Faith Like Hudson's

While teaching a missionary story about Hudson Taylor and his work in China to a group of children, I not only learned about this man’s life, but also about the importance of trusting God and the power of prayer. Hudson Taylor was a man who trusted God for everything. He had great faith that God would provide even when it seemed impossible. Having a heart for the lost people of China, Hudson prayed and asked God to provide five people who were willing to be missionaries to China. God answered his prayer with those five people. Hudson then started praying for more missionaries. He had a dream of having two missionaries for each of the provinces of inland China and two for the country of Mongolia. Twenty-four people would be needed to fulfill this dream. Hudson trusted God, and God provided twenty-four men and women. While he thought this was wonderful, Hudson still wasn’t satisfied. There were so many people in China who had never heard the Gospel. So, Hudson began praying for more missionaries. He asked God for 70 willing men and women in the next three years. God provided 78! Hudson continued to pray for more missionaries, this time asking God for 100. While some people thought that was too many to ask for, Hudson trusted God to provide, and God sent 102 men and women to China and Mongolia! Hudson then asked God for what seemed like the impossible, 1000 missionaries in five years. Well, nothing is impossible for God. At the end of five years, not only had He provided the 1000 Hudson had asked for, but more. 1,153 men and women had gone to China to spread the Gospel! Today, China is a closed country. The Chinese government does not allow missionaries into the country and Christians are persecuted. However, the God we serve is the same one Hudson Taylor served. Nothing is impossible for Him, and He will spread His Gospel to the world. He is working in the hearts of the people of China, and they are growing in faith. As Christians, we need to take up the same faith Hudson Taylor had and ask God for the seemingly impossible. We serve an amazing God, and nothing is impossible for Him!