Dear Subscriber,
How do you celebrate your loved ones on their birthday? HCM Board chairman, Dr Jennie Fung, did so by sharing a story of young Hudson Taylor with you. Will you celebrate Hudson Taylor with us in our special prayer meeting to be held on his birthday, 21st May?
Unreserved Consecration
Board Chair, Half Crown Media
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. — Romans 12:1 (NIV)
This Easter, I was blessed to speak at a youth mission camp. There, I witnessed young people, full of excitement and curiosity, passionately inquire about missions and the missionary life. They reminded me of Hudson Taylor who, as a teen, was similarly inspired by God’s love and mercy, and committed his whole life to God’s service.
In his autobiography, A Retrospect, Hudson recounted how he committed his life to God:
Not many months after my conversion, having a leisure afternoon, I retired to my own chamber to spend it largely in communion with God. Well do I remember that occasion. How in the gladness of my heart I poured out my soul before God; and again and again confessing my grateful love to Him who had done everything for me – who had saved me when I had given up all hope and even desire for salvation – I besought Him to give me some work to do for Him, as an outlet for love and gratitude; some self-denying service, no matter what it might be, however trying or however trivial; something with which He would be pleased, and that I might do for Him who had done so much for me.
Well do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, all life, my friends, my all, upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. The presence of God became unutterably real and blessed; and though but a child under sixteen, I remember stretching myself on the ground, and lying there before Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy.
For what service I was accepted I knew not; but a deep consciousness that I was no longer my own took possession of me, which has never since been effaced.
Within a few months of this time of consecration the impression was wrought into my soul that it was in China the LORD wanted me. It seemed to me highly probable that the work to which I was thus called might cost my life; for China was not then open as it is now.
Hudson Taylor started preparing himself for China.
As he chose to spend time to draw close to God, Hudson Taylor was filled with the overwhelming sense of love and gratitude to God who had done everything for him. In response, he asked to do something for God, be it trying or trivial. Although he knew great sacrifices lay ahead–even the threat of death–he would not retreat. Instead, he embraced God’s path with joy and reverence. To him, the call to China was not a dreaded ordeal, but a rich privilege from God.
At the Easter camp, I reconnected with the young leaders who organized this camp. They attended the youth mission camp where I spoke nine years ago. Two of them are in seminaries and others are preparing professionally for mission work. They held onto the calling they received at a young age. My heart was filled with joy and praise. God delights in using ordinary lives for His extraordinary purposes.
May all of us, young or old, respond like Hudson Taylor to God’s great love with unreserved consecration, in joy and reverence.
Quotation from
Taylor, J. Hudson. A Retrospect. 3rd ed. Toronto: China Inland Mission, 1902, pp.5, 7, 8.
MAY 2025 ENGLISH & CHINESE PRAYER MEETINGS
This month, our English, Cantonese, and Mandarin online prayer meetings will be held on the third Wednesday, May 21, 2025, which also happens to be Hudson Taylor’s birthday!
- English Meeting: 8:00 AM Pacific Time / 11:00 AM Eastern Time
- Cantonese Meeting: 4:00 PM Singapore Time
- Mandarin Meeting: 7:30 PM Singapore Time
Please note: The German meeting will continue on the first Monday of the month as usual.
For more information, feel free to contact us at info@halfcrownmedia.com.
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