After his conversion, Hudson Taylor went to commune with God in prayer and there asked to be used of God. Here he writes about the unforgettable experience and the conviction that God had called him to China.

Hudson Taylor was blessed with godly parents, who not only dedicated him to the Master even before his birth but raised him up in the way of Lord, laying the very needed foundations upon which Hudson would eventually stand to influence millions for the Lord through the China Inland Mission.

Fifteen year old Hudson Taylor had picked up a little gospel tract to read in a bid to pass time, at that same time, his mother, several miles away, felt led to pray to God for his conversion. Locking her door, she cried for hours until she could no longer pray but thank God for answering her prayer. And indeed, her timely prayer was answered at that moment!

Hudson Taylor had picked up a gospel tract to pass time one day, and without any concern or interest in whatever sermon or moral the tract had, he began to read. But as he read, his attention was soon arrested by a phrase and as he probes further, Light dawned on him and he surrendered to God and accepted Him as his Savior and Lord.

When an older minister tried to discourage him on having a child-like faith in God as it pertained his call to China, Hudson Taylor did not budge but maintained his confidence in the Word of God. Many years later, Hudson writes to reaffirm his childlike confidence in the Word of God.

In obedience to the heavenly vision and call to go to China, Hudson Taylor, like a workman not wanting to be put to shame, devoted himself to careful study of Chinese, Greek, Latin, theology and medicine. He also made changes in his habits to discipline his flesh. All these things he did to prepare himself for his life’s work.

Hudson Taylor was down to his last dime when he was invited to go pray for a sick woman. Arriving there, he found the woman and her family to be in such a poor condition, but all he had was his last dime. When the husband finally asks for his help, the scripture, "Give to him that asketh of thee" flashed across his mind and he obeyed; saving the woman's life and conquering self as a result.

Hudson Taylor was robbed and abandoned by his servant on his way to Ningpo to get medical supplies. But despite these tragedies and the resulting weariness and hunger, he was more concerned about preaching Christ Jesus to the unbelievers around.

After nursing a friend who suffered from a virulent smallpox, Hudson Taylor had to destroy the clothing he had used while nursing his friend. But that left him in dire need of clothes with no money to buy them. It was just at this juncture that his Heavenly Father stepped in to provide timely help to His son.

Just when Hudson Taylor ran out of money to use in continuing the provision of free breakfast to some widows and orphans, an amount of money due his colleague came in earlier than expected and was used to meet the very important need at hand.

In a desperate bid to get money for food, for themselves and the guests they were expecting, Hudson Taylor and Mr. Jones set out to sell some household possessions but were met with failure. Turning to God as their only hope, they cried for help. While they were still on their knees, He supplied a “rich relief!”

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me,” these were the words a distraught Hudson Taylor heard as he made for a doctor’s house in a bid to save his dying wife. In faith he obeyed and was instantly filled with unspeakable peace—a peace beyond all understanding. On getting home from the doctor’s, he found that the Great Physician Himself had visited his wife.

Dr. Parker's return to Scotland created a new need for the missionaries in China as the expenses incurred to run the hospital and dispensary were until that time, borne by him. But holding unto the promise to seek God first and have 'all these things" added to them, they chose to trust and not close down the hospital. And their faith in God, was beautifully rewarded.

So solid was his faith in his Heavenly Father and the His living word that Hudson Taylor declared, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies". His faith in the scriptures were unshakable and His experience as a father only helped solidify his believe that His Heavenly Father never ditch him.

Hudson Taylor was becoming sick with anxiety over the prospect of asking people to join him in the dangerous and difficult work in China. Only by fully trusting in God for his own welfare and direction did Hudson Taylor get peace to trust Him for the welfare and direction of future workers.

When unforeseen circumstances prevented a notice appealing for funds from going public, the amount needed was still secured in answer to prayer alone, causing a grateful Hudson Taylor to declare: “Truly, there is a living God, and He is the Hearer and Answerer of prayer."

For Hudson Taylor, identifying with the Chinese among who he worked, in all things not sinful: their culture, attire, architecture and so on, was following in the footsteps of Jesus who meekly left Heaven to be cradled in a manger just to save humanity from sin and destruction.

