Eric Liddell

I read this book to the children and I think we all fell in love with Eric Liddell! What a hero! Liddell grew up in China as an MK, then lived in Scotland becoming famous for his running. When he refused to compete in the 100m final in the Paris Olympics because it was on a Sunday he suffered a lot of harsh criticism but soon became popular again when he won gold in the 200m. He gave up this fame and moved with the gospel back to China where he laboured tirelessly (his selfless service of others is remarkable), got married and died at a very young age in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. It is an inspiring, challenging and very moving book and one which makes me want to find out more about this great man of God. It is also a good book in so many ways to read to children- and especially boys. They so need strong, godly role models to follow.

Benge:

 In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory there is glory to be found if one has done his best.

EL

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It has been a wonderful experience to compete in the Olympic Games and to bring home a gold medal. But since I have been a young lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize. You see, each one of us is in a greater race than any I have run in Paris, and this race ends when God gives out the medals.

EL

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Eric came up with an ingenious solution to Japanese hositlity and their crackdown on meetings with ten or more people present:

Eric was being told that he could no longer hold his church services, at least not with more than ten people present. Eric thought about the problem for a long time and finally came up with a solution. He decided to continue preparing a sermon each week, but instead of preaching the sermon from the pulpit, he wrote it out. Then he enlisted the help of another missionary’s wife, who invited nine people over for afternoon tea. While her guests sipped their tea, the missionary’s wife handed out copies of Eric’s sermon, and together they read and discussed it. Then each of those nine people invited another nine people to their home for afternoon tea and handed out copies of the sermon, which they read and discussed. Then each of those nine did the same for another nine people, and so it went on. In this way, it did not take long before everyone in the concession had heard the week’s sermon, and all without breaking the Japanese order not to hold large public meetings. Eric’s solution became known as the “Afternoon-Tea Church.

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In a letter to a friend, the Reverend Howard-Smith wrote, “I never saw Eric angry. I never heard him say a cross or unkind word. He just went about doing good."

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He never considered himself anything special. He was just a man who tried to honor God and help people in need. In the end, achieving those two simple goals made him a very special person to countless people around the world.