James Hudson Taylor III, 1929-2009 - Obituary

James Hudson Taylor III died on March 20 at his home in Hong Kong. Like his great-grandfather he loved Christ and the Chinese and served them to the end. Some of his last words were, ‘God is good’. He was a great example of a godly man and a warm friend and colleague.

James was born in China to missionary parents who resolved to stay in the country to serve the Christian believers as the war with Japan developed. He was interned with other children and staff of the CIM Chefoo school. His grandfather, Herbert, was in the same camp and he got to know him well and thus had a direct personal link with Hudson Taylor himself!

After the war and education in the States, he returned to Asia in 1955 with his wife Leone to serve with his parents at the Holy Light Bible School in Taiwan. He was later Principal of the school for ten years before moving to set up the China Evangelical Seminary which trained for Christian ministry those who had already graduated in other fields. In 1979 he handed over the Principal’s job to Dr. Timothy Lin, and the school has continued its strategic ministry under Chinese leadership ever since.

In 1980 James was invited to be General Director of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (now OMF International), which was the continuation of the China Inland Mission his great-grandfather had founded in 1865. This was a strategic time for the Taylor family and OMF to reconnect. At last exciting news was emerging from China of the growth of the church. Soon Christian professionals were allowed to serve in that country. James was able not only to inspire the rekindling in OMF of his great-grandfather’s vision, but also to ensure that the churches of the Chinese diaspora captured the vision and became involved.

After handing over the leadership of OMF in 1991, James discovered the ministry that God had for the rest of his life. A visit back to the Yi tribe in Yunnan with his uncle, Jim Broomhall, who had pioneered work there in the 1940s, resulted in an invitation for Christian professionals to again have a part in the development of that tribal area. James founded MSI as an agency to engage with this project and play a role in showing the full love of Christ to those people.

We remember his family in their loss even as they rejoice in his receiving his reward. The name and the ministry of the Taylor family is focussed particularly now in his son, another JHT, who continues in ministry to the Chinese together with his Taiwanese wife, Yeh Min-Ke, and their children.

Ray Porter

A fuller tribute to Dr. Taylor can be found at: http://www.omf.org/omf/home/about_omf/news/omf_announces_the_death_of_james_hudson_taylor_iii