History

Hudson Taylor and Missions to China: From the Editor – Surprised by China

From the Editor

Pulling together an issue of Christian History is a combination of planning and, I trust, Providence. That each issue in the end resembles a unity is always a pleasant surprise.

We had set our sights on an issue that would examine both Hudson Taylor and modern missions to China. I thought we could cover Taylor in a couple of articles and have plenty of room for other topics. Like other well-known missionaries, such as Timothy Richard. Like the harrowing 1950s, when the communist government persecuted the church.

Not quite. The issue quickly got out of control as we discovered more and more fascinating aspects of Taylor’s life and mission. For example, read about the extraordinary enthusiasm of his missionaries (see “The Extraordinary Cambridge Seven”) and the results of Taylor’s policy on female missionaries (see ‘Unbecoming’ Ladies of the China Inland Mission,”).

We couldn’t talk about Taylor, of course, without talking some about the missionaries who came before him. See both “Medieval Missionaries to China,” and “The Gallery.”

Then there is the infamous Boxer Rebellion: I had heard of it but had no idea of the gripping, and frankly bloody, details (see “Missionary Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion.”

And we couldn’t talk about the astounding development of the indigenous Chinese church. See “Getting Free of Missionaries,” and “Miracles after Missions.”

Suffice it to say, the place and the times, especially the last 200 years, make for some of the most fascinating stories in church history. And you’re only getting a smattering. We’ve hardly done justice to Roman Catholic missions, or to the complex politics that made modern missions both a possibility and a problem, or to the millions of Chinese believers who contributed to the Christian cause, tens of thousands of whom were martyred.

Still, I dare say, there’s enough to whet the appetite here.

Spelling challenged. For decades, scholars used the older Wade-Giles romanization system, but today, more and more are using Pinyin, the system used by the People’s Republic of China. In this issue, we use Wade-Giles and put the Pinyin equivalent in parentheses for the first use in each article—e.g., Peking (Beijing).

CH WEB PAGE. Finally, I encourage you to check out the new features of our WWW site: ChristianityToday.com/christianhistory/

Copyright © 1996 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine. Click here for reprint information on Christian History.

Our Latest

Expert: Ukraine’s Ban on Russian Orthodox Church Is Compatible with Religious Freedom

Despite GOP concerns over government interference, local evangelicals agree that the historic church must fully separate from its Moscow parent.

News

Ohio Haitians Feel Panic, Local Christians Try to Repair Divides

As Donald Trump’s unfounded claims circulate, Springfield pastors and immigrant leaders deal with the real-world consequences.

Review

A Pastor’s Wife Was Murdered. God Had Prepared Him for It.

In the aftermath of a senseless killing, Davey Blackburn encountered “signs and wonders” hinting at its place in a divine plan.

The Church Can Help End the Phone-Based Childhood

Christians fought for laws to protect children during the Industrial Revolution. We can do it again in the smartphone age.

Taste and See If the Show is Good

Christians like to talk up pop culture’s resonance with our faith. But what matters more is our own conformity to Christ.

The Bulletin

Don’t Blame Me

The Bulletin considers the end of Chinese international adoptions, recaps the week’s presidential debate, and talks about friendship across political divides with Taylor Swift as a case study.

Public Theology Project

The Uneasy Conscience of Christian Nationalism

Instead of worldly control of society, Christ calls for renewed hearts.

News

What It Takes to Plant Churches in Europe

Where some see ambition as key to evangelism, others experiment with subtler ways of connecting to people who don’t think they need God.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube