The Cricket Champion Finds
Christ
C. T. Studd
"Wonder what the old man's got planned for us," C.T. Studd mused to his brothers as their carriage rolled out of the academy grounds.
"We'll have a sporting good time, that's for sure," C.T.'s older brother, George, remarked. "There's not a fellow back at old Eton that wouldn't like to be in our shoes."
"Agreed, brother, agreed," C.T. and Kynaston said.
The boys passed time on the trip home by remembering old times. They talked about the steeplechases their wealthy sportsman father had won and especially about the time when his horse, Salamander, had won the Grand National.
Edward Studd, the boys' father, met them with a bright gleam in his eyes. C.T. and his two brothers leaped from the coach and extended hearty handshakes.
"Well, where are we going, Dad?" C.T. asked jovially. "The minstrel show, the circus, the theater?"
Mr. Studd grinned as he shook his head. "Something new," he chortled.
A short while later, Mr. Studd stopped his carriage in front of a hall. C.T. looked at the poster on the
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building and groaned, "Moody and Sankey, the American revivalists."
Edward Studd smiled broadly at his sons, "Boys, I might as well tell you now. I've been converted by Mr. Moody. No more racing and gambling. I've found the real thing."
C.T. and his two brothers followed their father inside, too amazed to answer. They listened to the bearded evangelist but made no move when the call was made for the inquiry room.
Back at the country mansion, C.T.'s father told the boys how he had become a Christian and had given up racing. Then he declared that he was giving each of them a race horse. The other horses in the stable would be sold. C.T. and his brothers looked at one another in amazement. This was incredible. As long as they could remember, racing had been their father's greatest delight.
C.T. was immediately aware that his father wanted his sons to be converted too. After a few conversations, C.T. began pretending sleep each time the bedroom door opened. During the day he tried never to let his father find him alone.
A year passed. The boys came home again for the summer holidays. They looked forward to some exciting cricket matches at the family estate. As they had expected, their father had preachers staying at the house each weekend.
One weekend, two preachers came. The boys discovered that one, Mr. W., was not a good rider. Keeping a straight face, C.T. insisted that Mr. W. go for a ride.
Mr. W. and one of the boys rode in front; the two others behind. Suddenly, without warning, the two behind galloped past like the wind. Mr. W.'s horse leaped after them. The unfortunate guest hung on for dear life while the brothers almost split their sides laughing.
But the guest had his revenge. During the afternoon he caught C.T. on his way to play cricket.
"Are you a Christian?" he asked.
"Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ and the church, too," C.T. replied, hoping to shake off his pursuer.
"Look here at this verse," the guest said showing him John 3:16. "Do you believe Jesus Christ died for you?"
C.T. nodded impatiently.
"Do you believe the last half of the verse — that the one believing has everlasting life?"
C.T. Studd blinked before saying, "I don't think I can believe that."
"Well, then either you or God is wrong," the persistent man declared. "Do you think God is not telling the truth?"
"No."
"Then you're inconsistent in believing only half of the verse," Mr. W. continued. "Are you always going to be that way?"
C.T. bit his lower lip. "I should be consistent. Yes, I will be."
The guest pressed his point. "Eternal life is a gift, don't you see? Will you get down on your knees and thank God for this gift?"
C.T. nervously looked around. He knew the man was right. Down on his knees he went. And when he arose, his heart was filled with joy and peace. Religion with him had ceased to be a weekend dread.
That same weekend, Mr. W. won all three brothers
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to Christ. All three became outstanding witnesses for the gospel which Moody and Sankey had brought to England.
Shortly after his conversion, C.T. Studd enrolled in Cambridge where he starred in cricket and became known as England's greatest cricketeer. He was the best known athlete of his day.
At the height of his athletic popularity and prowess, he announced his decision to go to China as a missionary. He also gave away to Christian causes his entire personal fortune of about one hundred thousand English pounds. After serving in China for ten years, he toured American college campuses, raising hundreds of mission volunteers in the Student Volunteer Movement. In 1910, he went to Africa and began work in the region between the Nile and Lake Chad, the largest unevangelized region in Africa at that time. C. T. Studd died in 1931. Today he is remembered as one of the greatest Christian missionaries of modern times.
