One of those who heard Hudson preach at the Bridge Street Chapel was Ni Yongfa, a Ningbo cotton dealer and leader of a reformed Buddhist sect which would have nothing to do with idolatry and was searching for truth. At the end of Hudson's sermon, Ni stood in his place and turned to address the audience.

"I have long searched for the truth as my father did before me. I have travelled far, but I haven't found it. I found no rest in Confucianism, Buddhism or Daoism, but I do find rest in what I have heard tonight. From now on I believe in Jesus."

Ni took Hudson Taylor to a meeting of the sect he had formerly led and was allowed to explain the reasons for his change of faith. Taylor was impressed with the clarity and power with which he spoke. Another member of the group was convertted and both he and Ni were baptized.

"How long has the gospel been known in England?" Ni asked Hudson Taylor.

"For several hundred years," replied an embarrassed Hudson Taylor vaguely.

"What!" exclaimed Ni. "And you have only now come to preach it to us? My father sought after the truth for more than twenty years and died without finding it. Why didn't you come sooner?"

It was a difficult question to answer.

(excerpt from pg156, J. Hudson Taylor - A man in Christ by Roger Steer, ISBN 1-85078-408-6)