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CBMW Conference Videos

Image For those of you who appreciate the ministry of The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, the videos of the entire conference are now available on CBMW’s website! I am very grateful for this organization and I hope you will find these videos encouraging and clarifying to your own understanding of manhood and womanhood. Here are a few words regarding the conference from CBMW’s Executive Director, Owen Strachan:

We recently held our first CBMW National Conference in conjunction with the 2014 Together for the Gospel conference. We wanted to present an event that would be gospel-focused, positive, and exciting.

These were our starting points, but we honestly didn’t know what to expect. We thought that we might have 500 people. Then people started signing up, and kept signing up. So we went back to the book publishers that were among our event sponsors and asked them to greatly increase the amount of books that they were giving, and they did. Then even more people signed up, so we went back to the publishers one more time, and they were gracious to give even more books. Finally the day of the conference came, and God brought close to 1,500 people. We sold every single seat and then several dozen “standing room only” seats. Wow!

We decided that we would feature an unusual format for these talks. They would be short, sharp, and “TED”-like, long enough to argue a point, but short enough to progress through an extremely gifted platform of speakers in a short amount of time. We hope these videos will not only enrich your life, but that you share them with many others as well (feel free to host 1-2 on your site and direct folks to this page for the full treasure trove). Thanks again for your interest.

Please note, by the way, that we are able to make this content available for free thanks to the generous gift of complementarian churches, organizations, and individuals. We would love your support of our ongoing work to provide gospel-driven resources to God’s people.

Also: keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming eBook we at CBMW are doing with the good folks at Desiring God Ministries. We’re really, really excited about this project!

IMG_5807I moderated a women’s panel at the conference and had the privilege of hearing first hand from Candice Watters, Kristie Anyabwile, Melissa Kruger, Trillia Newbell, and Jodi Ware. I have included our panel discussion below. You can find the remaining talks given by Dr. Ligon Duncan, Dr. Russell Moore, Kevin DeYoung, Eric Mason, Dr. John Piper, Dr. Danny Akin, Dr. Albert Mohler, and Dr. David Platt here.    

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A Few Book “Reviews”

I had lofty goals of writing lengthy book reviews on this site – both to help my own retention and encourage others as well.

I’ve realized, however, that in my particular season of life, if I spend time writing lengthy reviews I won’t have time to finish the books I am currently reading!

Instead, I’m going to try to share the titles of books I’ve recently read, gleaned much from, and think others may enjoy as well!

ImageThis book. If you are a female, get your hands on a copy of this book! It was just released and I read it in one sitting. Yes, it was a very long sitting, but that’s how wonderful this book is. Your soul will be nourished. Your heart encouraged and yes, convicted. This will definitely be one of those books I will recommend over and over again and reread in the future.

Be Still My Soul. If you are going through a trial, this book will encourage your soul greatly. Elisabeth Elliot’s wisdom is timeless – and that’s because it is rooted in God’s Word. The biggest takeaway I  had from this book is how the shortcut to peace is acceptance of God’s will. Even if you aren’t going through a hard time, I think this book will encourage you, but especially if you are, it will be like water in a dry place.

Instructing a Child’s Heart. This is one of those books I’ve had laying around our place forever but never actually cracked it open to read it. I finally read it last month in conjunction with a parenting class I was taking at Southern Seminary. I really enjoy a book that is packed with Scripture, and this one is.

I’m in the middle of a couple other books and once I finish them I will probably post those as well.

IMG_5175But these last two books are just for fun! I just discovered the wonderful rhyming goodness of Little Blue Truck and Little Blue Truck Leads the Way. Even though I have girls, these are already favorites (for them and me!). And we are just ever so slightly entering the world of Bill Peet. AudreyKate is still a little young for these books, but I read as long as she will last! I know I’m overly entertained by the personification of inanimate objects and animals.

Hope these titles encourage you.

What are some of your favorite children’s books?

