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J. Hudson Taylor: A Man in Christ
The exciting story tells of J. Hudson Taylor, one of the great nineteenth-century missionaries. It is a true account of God's grace and what he can do with a life consecrated to Him.
372 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 15, 2022
An excellent read. The biographer is American so I don't love the style where someone is obsessed over but the content of Hudson's life is incredible to read and very challenging. Get yourself a copy and challenge what you think is possible with God used men.
August 29, 2023
Very interesting to read about the famous Chinese missionary as a Chinese. Helpful to know more about the history of Christianity at the time (both in England and China). Really encouraged by Taylor's faith and heart for making Christ known during his hardship. Part of the book feels like a romance story between Hudson and Maria, which was unexpected and great!
"She may find a richer or handsomer husband - but I question whether she will get one more devoted than I should have been." - Hudson Taylor
"She may find a richer or handsomer husband - but I question whether she will get one more devoted than I should have been." - Hudson Taylor
February 17, 2024
Incredible story of an incredible man. Took me long enough! Some parts of the bio drag, but most of the story of Taylor’s life is inspiring and amazing. “The little servant of a Great Master.”
April 10, 2023
Finally got round to this one. A good, easy read - uncomplicated, simple prose, but challenging in subject. Some key things I’ll remember:
- Prayer is so central to the life of the Christian. And God showed Taylor and the other CIM missionaries time and time again that He did know what they needed, and He did provide. What a challenge to my own, often prayerless, life.
- China has been a hard place for Christians for a long time. Didn’t know anything about the Boxer massacre, or even why Cs were viewed with such suspiscion. Helpful to understand the context.
- God tells us that to live is Christ and to die is gain. What would our lives look like if we truly believed this and shared this message with everyone we met? We have an example in Hudson Taylor.
- Prayer is so central to the life of the Christian. And God showed Taylor and the other CIM missionaries time and time again that He did know what they needed, and He did provide. What a challenge to my own, often prayerless, life.
- China has been a hard place for Christians for a long time. Didn’t know anything about the Boxer massacre, or even why Cs were viewed with such suspiscion. Helpful to understand the context.
- God tells us that to live is Christ and to die is gain. What would our lives look like if we truly believed this and shared this message with everyone we met? We have an example in Hudson Taylor.
February 14, 2025
Hudson Taylor’s deep faith, perseverance, and nearness to God is deeply inspiring and challenging. Reading this book once clearly doesn’t do it justice; the rich lessons of faith, obedience, and joy in Christ derived from Taylor’s life cover every chapter of this book. I now understand why Brian Sturm is the president of Hudson Taylor’s fan club.
“‘Can the Christians of England sit still with folded arms while these multitudes are perishing - perishing for lack of knowledge - for lack of that knowledge which England possesses so richly, which has made England what England is, and made us what we are? What does the Master teach us? Is it not that if one sheep out of a hundred be lost, we are to leave the ninety and nine and seek that one? But here the proportions are almost reversed…” (Pg 172).
Don’t forget about the ninety-nine lost sheep!
“‘Can the Christians of England sit still with folded arms while these multitudes are perishing - perishing for lack of knowledge - for lack of that knowledge which England possesses so richly, which has made England what England is, and made us what we are? What does the Master teach us? Is it not that if one sheep out of a hundred be lost, we are to leave the ninety and nine and seek that one? But here the proportions are almost reversed…” (Pg 172).
Don’t forget about the ninety-nine lost sheep!
January 14, 2023
To deal briefly with the negative, the prose itself was lackluster and I imagine that there are better biographies of Hudson Taylor out there.
On to the positive: what an amazing, encouraging life Taylor led. Seeing Taylor's deep faith in the power of prayer, and reading again and again about the real joy that he found in Christ through it has been encouraging and convicting for my own prayer life. Beside that, seeing the constant acts of otherworldly faithfulness that God has shown to the work of His church in China and to the CIM/OMF in particular was so powerful.
On to the positive: what an amazing, encouraging life Taylor led. Seeing Taylor's deep faith in the power of prayer, and reading again and again about the real joy that he found in Christ through it has been encouraging and convicting for my own prayer life. Beside that, seeing the constant acts of otherworldly faithfulness that God has shown to the work of His church in China and to the CIM/OMF in particular was so powerful.
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July 22, 2025“You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much.”
December 6, 2025
A powerful testimony of a man who proclaimed the gospel with passion and boldness in a place of great need. All while trusting God’s faithfulness amidst great hardship.
