C.T. Studd (1860-1931) gave up fame and fortune to take the gospel to the unreached peoples of China and Africa. A student at Cambridge University, Studd achieved sporting prowess as one of the greatest cricket players of his day. While at Cambridge, he was converted to Christ through the preaching of D. L. Moody. Shortly afterwards young Studd and six other students, known as the Cambridge Seven, dedicated their lives and wealth to Jesus Christ and joined the China Inland Mission. After several years in Asia, ill health forced him and his wife, Priscilla, to return to England. Studd was fifty years old, when, against the advice of many, he then went to the Congo in Africa in 1910 and saw God move powerfully there. He died in Malaga, Africa, in 1931.

Grabbers of the impossible

“The fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost will change soft, sleek Christians into hot, lively heroes for Christ, who will advance and fight and die, but not mark time...Hugh Latimer was an inextinguishable candle; the devil lit him, and ever since has been kicking himself for his folly. Won’t someone else tempt the devil to make a fool of himself again?...Nail the colors to the mast! That is the right thing to do, and, therefore, that is what we must do, and do it now.

What colors? The colors of Christ, the work He has given us to do - the evangelization of all the unevangelized. Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible, by faith in the omnipotence, fidelity and wisdom of the Almighty Savior who gave the command. Is there a wall in our path? By our God we will leap over it! Are there lions and scorpions in our way! We will trample them under our feet! Does a mountain bar our progress? Saying, Be thou removed and cast into the sea, we will march on. Soldiers of Jesus! Never surrender! Nail the colors to the mast!"

C.T. Studd (1860-1931), quoted by Norman P. Grubb in C. T. Studd: Cricketer & Pioneer.