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Love Him: He Is Your Man

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I can still hear my dad’s voice resonating through the sanctuary the day he married my husband and me, “Dear friends, we are gathered here together in the presence of Almighty God and His holy angels, to unite Grant Robert Castleberry and GraceAnna Maude Broggi in holy matrimony.” It was a sacred moment as we stood before family and friends, but most importantly, God, to enter into a marriage covenant. I had fallen in love with my soon-to-be husband in the year preceding this day, but now my love for him was about to change and grow dramatically. I was about to commit to love him for the rest of my life, not only in word, but also in deed. As Grant’s strong hands held mine, I thought about all the reasons I loved him. Our hearts were so alike in our love for God and our call to ministry, but as I admired how handsome he looked in his Marine Corps uniform, my heart swelled with love for the man that I recognized was oh so very different than me. I thanked God for the man He had so graciously brought into my life to lead me. And that sunny afternoon I made a solemn vow before God Almighty to love, respect, submit to, and help him until death separated us.

Read the rest here at CBMW Family.

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Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable

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Read these tonight in Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliott, pg 93

1. Count your troubles, name them one by one- at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.

2. Worry every day about something. Don’t let yourself get out of practice. It won’t add a cubit to your stature but it might burn a few calories.

3. Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.

4. Devise clever but decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man’s gotta live.

5. Make it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and where they’re going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan to do it.

6. Stay away from absolutes. It’s what’s right for you that matters. Be your own person and don’t allow yourself to get hung up on what others expect of you.

7. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people’s. You have your life to live, they have theirs.

8. Don’t fall into any compassion traps – the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people’s troubles, you may neglect your own.

9. Don’t let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what’s really relevant – things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones – they’re where it’s at now.

Read more if you desire more encouragement to focus on the invisible and eternal.

So thankful for you, Elisabeth Elliott.

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It’s Okay to Say No

IMG_77471Several months ago, I was planning on attending a weekend women’s conference a day’s drive away from where we live. I was excited about it. I knew it would be an encouraging time for me to spend with other women and in God’s Word.

The day before the conference arrived but as I made preparations to go, my plans began to unravel. It wasn’t really one particular thing, but a culmination of a bunch of little things. Grant was going to be unexpectedly busy that weekend and I felt stressed about leaving him to care for the girls when he had lots of studying to do.

“Go to the conference,” he kept telling me, but I can read him by now and it didn’t feel right. 

All day my internal struggle went on. I felt like I had committed to the conference and that I should go. I did not want to back out of a commitment. I did not want to say no. I did not want to let people down. I did not want to back out of my plan.

As I tried to put my youngest to bed that night, she kept crying for me. Her nose started running late that afternoon with a small accompanying cough. I got her semi-settled and went to run some errands to get ready to leave the next day. When I got home, she was still crying. “I tried to comfort her, but she wants you,” Grant said as I entered the house.  I went into the dark room and pulled her out of her crib. Her crying immediately ceased as she snuggled into my shoulder.

She just wanted me.

As her tears ceased, my own began to fall. Grant came to check on us and I whispered to him in the dark, “I can’t go. I’m sorry. I know this was the plan. But I just can’t do it.”

“Babe, it’s okay. You don’t have to go.” 

“I don’t?” 

“No of course you don’t. In fact, it would be nice if you’d stay.”

Somewhere along the way, I had convinced myself that saying “no” was wrong. But as my little girl’s soft sobs began to wane, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.

My children needed me. And on this particular weekend, my busy husband needed me to stay too, even though he didn’t want to ask.

As I rocked my little girl quietly in the dark, my soul finely found rest. Why had I been ignoring all day what the Lord had clearly been showing me?

God began to impress on my heart that I should never forget the importance of the task He has called me to. That means that there are times when my children simply need me. No one smells the way I do. No one rocks the way I do. No one sings the way I do. No one strokes their cheeks the way I do. 

I am their strong footing. I am their solid ground. I am their stability.

3909_654628018168_6466219_nAnd not just that, there are times when my husband needs me too. I need to be sensitive to the load he is carrying and be willing to drop everything to help him, even when he is too kind to ask. That’s part of what it means to love him. I need to care if he has clean socks and shirts ironed and meals on the table. There are days when that may not happen, but those things do matter. I don’t need to be overcommitted, I need to be there for him.

That’s a hard line to draw, it just is.  I don’t always know where to draw it but I am learning that when I need to draw it, I don’t need to feel bad about it.

