Hudson Taylor: Helpless dependence

You, LORD, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. Psalm 16:5

“God wants you to have something far better than riches and gold, and that is helpless dependence upon Him.”

Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) is widely attributed with this quote.

It’s been an indescribably good week in Panama. The training to multiply generous stewards and empower them to follow standards has unleashed heaven among these influencers from across Latin America.

Pause to pray with me for these 36 workers from 14 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, and USA.

Soon, they go forth equipped and commissioned to entrust their future in God’s hands with helpless dependence. We armed them with the word of God and taught them how to train others and replicate trainings.

We gave them not what the world thinks they need but what God knows they need. I can’t wait to hear the stories that come from this time together.

For example, Hugo Matos of Dominican Republic plans to replicate the Stations of Generosity training to all 32 provinces in Dominican Republic in the next 12 months. That’s just one example.

Thanks for your prayers. Please pray for a great last two days. Thanks.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

“I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ. If anything will advance the interests of that kingdom, it shall be given away or kept, only as by giving or keeping it I shall most promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time and eternity. May grace and strength sufficient to enable me to adhere faithfully to this resolution, be imparted to me, so that in truth, not in name only, all my interests and those of my children, may be identified with His cause.”

Robert Moffat (1795-1883) as recounted by David Livingstone in The Personal Life of David Livingstone: Chiefly from His Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of His Family (London: Murray, 1881) 139-140.

From my research on the missionary who inspired Livingstone, I located this entry attributed to Moffat in Livingstone’s journal on 22 May 1853.

It inspires me to share something. Since GTP launched, over 3.5 years ago, I have kept a journal like Robert Moffat, David Livingstone, and George Mueller. I make an entry every few days or weeks as I feel led.

When I became CEO I sensed God speaking to me to “Take Notes” because I would have a front row seat of watching God build GTP. These entries, often serve as a resolution to the Lord. They announce my posture and dependence on Him.

Such resolutions emerge as vital for people who want to live generous lives. We declare God’s ownership of everything, resolve to use all He supplies to advance His purposes, and store treasure in heaven rather than on earth.

Think about it. Our living, giving, serving and loving flows from such a resolution. Our willingness to place no value on anything except in relation to the kingdom of Christ finds roots in a resolution to make Christ and His kingdom #1 on our priority list.

And it’s only possible to live out this resolution with grace and strength from God.

My meetings in Panama with God’s workers from 14 countries in Latin America continue to go well. Let me know if you want my trip reports from Brazil and Chile. Reply here and I will share them.

Appreciate your prayers to have the grace and strength to finish this two-week, three-country trip. Thanks.

Why are we also in danger every hour? I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:30-31

“When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

James Calvert (1813-1892) as recounted in Fundamentals of Evangelism by Dag Heward-Mills (Parchment House, 2016) 120.

The new header photo shows I have arrived in Panama. I snapped it from my hotel room downtown.

The GTP Latin America regional event has begun. We have welcomed 37 people from 14 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, and USA.

I’ll share more about the gathering in the coming days. But in short, we came together to die.

Before you think I am saying something morbid, hear me say that we have come together to die to self. To ask God how we must decrease so that His life and love may generously be made known in and through us. The first part of the week is about becoming faithful and generous stewards.

When I think about Calvert, risking everything, my mind wonders how he died.

The answer…he lived to 80 and died in England. Why share that? Fear often hinders our generosity. What if this happens? Or that? So fear stops us from serving God as He desires. Pray with me for faith to overcome fear and to God to work among these influencers.

And I pray He works in you. I pray you die daily like Paul so you can live generously!

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

“Christ never was in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God.”

Mary Slessor (1848-1915) African missionary. I’m thanking God for African missionaries this week as the GTP Palmful of Maize video just released. Watch it here. Make a gift. Host a watch party with friends or at church. Click here for a kit.

And reflect on these words from Slessor which relate to today’s Scripture. We must not rush, anticipate, or fret what might be. We find peace and we serve far more generously when we instead do our part and trust God for any and all results.

So why do we do rush, anticipate, and fret? let’s ponder for a moment. I think they relate to the three temptations Jesus avoided. Rushing links to pride, anticipating to idolatry, and fretting to control. It’s easy to fall into these traps! 

When we have pride, we lead instead of following God. So we rush. When we anticipate, we think our power makes things happen rather than God. This is idolatry. And when we fret, it reveals that we think we are in control, when God is.

Let’s resist these temptations so that our generous living, giving, serving and loving is free from pride and rushing, anticipating and idolatry, and fretting and control. God help us!

