“IT IS FINISHED”
The Remarkable Vision of Hudson Taylor
When a Dream Becomes a Vision:
“It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.” Hudson Taylor
I often feel that life is like running on an ice rink in dress shoes. When you are passionate about achieving a specific goal or mission, things can become complicated, confusing, frustrating, and even overwhelming. For me, my mission is to help vulnerable and exploited children and their families change their narratives. A dream can be very abstract, but when you transform that dream into a vision, you start to see the tangible realities of changed lives.
When the passion for your dreams burns within you, it feels like an innate calling. However, achieving everything you set out to do can be frustrating and challenging. As you scroll through social media, you may find many people whose dreams and lives seem to come easily to them. It’s important to pause and reflect on this. Almost everyone who accomplishes their goals has worked incredibly hard to get there. They have disciplined their daily habits and shaped their belief systems to overcome obstacles, ultimately leading to a practice of visionary success. They turn their dreams into a tangible reality that creates a significant impact. Their aspirations drive a vision for success, generating opportunities to improve the lives of those around them.
Maintaining a dream and transforming it into a vision can often be derailed by the demands of everyday life. Distractions pull us in multiple directions, causing us to lose sight of the importance of our why and who! I reflect on a memorable day in my sophomore year of college—specifically September 15, 1988—when I called my dad at his office seeking advice on a car that wouldn’t start. I’m not good with cars, so I frequently relied on him for help. He was four hours away, so I’m not sure why I thought calling him would solve my problem, but when you have an issue, you call Dad!
On that bright September afternoon, as I was finishing up a five-minute conversation with my father, he asked, “Didn’t you forget something this week?” I paused and tried to think but drew a blank. Then he prompted me, “What about your mom?” Suddenly, it hit me like a ton of bricks—I had forgotten my mom’s birthday, which was on September 10th. I quickly thanked Dad and hung up to call my mom. “Hey Mom, happy belated birthday!” I said, feeling guilty. “I’m so sorry! It’s been busy with, you know, studying and all that. I completely forgot.” To my surprise, my mother replied, “Oh, I thought you were calling to wish your dad and me a happy anniversary.” In the style of Bart Simpson, I thought, “D’oh!” I had just been speaking with Dad and completely overlooked mentioning their anniversary. I struck out twice that day.
Life can be busy and often chaotic, with many things competing for our attention. If we aren’t careful, we may lose sight of the dreams we wish to turn into reality. The daily disciplines and habits we cultivate create the foundation for visionary success. I believe we should dream—and dream big. It’s important to have a desire to live with a passionate purpose. We must overcome excuses such as being too busy, feeling too old, or being uncomfortable when stepping outside our comfort zones. We need to believe that our God-sized dreams can indeed become a reality.
From a young age, Hudson Taylor had a significant dream: he was passionate about becoming a missionary in China. During his youth, he grappled with doubts about his religious faith and led an undisciplined lifestyle. However, after reading the phrase “It is Finished,” which comes from John 19:30—Jesus’ words on the cross—in an evangelistic tract titled “Poor Richard,” he fully committed himself to pursuing God and achieving his dream. This commitment transformed his dream into a vision that inspired other missionaries and ultimately led to hundreds of thousands of individuals converting to Christianity. Hudson had a passionate dream that evolved into visionary action.
Hudson dedicated himself to God and the dream that had been planted in his heart: to become a missionary in China. He prepared for this mission by engaging in rigorous studies and extensively reading about the country. To better connect with the Chinese people, he also studied medicine. Despite facing poor health and financial challenges, he set sail on the Dumfries in September 1853 and arrived in Shanghai in March of the following year, right amid the Taiping Rebellion. His first assignment was with an organization called The Chinese Evangelization Society. During this time, he married Maria Dyer, who became a wonderful companion and partner in ministry until she died in 1870.
Taylor spent much of his early days and months learning the language and adjusting to his new surroundings. He faithfully prayed and studied God’s word every day. He was passionate about his mission. He was always looking for more effective ways for God to use him to reach the Chinese with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One morning during prayer he realized that many missionaries of his era led comfortable lifestyles and that few ventured further inland to serve in the rural and poorer areas. It was during this time that God cultivated a passion and desire to reach the inland of China.