This doesn’t just apply to the married woman either, but the single woman too. Often, the unmarried woman is asked to do even more things simply because she does not have the commitment of a family. But if the single woman is busy serving her church and building into the lives of those around her, there will be times where she will need to say “no” for her own spiritual and physical health.

No I can’t bake those cookies for the bake sale this weekend.

No I can’t make it to the baby shower.

No I won’t be able to babysit.

No I won’t be able to host the party.

And when we say no because it’s the right thing to do (not for selfish reasons), we find relief from unnecessary stress. We find freedom to truly focus on the tasks God has called us to be faithful to.

My dad gave my brothers and I some very wise advice growing up that has always stuck with me, “A need doesn’t constitute a call.”

There have been many times where I’ve wanted to fill needs that God simply has not given me the resources or time to fill. I am learning how to graciously say no with confidence knowing that when I do, what I am really saying is yes.

Yes to the things He has called me to in my particular season of life.

Yes to the love of my life and to the little people who need me each and every day.

And that’s not something I should ever feel bad about.

“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.” – Hebrews 12:1

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Christmas Expectations

20131227-092411.jpgExpectations. Christmas is the season for expectations. Expectations are at times necessary and good, but if they are unrealistic or self-centered they can become stumbling blocks in our lives.We all have expectations. We have expectations for ourselves, our future, our spouse, our family, our friends, and even of God. Sometimes we judge people based on these expectations. If others do not meet our expectations, we are often angry and disappointed by their failure. Many times, we fail to contemplate whether our expectations are realistic to begin with.

Unmet expectations are bound to happen. We are sinful people. We let people down and others let us down as well. But we often allow unmet expectations to get in the way of what God is doing in our lives. We dwell on our disappointments instead of asking God to show us what He wants us to learn from the experience or situation that is turning out differently than we had hoped.

Jesus, He Is Not What You Expect

Over 2,000 years ago, there were a lot of people who had expectations about the coming Messiah. They expected Him to be an impressive and inspiring leader who would set the Jews free from Roman rule and bring political freedom. They expected the Messiah to be a triumphant and majestic king fit for royalty.

Read the rest here at CBMW Women

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Trusting the Giver of Life

babypicI sat in the waiting room at the pediatrician’s office with my newborn. Across from me sat a mother with two rambunctious boys and a new baby adorned in pink. As we chatted, her sons’ behaviors escalated. Finally, when she could take it no longer, she shouted, “Boys, STOP IT!” She gave a deep sigh, rolled her eyes, and curtly said to me, “We’re done having kids. We’ve got our girl now and we are done!” Her voice was mixed with anger and frustration and a tone of relief.  As she got up to leave, I held my newborn close. I felt sad. Her words had hurt me somehow. I wondered if I would feel that way one day — so fed up with motherhood that I might blurt out to a stranger, “This is our last. We’re done!”

 All About Perspective

When I was little girl, I often heard women ask my mom the question I am often asked now, “How many children do you plan to have?”

Her response always pointed to the Lord in some way. As a young child, it made me feel loved when I heard her say things like, “We want whatever God wants for our family.” I knew she considered my life and the lives of my brothers as gifts from God.

Now that I’m a young mom, my mom’s perspective gives me strength. Even though her pregnancies weren’t always easy, she trusted that God was sovereign over her womb. She had five c-sections and while pregnant with me, was on strict bed rest for months when my life hung in the balance. She knew fear, especially after her pregnancy with me, but she trusted in the God who had a plan beyond what she could see.

Read the rest at CBMW Family

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Pilgrims in a Land of Giants

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As we approach Thanksgiving, most of us are probably thinking about the Pilgrims, or at least referencing them in some way. Instead of focusing so much on the Pilgrims’ “thanksgiving meal,” it would probably serve us far better to contemplate their great faith in God. The Pilgrims’ theology was revealed through their many hardships. Their first governor, William Bradford, when explaining how the colonists survived the winter, said it was in spite of “all their weaknesses and infirmities.” He wanted his readers to give God the glory so that “in like cases might be encouraged to depend upon God in their trials (1).” The Pilgrims knew the Word of God so well that it radically changed their perspective on life. They were strong not because they were some kind of super-humans, but because of their trust in God. They were a humble people who gloried in God as their strength.