In what was an audacious result of faith in God and a literal obedience to the charge by Jesus to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, Hudson Taylor, in company of 21 other believers, set out for China on Saturday, May 26, 1866. "They had no one at home to guarantee them support; they had no one in China to welcome them; they had no home ready to receive them." They had only their faith in Jesus Christ - and it was all they needed!

Hudson Taylor's excellent management of the diversity among the pioneer set of missionaries he was travelling to China with 1866, his personal example and loving leadership was so profound that more than half of the crew members they were traveling with confessed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour even before they arrived their destination in Shanghai.

Hudson Taylor demonstrated in his life and ministry that "The meek do not possess by force, but, as children, by inheritance."

For Hudson Taylor and his missionary companions, reaching the many Chinese souls that were yet without a Saviour was of paramount importance and every discomfort they had to suffer for that to happen was welcomed. And so, with a smile rather than a complaint, hardships associated with their work were borne.

Hudson Taylor shares how his great love for his children despite his failings, assures him that God, being a more loving Father than he could ever be, will never leave nor forsake him.

The blatantly false accusation of being responsible for the loss of 22 Chinese children was used by an enraged mob to lay siege on the missionary premises in Yangchow, badly stone some of missionaries and cause much injury to others as they tried to escape.

The Taylors were undaunted even after suffering intense persecution and trials. In separate letters, they both counted as light and momentary their suffering for the sake of gospel, fixing their eyes on the weightier eternal glory that a harvest of souls would bring to God's Kingdom.

After the sad loss of his dearest wife, Hudson Taylor did not go on grieving as one without hope, but in total submission to the will of God believed that it was for the best; for her and for him that she was called home to be with the Lord.

Hudson Taylor wrote to his sister about abundant joy and peace that had replaced great distress and restlessness that had burdened him for months because of a growing consciousness of sin and his powerlessness against it. When he found that Jesus had promised to never leave him and that he was literally a member of Christ's body, he was able to conclude, “Can Christ be rich and I poor?”

Hudson Taylor writes about the deep rest and fullness of life, that a knowledge of Christ's indwelling in him has brought him. Gladly he says, "Christ dwelling in the heart by faith... is power indeed, is life indeed.”

Like the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus, Hudson Taylor was able to in a moment of great need and thirst access the well that never runs dry. No longer was the Samaritan woman's story ancient history to him, for in his own words, "it became a present message to my soul... And more than satisfied my sorrowing heart."

As Hudson Taylor mourned the loss of his dear wife and two sons as well as the absence of the ones who were living, he writes beautifully about the deep comfort brought to him by the Lord during this difficult time. In his words, "No language can express what He has been and is to me... He who once wept at the grave of Lazarus often now weeps in and with me..."

"Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." This was the promise upon which Hudson Taylor rested with absolute certainty as the mission trusted God for a hundred new workers and the funds to meet their needs. And he was not put to shame as God did just like He promised in His word.

Hudson Taylor shares how two experiences; his departure to China and the loss of his little daughter in China, helped his mother and him, understand fully what it meant when the Bible said, "God so love the world that He gave His only son."

With great passion, Hudson Taylor burned for China and the many unsaved souls there. Not only did he offer himself to be used by God for the Chinese, but with illustrative stories and a zeal that was unwearied, he appealed to fellow believers with the need to also burn for these unsaved souls.

Hudson Taylor shares two stories of believers going out of their way to support God's work as best they could; from a widowed woman giving away a most priced possession for the sake of the work, to a young boy giving his all and an old man giving according to his means; all for the same reason.

Hudson Taylor understood that the church of God will always be a body with many members and he committed to promoting and supporting the work of other missionaries and members of the body as he did his. For him, the ultimate aim of winning souls was more important than any denominational difference.

In 1886, a small group of believers from the China Inland Mission were gathered together to seek the face of God and for eight days, they offered prayers and fasted. And the Lord honoured His people as their petitions were granted.

Instead of with spite or bitterness, Hudson Taylor treated even the men with whom he disagreed with brotherly love. Rather than focus on areas of disagreement with others, he was focused on shared unity in Christ Jesus.