November 3, 2012
To be honest I didin't have very high expectations for this book. I noticed that it was published by OMF (the more recent name for the CIM which Hudson Taylor founded) and figured it would be a second-rate biography they put out to honor their founder. But I was wrong. It is actually a first-rate biography that was originally published in 1993 but then apparently OMF bought the rights to publish it themselves and did so in 2000. So this book is not what it appears to be at first. Instead it is a wonderfully simple yet thorough telling of the life of an astounding missionary.
All lovers of missionary biography should stop in here for a treat and a chance to be challenged by the life of a man who trusted God and saw regular answers to his bold prayers. His accomplishments were amazing, his impact was huge, but his legacy was simply one of child-like faith. Read and be encouraged.
All lovers of missionary biography should stop in here for a treat and a chance to be challenged by the life of a man who trusted God and saw regular answers to his bold prayers. His accomplishments were amazing, his impact was huge, but his legacy was simply one of child-like faith. Read and be encouraged.
May 27, 2022
This was the first book I have grabbed about Taylor’s life in ministry and it only took me a second to realize I would need a highlighter as I read. His gentle spirit, wisdom, and love for Christ can leave you in awe and convicted. It was just awesome. I will say the flow of this book is a little odd as it switches from the author to lengthy quotes of Hudson Taylor and other characters and stuff. It’s also super long and wordy so although I loved it it took a while to get through. It’s not something you can read a page of in five minutes and know exactly where you left off. Anywayssss definitely would recommend especially if you’re into reading missionary biographies
October 8, 2022
A beautiful biography of Hudson Taylor's life and the mission he was called to. This book is a great encouragement to every believer, in regards to the command to go and share the Gospel to every creature.
It's amazing how Hudson approached the difficult situations in his life, he involved God in everything.
Hudson's life wasn't always easy, he went through many trials, but we can see God's hand at work, He continued to provide for him and his family, and He used simple people, so many prayers were answered. God is faithful in every thing! We can analyze our life, how faithful we are to Him.
I gladly recommend this book!
It's amazing how Hudson approached the difficult situations in his life, he involved God in everything.
Hudson's life wasn't always easy, he went through many trials, but we can see God's hand at work, He continued to provide for him and his family, and He used simple people, so many prayers were answered. God is faithful in every thing! We can analyze our life, how faithful we are to Him.
I gladly recommend this book!
July 18, 2023
This was such an amazing and inspiring book! There are so many Christian lessons we can learn from the life of J Hudson Taylor!
I was expecting to find a suffering man who endured the harsh life of a missionary in China, but I believe the Holy Spirit is pointing to a deeper principle: we are more than conquerors through Christ. Hard times will certainly come over those who are active and are doing God's work, but they are not even close in comparison to the joy that is set ahead!
I was expecting to find a suffering man who endured the harsh life of a missionary in China, but I believe the Holy Spirit is pointing to a deeper principle: we are more than conquerors through Christ. Hard times will certainly come over those who are active and are doing God's work, but they are not even close in comparison to the joy that is set ahead!
January 20, 2020
Loved it
February 8, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am so inspired by Hudson Taylor’s life, sacrifices, clarity of vision, faith and prayers.
September 28, 2021
A very inspiring biography with many good principles for nowadays missionaries!
December 15, 2023
Amazing story of the incredible achievements of a truly humble faith.
May 8, 2012
Hudson Taylor has long been one of the missionaries that I most look up to. He was a man that having a weak body, had a strong faith in God, love for lost souls and a heart for China! He truly poured his life out on the mission field of China.
Burying his first wife and four of his children there and many years later he himself died at 73 years of age. 39 years after he first stepped foot on China's shore and was himself buried there.
One of the most amazing things about Hudson Taylor, after his faith and trust in God, was the way he continued through sickness, danger, heartache and opposition to beg God for, search and ask for, trust and constantly receive, more and more workers to help reach China! He had a heart to reach ALL of China and knew it was far too big for one man so he spent his whole life as a missionary doing two jobs. Reaching Chinese for Christ and reaching Christians for China!
This book sometimes reads slow like a history book, because there is so much detail and information with dates and world history and sooo many people involved in his life and ministry. But it is so worth it!
Burying his first wife and four of his children there and many years later he himself died at 73 years of age. 39 years after he first stepped foot on China's shore and was himself buried there.
One of the most amazing things about Hudson Taylor, after his faith and trust in God, was the way he continued through sickness, danger, heartache and opposition to beg God for, search and ask for, trust and constantly receive, more and more workers to help reach China! He had a heart to reach ALL of China and knew it was far too big for one man so he spent his whole life as a missionary doing two jobs. Reaching Chinese for Christ and reaching Christians for China!
