The Call to Service

 J. Hudson Taylor

Carrying the weight of widespread opposition from contemporary mission leaders, but equally haunted by the "accusing map" of China in his study, Hudson Taylor came to a decision while wandering the beaches of Brighton, England on a summer Sunday in 1865.

“Well do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my friends, my all, upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. I was not my own to give myself away; for I knew not when or how He whose alone I was, and for whose disposal I felt I must ever keep myself free, might call for service."

"And how do you propose to go there?"

I answered that I did not at all know; that it seemed to me probable that I should need to do as the Twelve and the Seventy had done in Judea-go without purse or scrip, relying on Him who had called me to supply all my need.

The minister replied, "Ah, my boy, as you grow older you will get wiser than that. Such an idea would do very well in the days when Christ Himself was on earth, but not now."

If we were to take the direction of our Master and the assurances He gave to His first disciples more fully as our guide, we should find them to be just as suited to our times as to those in which they were originally given.

Parents advised me, with such convictions, to use all the means in my power to develop the resources of body, mind, heart, and soul, and to await prayerfully upon God.

I began also to do what Christian work was in my power, in the way of tract distribution, Sunday school teaching, and visiting the poor and sick, as opportunity afforded.

I saw, further, that all through the New Testament the coming of my Lord was the great hope of His people, and was always appealed to as the strongest motive for consecration and service, and as the greatest comfort in trial and affliction.

Prayer was often the only resource by which the burdened heart could gain any relief.

In the study of that Divine Word I learned that, to obtain successful labourers, not elaborate appeals for help, but first, earnest prayer to God to thrust forth labourers, and, second, the deepening of the spiritual life of the Church, so that men should be able to stay at home, were what was needed. I saw that the apostolic plan was not to raise ways and means, but to go and do the work, trusting in His sure Word who has said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

The grave difficulty of possible interfering with existing missionary operations at home was foreseen.

Unbelief hindered my taking the first step.

How inconsistent unbelief always is! I had no doubt that, if I prayed for workers, "in the name" of the Lord Jesus Christ, they would be given me. I had no doubt that, in answer to such prayer, the means for our going forth would be provided, and that doors would be opened before us...

Simply because I refused to ask for them, the labourers did not come forward-did not go out to China.

Soon there were a number of men and women under preparatory training and engaging in evangelistic work which tested in some measure their qualifications as soul-winners.”

[adapted from the New Testament Church Pioneers website]