J.Hudson Taylor – started China Inland Mission, June 25, 1865

Object. The China Inland Mission was formed under a deep sense of China s pressing need, and with an earnest desire, constrained by the love of CHRIST and the hope of His coming, to obey His command to preach the Gospel to every creature. Its aim is, by the help of GOD, to bring the Chinese to a saving knowledge of the love of GOD in CHRIST, by means of itinerant and localised work throughout the whole of the interior of China.

Character. The Mission is Evangelical, and embraces members of all the leading denominations of Christians.

Methods. Methods somewhat unusual and peculiar were adopted for working the newly-proposed organisation. It was determined :

1. That duly qualified candidates for missionary labour should be accepted without restriction as to denomination, provided there was soundness in the faith in all fundamental truths.

2. That all who went out as Missionaries should go in dependence upon God for temporal supplies, with the clear understanding that the Mission did not guarantee any income whatever ; and knowing that, as the Mission would not go into debt, it could only minister to those connected with it as the funds sent in from time to time might allow.

Support. The Mission is supported entirely by the free-will offerings of the Lord’s people. The needs of the work are laid before God in prayer, no personal solicitations or collections being authorised. No more is expended than is thus received, going into debt being considered inconsistent with the principle of entire dependence upon God.  ^[*]

*  Broomhall, Marshall (1901). Last Letters and Further Records of Martyred Missionaries of the China Inland Mission. London: Morgan and Scott. , appendix

J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) on this date. 6/25/1865, founded China Inland Mission.

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Jonathan Goforth – death, Oct. 8, 1936

If we all had faith to wait upon God in intense believing prayer there would be genuine Holy Ghost revival, and the living God would get all the glory. In Manchuria and China, when we did nothing else than give the address and let the people pray, and kept out of sight as far as possible, we saw the mightiest manifestations of Divine power.

            – Smith, Oswald J. The Revival We Need, London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1953,  –  from preface by Jonathan Goforth,

 

…We speak of the manifestations at Pentecost as being abnormal, yet we maintain that Pentecost was normal Christianity.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 10.                                       

 

Our Lord did not permit His chosen followers to witness a word in His name until endued with power from on high. It is true that before that day they were the “born-again” children of the Father and had the witness of the Spirit. But they were not the Lord’s efficient co-workers and never could be until Spirit-filled.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 11.      

 

There can be no alternative; it is either Holy Ghost revival or apostasy.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 13.      

 

We cannot emphasize too strongly our conviction that all hindrance in the Church is due to sin.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 13.      

 

Surely, since the sinless Son of God had to be made sin for us an over‑emphasis upon sin is in the nature of things impossible.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 16.      

 

Jonathan Goforth died this date, 10/8/1936, at Wallaceburg, Ontario.  He was a product of Knox College, who married Rosalind Bell-Smith and went to China.  Goforth was born 2/10/1859 at Thorndale, (near London) Ontario, Canada.

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J. Hudson Taylor – Sailed, Sep. 19, 1853

“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.”

“I have seen many men work without praying, though I have never seen any good come out of it; but I have never seen a man pray without working.”

“The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”

“Perhaps if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success.”

“You must GO forward on your knees.”

                                                                (Exact Hudson sources for the above quotes unknown.)

J. Hudson Taylor set sail this date, 9/19/1853 (aboard a three-mast clipper) from Liverpool, England bound for the great land of China.

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Eric Liddell – death, Feb. 21, 1945

“I believe that God made me for a purpose…(the mission) but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

 

A quote by Eric Henry Liddell (pronounced Lĭd’l) who died this date (2/21/1945) closing a missionary career, in a prison in China. 

 

In college he became known as a runner and was chosen to represent Britain at the Paris Olympics in 1924.  When the schedule was published his race was slated for the Lord’s Day.  Liddell (to the consternation and disgust of many Englishman) withdrew from that race.  He was a devout Christian and put keeping God’s Day holy, above any national interest.   He later ran (on a week day) the 200 meter, getting a bronze metal. 

 

On the way to the start of the 400 meter, an unknown man handed Eric a paper with a portion of 1 Samuel 2.30 on it, “Them that honour Me I will honour.”  Liddell, also known as the “Flying Scotsman,” won the 400 meter race, breaking the world record, and giving England a gold metal. 

 

He returned to China, not as an MK, but as a missionary himself.  Eric was born 1/16/1902 in Tientsin, China to Minister and Mrs. James Liddell, Scottish missionaries.

 

Note: this post is uncharacteristic of eab (as those who know me can testify).  It is included because of the sterling character Liddell displayed – God give us more men who place God ahead of nation and/or ambition.

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Jonathan Goforth – death, Oct 8, 1936

“…I have been among Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and members of many other denominations, and I have found that no amount of baptismal water can keep the devil out of the hearts and lives of Christians.”

  

                – Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, Inc), 119.

 

Goforth (went to China), probably the greatest Canadian missionary, died this date 10/8/1936.

(underline mine) [Goforth is not saying devil has to stay but water will not keep him out.]

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