The Pilgrims surely modeled the faith of the holy men and women of old from Scripture who looked forward to the promise of Christ’s coming. Although they were pilgrims (Hebrews 11:13), they longed for the “city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”

They believed God’s promises through the eyes of faith. Some were tortured, mocked, flogged, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, killed with the sword, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated (Hebrews 11:36-37). They were men and women of whom the world was not worthy (11:38).

There was so much they couldn’t see, and yet they trusted in a faithful God.

Strength In God

Numbers 13 and 14 tell the story of two groups of people – those who had faith in God in the midst of difficult circumstances, and those who failed to see Him. In these chapters, Moses sends 12 spies into the land of Canaan to survey it. When the spies return, 10 describe what they see: giants, walled cities, and a people who were much stronger then they were. The spies tell Moses and the people of Israel, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are (13:31).”

But 2 of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, gave a very different report. They did not argue with the other spies or deny the fact that they were “grasshoppers” in the sight of the mighty men of Canaan. But their overall perspective was filled with hope: “Do not fear the people of the land…the Lord is with us; do not fear them (14:7,9).”

Same circumstance and yet two different perspectives.

The Scripture records that the 10 spies gave a “bad report” (13:32) but Joshua and Caleb exuded a “different spirit” (14:24) and they were blessed by the Lord. So what was the difference between these two groups of men? The difference was not in their circumstances, but Who they saw (or failed to see).

The 10 spies saw the obstacles and the giants. Minus God.

But Joshua and Caleb saw more than that. They saw God.

The 10 spies said, there are giants!

Joshua and Caleb said, but we have God!  (2)

The 10 spies were faithless.

Joshua and Caleb had faith in God.

The 10 spies didn’t believe God’s promise that He would bring them into the land.

Joshua and Caleb remembered the promise and knew that somehow God would make a way.

Ordinary People, Big Faith

I’ve thought about this a lot the past couple months and it has brought much conviction to my heart. Life is hard. Trials are many. Death is real. How many days do I forget to say, “But God!”

Just like Joshua and Caleb, I know the God of Israel, the One who, “Looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything (Job 28:24)” and who “Has gathered the wind in his fists (Prov 30:4).”

Yet, I’ve been like the faithless spies so many times.

And we’ve all been around people like the faithless spies.

How saddening is it to be around the single woman who is dejected and bitter and says, “I’ll never get married. I’ll never be happy.”

How discouraging is it to be around a young mother who complains constantly about the dirty diapers, the surprise pregnancy, and her lack of “me time.”

How disheartening is it to be around the mother with grown children who tells you to “Enjoy it now, because it isn’t going to last.”

But how different it is to be around a woman who sees God at work in her circumstances. Have you ever been around a godly woman like that? She doesn’t sugarcoat her circumstances or pretend like everything is perfect, she is real and honest and yet full of faith.

The single woman says, “Yes it is hard and I am often lonely and I long to be married, but God is a refuge for me and I have grown in my faith in ways I never would have imagined were possible.”

The young mother says, “There are days when I don’t think I can change another diaper, but then God meets me right where I am and I understand his grace in a new way,” or “We were definitely surprised by this pregnancy but I know that God is the giver of life and I trust His perfect timing for our family.”

The mother with grown children says, “I remember when mine were young. It is very busy, but enjoy every minute. Things change, but every age and stage is a gift.”

Or the mother who has a rebellious child but with tears in her eyes says, “I never give up hope because I know who God is, and He is working out all things for my good and His glory.”

These are women who live in the land of giants, yet see through the eyes of faith.

Who Do You See?

I don’t know what trials you may be going through this Thanksgiving, but do you see Christ? Is your heart set on this world or do you view yourself as what you are, a sojourner and a pilgrim?  While loneliness may flood your heart or sorrow abound, believe His promises. Strength is found in Christ, look to Him. May we say like Joshua and Caleb, and all those ordinary pilgrims of old, Do not fear, God is with us!