This book sometimes reads slow like a history book, because there is so much detail and information with dates and world history and sooo many people involved in his life and ministry. But it is so worth it!
July 26, 2019
Reading biographies of the spiritual greats always has a dual effect me. On the one hand I'm greatly discouraged to realise how comparatively little I have achieved with the gifts God has given me. But on the other hand I am greatly encouraged to see what God can do with one who hands themselves wholeheartedly over to Him and his work. There's hope for me yet.
I particularly enjoyed the early and late parts of this book.
The early parts tell of the pioneering days when Taylor first formed the China Inland Mission reads like an adventure story. Full of storms at sea, hostile natives and miraculous deliverances from danger.
The last part of the book as Taylor's health fails through sheer exhaustion and overwork, and he is laid aside from the work of CIM, is beautifully written. It paints a portrait of man who has spent himself in God's service and has nothing more to give. But he is completely at peace with God and with himself. Knowing he has run the race as if to win the prize and is ready to meet his beloved saviour.
There were times in between where I got a bit bogged down with some of the more "political" elements of the story. But that is only a minor point and in no way affected my overall enjoyment of an excellent book. Highly recommended.
I particularly enjoyed the early and late parts of this book.
The early parts tell of the pioneering days when Taylor first formed the China Inland Mission reads like an adventure story. Full of storms at sea, hostile natives and miraculous deliverances from danger.
The last part of the book as Taylor's health fails through sheer exhaustion and overwork, and he is laid aside from the work of CIM, is beautifully written. It paints a portrait of man who has spent himself in God's service and has nothing more to give. But he is completely at peace with God and with himself. Knowing he has run the race as if to win the prize and is ready to meet his beloved saviour.
There were times in between where I got a bit bogged down with some of the more "political" elements of the story. But that is only a minor point and in no way affected my overall enjoyment of an excellent book. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2021
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Really amazing to see God at work through this life. Also really insightful and encouraging seeing a glimpse of how God's been at work in history multiplying His gospel in China.
Really amazing to see God at work through this life. Also really insightful and encouraging seeing a glimpse of how God's been at work in history multiplying His gospel in China.
March 8, 2018
I have read the Dutch version of this book from 2004. I read it in 2005 - 2006 and again in 2018.
The strong parts of this book are the wide range of his life. The real deal about being a missionary (count the cost) and it gives you heart to pray for China and other countries that are (partly) closed for missionaries. I personally also liked the smaller chapters so you can read one a day for example.
The strong parts of this book are the wide range of his life. The real deal about being a missionary (count the cost) and it gives you heart to pray for China and other countries that are (partly) closed for missionaries. I personally also liked the smaller chapters so you can read one a day for example.
March 16, 2022
What I like about this book is that is does not try to portray Hudson Taylor as the paragon of what a missionary should be. It does not read so much as a mission log but as a biography, another good point. Despite my disagreements with Hudson Taylor's theology, he evidently was zealous for the Gospel to reach China. The book does drag on near the end, both too fact-paced and too slow at the same time. The testimony of a man who literally wore himself out to fulfill his mission.
April 15, 2024
The storyline of Hudson Taylor’s life was amazing and made this a page-turner for me. I did get quite lost in all the names of unfamiliar people and places and I think a couple maps and timeline included in the book would’ve been quite valuable. Hudson Taylor’s character, goals, vision, mindset, and general godliness were very inspiring. His prayer life was excellent and have been of encouragement for me.
August 29, 2021
I would highly recommend this book! Not long, yet comprehensive, honest yet encouraging, challenging yet beautiful. It points to the Lord Hudson Taylor loved and wished to serve, whilst also serving as a good history of the background to the CIM (China Inland Mission) and its growth and development.
June 3, 2024
A fantastic book about a man who spent more of his life praying than seemingly doing anything else. A man who relied on his faith in a great God to pioneer one of the greatest missions efforts the world has seen in the last 200+ years. All glory be to Christ!
June 6, 2017
A little cumbersome to read but I am always challenged by men and women of God who put all of their faith and trust in Christ and see amazing and miraculous results.
July 20, 2020
Not always well written in places but a still a very readable, accessible and inspiring biography of the missionary Hudson Taylor.
July 28, 2022
“You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much. If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful; He cannot deny himself.”
November 29, 2023
Possibly the best biography I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Challenging and inspiring, loved every second of it.
March 12, 2024
Challenging and informative biography of one of the great missionaries
May 13, 2024
What a compelling story! After reading you'll feel challenged to surrender your life to God and the gospel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews