C.T. Studd

Recently I have been reading the biography of C.T. Studd, by Norman Grubb. Though I had heard about this man before, I had not yet taken the time to read the story of his life. May I encourage you to pick up a copy of his biography today. In the meanwhile, let me give you a few highlights of this man's testimony.



Charles T. Studd was born in England in 1860. His father had made a fortune in India and moved back to England to retire on his wealth. C.T. was given a plush life on a silver platter. He and his brothers excelled in sports and became some of the greatest cricket players that England has ever known. However with his preoccupation with sports and materialism, he had no time for Christ until he turned 18. At the age of 18 he was converted, but continued on the path of popularity and sports for a few more years, until he came across a letter one day.....a letter from an atheist. This letter so impacted his life that he promptly quit his worldly pursuits and sailed for China as a missionary. At the age of 25 upon receiving his inheritance, he donated more than 25,000 pounds to men like D.L. Moody, George Muller, and other Godly men. A sum that would have made him nigh to a millionaire today!



That letter reads as follows: "Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion would mean everything to me. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I should labour in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of Eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences should never stay my hand nor seal my lips. Earth—its joys and its griefs—would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon Eternity alone and on the immortal souls around me soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season, and my text would be, ‘What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?"