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” Psalm 84:5 (NIV)

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(1) These quotes from William Bradford and the faith of the Pilgrims are from The First Thanksgiving by Robert McKenzie. I absolutely loved this book!

(2) – I learned these truths from Numbers 13 and 14 in a counseling class taught by Dr. Stuart Scott at Southern Seminary.

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A Truly Thankful Heart

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As Thanksgiving approaches, I wanted share a few thoughts about what the Lord has been teaching me regarding thankfulness. I hope these truths from Luke 17 will cause you to stop and ponder God’s goodness as they did for me.

Here is my piece (at CBMW):

Jesus, Thank You

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The Faith of Hudson Taylor

ImageI’ve owned Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret for over five years. I bought it at the recommendation of a friend right after I graduated from college. I had every intention of reading it back then, but when I fell in love with a certain Texan, it was  forgotten. It sat on my desk for quite some time until I finally shelved it, resolving I would one day pick it back up. I’m so glad I finally did, and even though it took me half a decade to do so, it was probably more beneficial to me in my stage of life now then it would have been then.

Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret is written by his second son, Frederick Taylor, and his wife, Mary. It covers a general summary of Hudson Taylor’s life and ministry and is perfect for someone (like me) who wants to learn more about this mighty missionary but doesn’t have hours to devote to detailed volumes. Hudson Taylor was born in 1832 in England and became a believer in Jesus Christ in 1849. His conversion is a beautiful story that speaks to the godly faithfulness of his mother. She was out of town, spending the day with friends, when she was particularly burdened for her son’s salvation. She left the group for several hours and prayed fervently on her knees until she finally felt God had answered her prayers. Meanwhile, miles away from his mom, young Hudson believed in “the finished work of Christ (3).” His lifelong “call” to share Christ with the people of China came shortly after his conversion. Hudson had grown up hearing his father’s prayers for the unreached people of China, so the country was dear to his heart. Once his calling from God came, Taylor never looked back for he was “not disobedient to the heavenly vision (8).” His whole life was dedicated to reaching the Chinese for Christ, no matter the trials and hardships that came with this mission. He was unwaveringly committed, and he sacrificed all for China: the death of his child, Gracie, his wife and “heart-friend” Maria, his second wife, Emily, and finally in 1905, he went home to be with the Lord from Hunan.

What made this man sacrifice so much for the salvation of the Chinese? Most of the fruit of his ministry (the millions saved through the ministry of The China Inland Mission) he never witnessed in his lifetime. There were two things that really gripped me as I read this book that I think set Hudson Taylor apart as one of the mightiest missionaries of the faith: his heart for the lost and his unwavering faith in God.

Heart for the lost:

Hudson Taylor wasn’t just called to a country, he was called to a people. He wasn’t content in simply knowing Christ for himself, his soul grieved for those who did not know Christ. So much so, that many nights he could not sleep because “every day tens of thousands in that land were passing away into Christ-less graves (87).” His passionate heart for the lost caused me to examine my own heart for those who don’t know the truth of Christ and made me wonder what the world would be like if there were more men and women who lost sleep just by thinking of those who do not know the Savior. But Hudson’s life of sacrifice was not ultimately for the Chinese, but for Christ. Speaking of the trials and suffering he experienced, Hudson said, “I never made a sacrifice (15).” Giving was receiving for Hudson Taylor, and the rewards of knowing Christ brought such joy that any suffering paled in comparison. He wrote in a letter to his mother, “Should we not rejoice when we can give up anything for the Savior? (16).” And his love and faith in God is what marked this man and enabled him to labor and suffer much for the name of Christ.

Faith in God:

Hudson Taylor’s faith caused me to sit for two hours straight one night because I simply could not put this book down. As a young man and assistant physician still living in England, he chose to live in a very humble area of town (Drainside), in order to better rely on God for provision as he prepared for the mission field. He lived very frugally and there were times when he did not know where the money would come to pay his next rent. One such time he had only a half-crown in his pocket and while ministering to a very poor family who had many mouths to feed and a dying mother, he felt God wanted him to give the last cent out of his pocket. Hudson wondered how such a little would ever help, but in that moment he felt the Holy Spirit impressing on his heart, “Give to him that asketh of thee.” As soon as he gave what little he had, his soul was “as light as my pocket (21).” God was teaching him the importance of faithfulness in the little things because, “If we are faithful in little things, we shall gain experience and strength that will be helpful to us in more serious trials of life (22).” His heart-longing to obey Christ down to the very smallest of areas, made me evaluate my own life. I was challenged by what Frederick Taylor, said of his father’s faith, “In these days of easy-going Christianity, is it not well to remind ourselves that it really does cost to be a man or woman who God can use (11).”