When this posts I should have just arrived in Panama City. Thanks for your prayers for a fruitful week of empowering 37 Christian workers from 14 Latin American countries to multiply stewards and help ministries follow standards.

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

“I am a missionary, heart and soul. God had only one Son and He was a missionary and a physician. I am a poor imitation of Him, or wish to be. In this service I hope to live, in it I wish to die. I am immortal until my work is accomplished and although I see few results, future missionaries will see conversions following every sermon. May they not forget the pioneers who worked in the thick gloom with few rays to cheer, except such as flow from faith in the precious promises of God’s Word.”

David Livingstone in a letter to his family in 1850 as recounted in Livingstone’s Hospital: The Story of Chitambo, edited by Marion A. Currie (Bloomington: AuthorHouse, 2011) 44

As I reflect on the recent fruits of the GTP program work in Africa, I want to acknowledge the missionary service of David Livingston among others. They gave their lives to lay a foundation for the flourishing of future ministries. And they taught people us to hold on to God’s precious promises.

If you missed it yesterday, take seven minutes to watch this GTP Palmful of Maize video. See how God is working in the nation and hear how it is bringing people to Christ. But don’t just watch it. Make a gift and host a watch party with your friends or at your church. Click here for a kit. Why?

This vision to “give God what you have” is not only breaking the cycle of external dependency and solving the hunger issue in Malawi without outside support, it’s saving souls. And I must admit, when I was in Malawi, I realized that I was aiming too low.

I wanted to see local giving growing. God wanted to see the church growing. He had a bigger vision in view. Today I acknowledge that growth is happening there in part because people like Livingstone who generously gave their lives as pioneers who planted their lives as seed.

And thanks for y0ur prayers for my current travels. Stations of Generosity went great yesterday with Spanish translation in Puerto Montt, Chile, hosted by Caminando en Victoria. Today I speak again before departing in the evening on the night leg of my journey to Panama. Continued prayers appreciated.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

“Giving is a means by which we meet the needs of others who God also loves. By giving to others we testify to God’s love for them. So giving becomes not only a means by which people’s needs are met; it also is a form of evangelism which allows us to tell of God’s greatest gift, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will meet far more than their momentary physical needs. Giving to God is a guaranteed investment with certain return. Investment in God is a no-risk, always profitable, act that is not subject to the whims of the stock market or of economic uncertainties. It has been said that our lives should resemble a channel, not a reservoir. A reservoir stores up water. A channel is constantly flowing. God wants us to be a channel of blessing to others. When we are, it is we who receive the greatest blessing of all.”

Billy Graham in Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010) reading for 23 March.

Giving in the early church drew many to faith.

It’s happening again, right now through a vision GTP launched in Malawi called Palmful of Maize. Take seven minutes to watch a video. See how God is working in the nation and hear how it is bringing people to Christ.

But don’t just watch it. Host a watch party with your friends or at your church. Click here for a kit. Why?

This vision to “give God what you have” is not only breaking the cycle of external dependency and solving the hunger issue in Malawi with outside support, it’s winning people to Christ.

I was there in Malawi when a pastor testified that five new families had joined the church because they saw the change in their children who had learned about giving at the church. I heard similar stories in other districts.

Graham was right. Giving is not only a form of evangelism. It’s a “no-risk, always profitable, act.” Please watch the video. Host a watch party. Learn more and make a gift to GTP to spread this vision here.

This vision you see from the video tells the story of what’s happening in 12 of 28 districts in Malawi. I am praying for funds to deploy the team to the other 16 districts.

And I got an email from Zimbabwe last night begging GTP to train workers to spread the vision there. GTP will do this as God supplies funds. Pray with me for those resources and give God what you have! Thanks.

And pray for me today. I am facilitating Stations of Generosity in Puerto Montt, Chile, for Caminando en Victoria to empower their board, staff, and volunteers to replicate it for their network to multiply generous stewards.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer. Without increasing the number of Christian workers or their financial support, we could see multiplied results if we would only multiply prayer.”

Wesley L. Duewel in Touch the World Through Prayer (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986) 13.

I’ve safely arrived in Puerto Montt, Chile.

Tenglo Island is pictured above from the home of my hosts, Hector and Jessica Hijinosa. They serve on the board of Caminando en Victoria, a growing ministry that offers Christian camp activities and other children’s programs on the island.

How might you multiply prayer to see greater impact where you serve?

