Overview

Just last week, I stood at the grave of William Borden in Cairo, Egypt. The famous quote that describes his life is inscribed across his gravestone: “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” No, he did not actually write this phrase–his biographer did. But you should read that biography, Borden of Yale ’09: The Life that Counts by Mrs. Howard Taylor.

William Borden could have chosen the easy road. He was born into wealth. Some have mistakenly connected him with the Borden dairy estate, but he was as well off as if he had been heir to their fortune. During his teenage years, Borden took a luxurious trip around the world. That’s when he decided to take a ramp to the off-beaten track. The millions he saw without Christ moved the young Christian’s soul. He left the easy life behind and prepared to take the gospel to the Muslims of Gansu, China.

Borden took a detour to Cairo to train with veteran missionary Samuel Zwemer for his future work. But God determined that this was the end of the road for this faithful young servant.

Read Borden of Yale. His life was short, and so is his biography. But lives do not have to be long to be encouraging. See how God used Borden before and after his death. Watch how his live touched others along the way. The style of the biography is a little dated but that devotional quality of the writing makes up for this. Since my teenage years, this book has encouraged me to follow the Lord, and stopping to see his grave in Egypt is a highlight in my travels.

Highlights

  • How Borden was inspired by the Student Volunteer Movement to “reach the world in this generation”.
  • How Borden inspired the Student Volunteer Movement in this early death.
  • How God matured Borden through his youth toward missions.

Quotes

  • “If ten men are carrying a log, nine of them on the little end and one at the heavy end, and you want to help, which end will you lift on?” (p. 218).
  • Said of Borden by a friend, “No one would have known from Borden’s life and talk that he was a millionnaire . . . but no one could have helped knowing that he was a Christian and alive for missions” (p. 211).
  • Said of Borden by his biographer, Mrs. Howard Taylor, “No reserves, no retreat, no regrets had any place in Borden’s consecration to God” (p. 260).
Get the Book

Other Sources

William Borden is highlighted in in Daring Devotion on Day 28. Find out more at www.mrconrad.net.

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