William Borden was born into a wealthy American family at the end of the 19th century. An heir to at least a million dollars, his life could have been one of ease and luxury. After graduating from high school his parents sent him around the world, and he was able to travel through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Through these travels he developed a burning passion for the hurting people in the world.
As a freshman at Yale University he began to pray every morning with a friend of his. Before long the quiet morning prayer became a group of friends praying together, and then a prayer meeting, and by the time William finished his freshman year his morning prayer had turned into a weekly bible study that consisted 150 students praying and studying Scripture together. In just 4 years over 1,300 students were involved in such groups.
When he began college the words "No reserves" were penned in the back of his Bible. Upon graduation he had added "No retreats," underneath.
He had a heart for the suffering, poor and helpless. He founded Yale Hope Mission, where he immersed himself with caring for widows, orphans and drunkards. His heart went out to them with compassion and love, and he invested his time and money towards their improvement. Even with his enormous fortune he did not seek entertainment or self gratification. His life was defined by the phrase, "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time."
With a heart for people and ministering to them, he sailed for China at the age of 25. However, before going into full-time mission, he stopped in Egypt to learn Arabic. It was here that his endeavors were frustrated. He contracted spiral meningitis within a couple weeks of docking. Before the month had ended he had died, but not before adding one last phrase to the other two in the back of his Bible:
No Regrets.
William's family and friends had pressured him to abandon his pursuit of missions. He had the education, personality, family connections, and finances to make something great of himself. But he remained steadfastly resolved on his conquest, even unto death.
No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.
As a freshman at Yale University he began to pray every morning with a friend of his. Before long the quiet morning prayer became a group of friends praying together, and then a prayer meeting, and by the time William finished his freshman year his morning prayer had turned into a weekly bible study that consisted 150 students praying and studying Scripture together. In just 4 years over 1,300 students were involved in such groups.
When he began college the words "No reserves" were penned in the back of his Bible. Upon graduation he had added "No retreats," underneath.
He had a heart for the suffering, poor and helpless. He founded Yale Hope Mission, where he immersed himself with caring for widows, orphans and drunkards. His heart went out to them with compassion and love, and he invested his time and money towards their improvement. Even with his enormous fortune he did not seek entertainment or self gratification. His life was defined by the phrase, "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time."
With a heart for people and ministering to them, he sailed for China at the age of 25. However, before going into full-time mission, he stopped in Egypt to learn Arabic. It was here that his endeavors were frustrated. He contracted spiral meningitis within a couple weeks of docking. Before the month had ended he had died, but not before adding one last phrase to the other two in the back of his Bible:
No Regrets.
William's family and friends had pressured him to abandon his pursuit of missions. He had the education, personality, family connections, and finances to make something great of himself. But he remained steadfastly resolved on his conquest, even unto death.
No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.
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