his inherited fortune (£29,000) to ministries like CIM and Moody Bible Institute, dying at age 70 in Ibambi, Congo, leaving a legacy of sacrificial evangelism and the motto, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."