Onward
by Norman Grubb

He had no money. At fifty years of age, after fifteen years of ill health, how could he face tropical Africa?

As C.T. presented this challenge and his willingness to pioneer the way, it was taken up by a group of businessmen who formed themselves into a committee to back the project–but on one condition. He must be passed by the doctor. Then things came to a dead stop. The doctor’s report was absolutely against him.

Penniless, turned down by the doctor, dropped by the Committee, yet told by God to go, what was he to do? "The only honest thing." Once more the he staked all on obedience to God. As a young man he staked his career, in Chrina he staked his fortune, now he staked his life. A gambler for God! He joined the ranks of the great gamblers of faith, Abraham, Moses, etc. in Hebrews 11, and the true apostolic succession, "Men that have hazarded (gambled with) their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus" (Act 15:26). No wonder he once wrote, "No craze is so great as that of the gambler, and no gambler for Jesus was ever cured, thank God!" His answer to the Committee was this: "Gentlemen, God has called me to go, and I will go. I will blaze the trail, though my grave may only become a stepping stone that younger men may follow." He carried out His Master’s word to the letter: He that shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall fine it."

–From C.T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer