Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
grew up in a God-fearing home. However, at the age of 15 he began to rebel
against his mother and father when he took an apprenticeship to learn the ins
and outs of banking. It was in this environment that he first encountered
people who openly mocked the Christian faith. He soon joined them in scoffing
and swearing. The job also opened his eyes to wealth and “the love of money,
which is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Young Taylor soon found himself
drawn to the playboy lifestyle and the pursuit of pleasure.
As Providence would have
it, at age 17 Hudson suffered from an eye infection. He had to resign his banking
job and move back home with his parents to recuperate. His suffering only made
the young man’s anger towards God worse. Hudson’s mother, Amelia, noticed the turmoil
that her son was in. She knew that the only way his heart would be changed was
if he had a radical encounter with Jesus.
Amelia was a strong mother
who believed in the power of prayer. Amelia decided to leave the home for a few
days and go on a spiritual retreat, where she determined to pray for Hudson
until she came to a sense of assurance that God would save him. She locked
herself in a room and for hours pleaded that God would extend mercy to Hudson.
And then, all of a sudden, she believed that God had answered her prayer. Her
heart turned from pleading to praise, and she worshipped God that he had,
indeed, saved Hudson.
Meanwhile, Hudson had been
at home. Bored and discontent, he began looking for something to do. He
wandered into his father’s library and, though he pulled book after book from
the shelf, found nothing of interest. Finally, he spotted a tract titled “Poor
Richard.” He read the story, then came to the simple words “the finished work
of Christ.” In that very moment, Hudson understood that Christ had done all
that was necessary for salvation and the only right response was to accept that
work by faith. Right there, he fell to his knees and committed his life to the
Lord, promising to serve him forever. He soon learned that as he was on his
knees praising God for his salvation, his mother was doing the very same thing,
though many miles away.
A few days later, he and
his mother were reunited, and he immediately exclaimed, “I have some news to
tell you.” Before he could say anything more she replied, “I know what it is!
You have given yourself to God.” She explained that for days she had already
been rejoicing in his salvation.
Taylor’s life was forever
transformed. He soon committed his life to missionary work, trained as a
doctor, began to preach, and at last departed for China in 1853. Taylor would
spend 51 years in China and found the China Inland Mission. Hundreds of
missionaries would follow him to China and thousands of Chinese would come to
know Christ. Taylor is known as one of the great Christian missionaries and his
story cannot be told without giving due credit to the power of a praying
mother.[1]
-DM
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