There is much more I could share about what touched my heart as I read this book. One other part of Hudson’s life that spoke volumes to me was his romance with Maria Dyer. They had the same heart for the Chinese people and felt assured they were, “Two whom God hath chosen to walk together before Him (64).” However, Maria’s guardian, Miss Aldersey (her parents were dead), would have nothing of Hudson Taylor, “that young, poor, unconnected Nobody (64).” She told Maria that she must break off her relationship with Hudson at once. Even though she was heartbroken, she trusted that nothing was too hard for the Lord and that he would bring them together if it was his will, “If he has to slay my Isaac…I know he will restore (64).” She respected the authority God placed in her life and God answered her prayers, bringing her and Hudson back together in his perfect timing. Her trust in God speaks loudly to young, Christian men and women who do not respect their parents’ decisions regarding relationships (whether they want them to wait to marry, or finish school, or end a relationship).  Even though Maria loved Hudson and knew that Miss Aldersey was wrong in her judgment of him, she trusted in the God who can change the hearts of kings. We have much to learn from her faith when it comes to trusting God. I had to ask myself, Do I trust God like that? Do I desire His will even at times when it comes in direct conflict with my own?

I only have two points of concern that I will quickly address as I wrap this up. First, I was deeply saddened when I read that Hudson and Maria sent their children back to England because the conditions in China were so terrible for their health. I wasn’t troubled that they went back, but that they were separated from their parents. Their youngest child at the time (only five), was extremely sick and his condition seemed to worsen at the thought of being separated from his parents (141). He died in his mother’s arms the night before the journey to England. Hudson and Maria had a deep faith in God and love for the Chinese, but what about their love for their children? I know they loved them deeply, so it seems they could have gone home for a season (while their children grew up) supporting the mission work in China and helping to send out missionaries?  It was after their children left that Maria’s condition deteriorated, which led to her early death. As mothers, our primary ministry is our children, and I can’t imagine the pain and heartbreak Maria experienced (and her children) as she sent them away on that boat, never to see them again on this earth.

The other point of concern was in Hudson Taylor’s Keswick view of sanctification (his “Spiritual Secret”), which has been historically known by the slogan, “Let go and let God.” I will not try to explain that view of sanctification here (you can read more here). But this view of the Christian life creates two categories of Christians: those who have experienced a second blessing, and those that have not. The view actually minimizes the effects of sin in our lives by advocating a quick fix to sin problems by “abiding” in Christ instead of “working out our salvation with fear and trembling.”

I am so glad I read this biography. I was very moved as I read the details of Hudson Taylor’s conversion, call to ministry, preparation for ministry, early years in China (which included dressing like the Chinese), his romance with Maria, their perseverance through trials in ministry, the death of their daughter, Gracie, and more. But to be honest, after I read that they sent their children back to England, it was really difficult for me to pick the book back up again. As a young mother myself, I kept picturing that little boy’s broken heart at the thought of being separated from his mom. I felt disappointed.

However, I’m so glad I didn’t let that keep me from finishing the book, and I was reminded that every hero of the faith has flaws. No matter how great and godly a person may be, there will always be things about someone that will disappoint us. We must remember not to hold people on pedestals, but  remember they are imperfect people (like us) that God uses for His great glory. They point us to the Perfect One, Christ, and they would never want to do anything different. I was also comforted by the fact that Hudson’s son (Frederick), who wrote the book, obviously loved the Lord deeply, so God was gracious and faithful in all of it.

This is an important biography of one of the greatest English-speaking missionaries to have ever lived. I hope you will be strengthened in your own walk with Christ through the faith of Hudson Taylor.