Pioneer Missionary, Evangelical Statesman
A Life of A T (Tim) Houghton
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How many families have had five children working in the mission field? A T (Tim) Houghton and his older brother Bishop Frank Houghton belonged to such a family. This book describes how Tim and Coralie Houghton, sister of the well-known evangelist Bryan Green, responded to a calling as primary evangelists to the Kachin (Jinghpaw) people of northern Burma (Myanmar today). It follows the dramatic events of 1940, when Tim Houghton was bombed at sea on his way to becoming the Bishop of Mandalay, his work in the early Inter-Varsity Fellowship as a travelling secretary under war-time conditions and the fulfilment of his missionary calling when he became general secretary of the Bible Churchmen’s Missionary Society (BCMS – now Crosslinks) in 1949 with its missionaries in the Arctic, Morocco, Ethiopia, East Africa and India as well as Burma. It describes his courageous stand as an evangelical Christian in serving in such mixed bodies as the Conference of British Missionary Societies and the World Council of Churches, whose assembly he attended at New Delhi in 1961, against the prevailing trend in conservative evangelicalism, and his uncompromising but courteous participation. It is an inspiring record of his life of deep commitment to Christian service and to Biblically informed faith, exemplified by his extended chairmanship of the Keswick Convention. Admired equally by Billy Graham and John Stott, his was a consecrated life, calculated to inspire and challenge in its single-minded adherence to the Christian gospel and its missionary calling.
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About the Book
‘This account of a fascinating and neglected life makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of twentieth century British evangelicalism and overseas missions.’ (John Wolffe, Professor of Religious History, Open University)
‘The family lived through stirring times and Canon Houghton’s life was one of some drama, subject like St Paul to shipwreck and some dangers on the mission field, followed by much labour at home for the missionary society and many other Christian bodies and causes.’ (Timothy Yates, author)
‘One of the Lord’s great servants on earth. He was not only a dedicated evangelical leader in Britain, but a warm personal friend and supporter of mine for which I am very grateful.’ (Billy Graham)
‘His life and character exemplified the four marks of the Christian Church mentioned by our Lord: a concern for truth, a concern for holiness, a concern for mission, and a concern for unity.’ (John Stott)
‘Canon Houghton, a missionary statesman and a man of great stature. He was invariably supportive and encouraging.’ (John B. Taylor, former Bishop of St Albans)
About the Author
Timothy Yates taught in the University of Durham as tutor and lecturer at St. John’s College and in the faculty of theology. He holds a doctorate in mission studies from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. His books include Christian Mission in the Twentieth Century (CUP), Venn and Victorian Bishops abroad (SPCK), a study of the missionary policies of Henry Venn of CMS, and The Expansion of Christianity (Lion). He is Canon Emeritus of Derby Cathedral and an Honorary Fellow of St. John’s College, Durham.