For some of you, it might mean you could help rally people to pray at a certain date and time each week or month. For others it might be to facilitate the sharing of prayer and praise items. For example, if you want to get the GTP prayer journal, click here.

While we have program work planned for Saturday, our focus Friday will be rest, fellowship, and prayer.

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Philippians 4:15-16

“The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity but its sending capacity.

Mike Stachura as quoted by Johnny Turner in A Biblical Theology of Christian Discipleship (Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2021) chapter 3.

Notice the commitment of the Philippian church to sending Paul. And it was not one time support but perpetual giving. Whenever he had needs. Personally, I am praying for this for GTP.

I had an unbelievable week in Brazil. I went to celebrate the release of my three ECFA Press books in Portuguese. God had much bigger plans in mind.

In short, a network expressed interest in starting a peer accountability group for Brazil (like ECFA in USA) back in 2019, but they did not have the point person.

Well, God raised up that person! And he’s so enthusiastic, like Timothy joined Paul on his travels spontaneously, Rafael Bandeira will join me in Panama next Monday.

To hear more of the story. reply and I will share a copy of my Brazil trip report. Now, like Paul left one country and went to another, I head to Chile tonight.

Rather than pour God’s resources into property, I want to challenge you to invest in people. Can you pray about becoming a monthly giver to GTP? Click here to set it up.

We don’t have any property. We develop people like Rafael. Our work in his life magnifies the effectiveness and impact of gospel ministry across Brazil (and 109 other countries).

Imagine, he’s been asked to start by helping a network of 85 Christian ministries follow consistent standards for building trust and growing giving from Brazilians for God’s work.

Can’t wait to see what God will do among the receptive workers in Chile. Thanks for sending me and GTP with support and prayers! God bless you.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

“From isolation three chief benefits, among many others, follow.

The first is that a man, by separating himself from many friends and acquaintances, and likewise from many not well-ordered affairs, to serve and praise God our Lord, merits no little in the sight of His Divine Majesty.

The second is, that being thus isolated, and not having his understanding divided on many things, but concentrating his care on one only, namely, on serving his Creator and benefiting his own soul, he uses with greater freedom his natural powers, in seeking with diligence what he so much desires.

The third: the more our soul finds itself alone and isolated, the more apt it makes itself to approach and to reach its Creator and Lord, and the more it so approaches Him, the more it disposes itself to receive graces and gifts from His Divine and Sovereign Goodness.”

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) in The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola () 15

I am at the Brazil Missions Congress with over a thousand people. The schedule includes activities from 7am to 11pm daily. As you can imagine, there is little space to think or rest. I crave isolation and the benefits it offers.

I know my wife, Jenni, can relate. We talk almost daily as our calendars overlap, but she’s either having a soul care session, walking the dog, or on her way to her next commitment. Perhaps you crave isolation too?

Think of isolation not as living in a cave as a hermit, but as slipping away like Jesus in today’s Scripture to get the graces and gifts we need to serve others. By this way, we meet them with a full cup, not an empty one.

In isolation, I love how Ignatius portrays our Creator and Lord as “His Divine and Sovereign Goodness” which is another word for generosity. If we want to live generous lives, we must isolate to receive graces and gifts.

And, like Jesus, it might mean we have to get up early or sneak away from the crowds like he had to do. But it’s worth it. Is your calendar full? Block margin for isolation and just see what God gives you.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“We must perform all our works in God and refer them to His glory, so that they will be permanent and stable. Everyone — whether kings, nobles, tradesmen or peasants — must do all things for the glory of God and under the inspiration of Christ’s example… We must make our way towards eternity, never regarding what men think of us, or of our actions, studying only to please God.”

Francis Borgia (1510-1572) in 365 Days with the Saints: A Year of Wisdom from the Saints, compiled by Carol Kelly-Gangi (2015) 208.

It’s really rewarding to be at this conference in Brazil where my ECFA press books have been released in Portuguese. Tonight’s opening session was inspiring. Worship with 1,000+ people in Portuguese was a taste of the eternal Kingdom, for sure.

But so far, the highlight from the first day of the conference for me has been my conversation with Victor, who works for the publisher. We have gotten acquainted using Google Translate whilst I sit at the booth with him to autograph books.

He read The Choice and spoke with passion about how we must define success as faithfulness to God. It was priceless to see his passion. Then he elaborated on the fact that we must follow Christ’s example and live in light of eternity.

So, imagine my surprise when I read this in my Daily Office this morning. It prompted me to remind myself and readers to keep doing the good works that God prepared in advance for us to do for God’s glory and following the example of Jesus.