Dick Hillis
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard "Dick" Hillis (1913 - 2005) was an American
Protestant Christian
missionary
to China
, author and founder of "Formosa Crusades", later "Orient Crusades", now "OC International".
, before the family moved to Monroe, Washington. Hillis was an adventurer. At the age of thirteen in 1926, Dick attended evangelistic meetings at the little Methodist church in town, where his mother served as chairman of the church’s missionary committee. It was during these meetings where Dr. George Bennard
, (the author of the gospel hymn The Old Rugged Cross
) was the guest speaker, that young Dick Hillis was called to go to China
as a missionary
. He trained for ministry at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA
) and graduated in 1932.
(CIM) (now OMF International), founded by Hudson Taylor
. Hillis was the youngest American missionary candidate ever accepted by the CIM. On December 8, 1934, Hillis' CIM colleagues, John and Betty Stam, were beheaded in Tsingteh. CIM mission headquarters in Shanghai
sent word of the Stam’s execution to Hillis, who was just completing his first year in China. Hillis reportedly said, "Will I, too, be captured and murdered? Am I going to die here, too, Lord, alone and thousands of miles from home?"
Hillis founded "Formosa Crusades" in 1951 as he initially responded to Madam Chiang Kai-Shek
's request for men to preach to Chinese Nationalist Army
soldiers in Taiwan
and then to requests of Taiwanese churches that the visiting teams remain to help in training lay people and church personnel. He became General Director (1951-1970); retired for health reasons and in order to provide full-time spiritual leadership of the mission (1970); briefly assumed the newly-created position of President (1976) and upon the appointment of Luis Palau
as President was named Vice-President-At-Large to actively assist the mission and participate in missions conferences and seminars.
On New Year's Eve, 1985, Dr. Dick Hillis received the Far East Broadcasting Company
's Founder's Award at the "Rejoice '86" celebration. Today the global outreaches of OC International continue.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Protestant Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, author and founder of "Formosa Crusades", later "Orient Crusades", now "OC International".
Early life
Hillis was born an American citizen in Victoria, British Columbia, CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, before the family moved to Monroe, Washington. Hillis was an adventurer. At the age of thirteen in 1926, Dick attended evangelistic meetings at the little Methodist church in town, where his mother served as chairman of the church’s missionary committee. It was during these meetings where Dr. George Bennard
George Bennard
George Bennard was an American hymn composer and preacher. He is best known for composing the famous hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross".- Early years :...
, (the author of the gospel hymn The Old Rugged Cross
The Old Rugged Cross
"The Old Rugged Cross" is a popular Christian song written in 1912 by evangelist and song-leader George Bennard .George Bennard, was a native of Youngstown, Ohio but was reared in Iowa. After his conversion in a Salvation Army meeting, he and his wife became brigade leaders before leaving the...
) was the guest speaker, that young Dick Hillis was called to go to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. He trained for ministry at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
) and graduated in 1932.
Missionary career
At the age of 20, Dick Hillis was on his way to China with the China Inland MissionChina Inland Mission
OMF International is an interdenominational Protestant Christian missionary society, founded in Britain by Hudson Taylor on 25 June 1865.-Overview:...
(CIM) (now OMF International), founded by Hudson Taylor
Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor , was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission . Taylor spent 51 years in China...
. Hillis was the youngest American missionary candidate ever accepted by the CIM. On December 8, 1934, Hillis' CIM colleagues, John and Betty Stam, were beheaded in Tsingteh. CIM mission headquarters in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
sent word of the Stam’s execution to Hillis, who was just completing his first year in China. Hillis reportedly said, "Will I, too, be captured and murdered? Am I going to die here, too, Lord, alone and thousands of miles from home?"
Hillis founded "Formosa Crusades" in 1951 as he initially responded to Madam Chiang Kai-Shek
Soong May-ling
Soong May-ling or Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang was a First Lady of the Republic of China , the wife of Generalissimo and President Chiang Kai-shek. She was a politician and painter...
's request for men to preach to Chinese Nationalist Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
soldiers in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and then to requests of Taiwanese churches that the visiting teams remain to help in training lay people and church personnel. He became General Director (1951-1970); retired for health reasons and in order to provide full-time spiritual leadership of the mission (1970); briefly assumed the newly-created position of President (1976) and upon the appointment of Luis Palau
Luis Palau
Luis Palau, Jr. is an international Christian evangelist living in the Portland area in Oregon, United States. He was born in Argentina and moved to Portland in his mid-twenties to enroll in a graduate program in Biblical studies....
as President was named Vice-President-At-Large to actively assist the mission and participate in missions conferences and seminars.
On New Year's Eve, 1985, Dr. Dick Hillis received the Far East Broadcasting Company
Far East Broadcasting Company
Far East Broadcasting CompanyFounded:1945 First broadcast:June 4, 1948Daily broadcasts:650+ hoursLanguages:149Webcasts:...
's Founder's Award at the "Rejoice '86" celebration. Today the global outreaches of OC International continue.
Quotes
- "Every heart with Christ, a missionary; every heart without Christ, a mission field."
- "God didn't take me to China for what I could do for China, but for what China could do for me."
Works
- Authored numerous books on missions, particularly based on his own experiences in Asia, as well as on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life.
- Shall We Forfeit Formosa?, (Zondervan) 1954
- Do We Recognize Red China?, (Zondervan) 1956
- Are the Heathen Really Lost, (Moody Press) 1961
- Unlock the Heavens, (Service Press) 1963
- China Assignment, (Overseas Crusades)1965
- Strange Gods, (Moody Press) 1966
- Born to Climb, (Word Books) 1967
- Inhale the Incense, (Fabrizio Publications) 1970
- Sayings of Mao, Sayings of Jesus, editor, (Regal Books) 1972
- Not Made for Quitting, (Dimension Books) 1973
- The Spirit Speaks: Are You Listening?, (Regal Books) 1980
- Listen to the Spirit, with Don Hillis, (Baker Books) 1984
- What If They Haven't Heard?, (Moody Press) 1986
- I Was Never Called, (Overseas Crusades)