Taylor eventually moved to a small house to connect more deeply with his Chinese neighbors. He was fully committed to his vision, which was evident in his attire and his faith in God for financial support. Living a simple life, he relied entirely on God to meet his needs and provide protection, which earned him respect among the Chinese community. His dedication ultimately inspired hundreds of workers to join him on his mission in China. His dream not only became a reality but also evolved into the China Inland Mission. Taylor’s work profoundly impacted the foundation of modern Christianity in China and the Far East. While turning dreams into reality can seem daunting, transforming possibilities into actual achievements requires consistent daily actions to shift dreams from mere ideas into tangible outcomes.
A dream becomes a vision only when actively nourished with specific details and careful planning. Transforming dreams into reality is nearly impossible without intentional planning and a disciplined foundation of daily activities. In the words of the legendary football coach, Lou Holtz, “Discipline breeds success.”
Taylor was deeply passionate about reaching the millions of Chinese people living in provinces where no missionary had ever set foot before. This desire fueled his dream and transformed it into a vision for meaningful change and effective ministry. In 1865, he wrote “China’s Spiritual Need and Claims,” which marked a significant milestone in his mission. Despite having limited financial resources, he relied on his faith in Almighty God, who called him to this work. He founded the China Inland Mission (CIM), to reach every province in China and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who had never heard it before.
In 1866, Hudson Taylor and twenty-two other missionaries began expanding their work in China. Their vision was in full swing, rapidly growing and impacting thousands of Chinese nationals in previously unreached provinces. By the time Taylor passed away in 1905, his God-given vision had spread to every province in China. The China Inland Mission had grown to include over 800 missionaries. Taylor’s devotion to God and his disciplined lifestyle defined both his life and work. He relied on God for financial support and is believed to have never had a fixed salary; he took only what he needed to survive on the mission field. Taylor had a deep desire to spread the Gospel message to the unreached Chinese people and was committed to reaching as many as possible.
Taylor’s accomplishments and impact on China, and those who would follow in his footsteps are so vast. There is so much to mention about Hudson Taylor! His dream became a vision of reality for ministry success. Due to ill health, he subsequently became semi-retired and moved to Switzerland in 1900. During these years he faced a profound emotional crisis upon receiving the devastating news of the Boxer Rebellion in China. This resulted in the disruption of missionary work and the murder of hundreds of missionaries and native Christians. In May 1900, as telegrams reported rioting and massacres, he exclaimed, “I cannot read, I cannot pray, I can scarcely think…but I can trust.” Despite his anguish, the stories emerging from this tragedy sparked renewed interest in missions worldwide and revitalized the China Inland Mission.
Taylor resigned in November 1902, passing leadership to a younger generation. He returned to China in 1905 for his eleventh and final trip, where he would later die in Changsha later that year. Hudson Taylor was a man of prayer; for him, prayer was not just a routine but a vital necessity that propelled his dreams into visionary accomplishments. He lived his life with immense faith in God.
Hudson Taylor’s life was a remarkable success, inspiring thousands and significantly contributing to the salvation of hundreds of thousands of Chinese individuals. His life, work, and writings motivated many Christians to embrace his vision. Among those influenced by him were notable missionaries such as the great Olympian Eric Liddell, Amy Carmichael, who ministered to young girls forced into temple prostitution in India, Jim Elliot, who was martyred for his faith and commitment to sharing the Gospel, and the famed evangelist Billy Graham.
Taylor lived his life with the following conviction in his heart. “It is Finished.” The words of Jesus on the cross stayed with him throughout his life. He was completely consumed with reaching individuals with the redemptive work of Christ. He allowed a dream from an early age to become a visionary force that changed the lives of so many! His life, his dream, and his vision will resonate throughout eternity.
Rich Binning is a researcher, investigator, and freelance writer based in Southeast Asia. He supports missionaries in spreading the message of Jesus Christ and works towards ending child trafficking and sexual exploitation. Rich is well-educated in Biblical Studies, Historical Studies, and Political Science, which equips him to comprehend the intricacies of cross-cultural missions and anti-trafficking efforts. He applies his research and investigative skills to offer effective solutions to complex issues.
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