feature section | pioneers of mission
Where No One Has Heard
J . Christy Wilson , Jr . and His Impact on World Evangelization
by ken wilson c h r i s t i a n u n i o n : : t h e m a g a z i n e
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Christy Wilson ’ s first contact with missions came even before his first words , his first steps , or his first friendships . His childhood home in Persia ( now known as Iran ) was a perpetual showcase displaying God ’ s heart for missions . His parents served as missionaries in Tabriz for two decades , and Christy ’ s heart for God and for missions quickly grew .
When Christy was just five years old , Rev . Stefan Huviar , a beloved Nestorian evangelical pastor who labored alongside Christy ’ s father in Tabriz , asked Christy what he wanted to do when he grew up . Christy had frequently heard his parents praying for Afghanistan , an unreached country to the east . He knew that this country , approximately the size of Texas , didn ’ t have even one Christian .
“ I want to be a missionary to Afghanistan ,” Christy informed Pastor Huviar .
“ Well ,” the pastor responded , “ missionaries aren ’ t allowed in Afghanistan .”
“ That ’ s why I want to be one there ,” Christy immediately replied . And that is exactly what Christy did for more than two decades .
Billy Graham once noted , “ J . Christy Wilson will go down in history as one of the great and courageous missionaries for the gospel in the twentieth century .” Among many other things , he helped launch what became the triennial Urbana missions conference ; pioneered Christian work in Afghanistan when others thought it impossible ( entering the country as one of only a few Christians in a nation of approximately twelve million Muslims ); taught private English lessons to the crown prince of Afghanistan ; founded a mission that remains fruitful to this day ; reintroduced the biblical idea of leveraging one ’ s profession for the kingdom of God with the term “ tentmaking ;” and faced danger on numerous occasions .
The Princeton Years
When he was fourteen years old , his mother and three siblings returned to the United States while his father remained in Persia for three more years . Christy enrolled at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey , graduating as valedictorian . He then began his studies at Princeton University , where he was captain of the varsity track team , and then graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary , as well .
During Christy ’ s first weeks at Princeton , a classmate invited him to a prayer meeting of the Princeton Evangelical Fellowship ( PEF ), held in one of the dormitory rooms . Donald Fullerton , an alumnus from the class of 1912 , taught the PEF Bible class on Sunday afternoons and invested greatly in Christy ’ s life . The men in PEF recruited Christy to help distribute copies of the Gospel of John to the entire freshman class . Christy was embarrassed at first , since the recipients were his own classmates . However , he would later be grateful that he had persisted in the work . Twenty-six of his classmates were to die in World War II .
Also during his freshman year at Princeton , he was introduced to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship ( IVCF ). Stacey Woods , the first secretary-general of Inter- Varsity / USA , went to great lengths to share his vision for student evangelism with Christy , recognizing his Christian maturity and potential .
The First Urbana Missions ’ Conference
An influential IVCF board member had been urging Woods to find someone from an Ivy League college to serve on staff . In September 1943 , Christy became that person . He initially joined staff on a parttime basis , working with InterVarsity on weekends while still a student at Princeton .
The triennial Urbana missions ’ conference continues to this day . It has grown to become the largest student missions ’ conference in the world , and through it , God has challenged more than 250,000 participants with the responsibility and privilege of taking part in world missions .
During his initial years with the ministry , he was responsible for visiting college campuses throughout New York and New England . His task was simply to pass along his passion for missions to other college students .
In 1944 , Christy attended a Student Volunteer Movement ( SVM ) convention in Wooster , Ohio . John R . Mott ’ s address at the convention left a lasting imprint on young Christy . Mott concluded his talk by saying , “ Young people , to find Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord is the most