From Gold Medalist to God’s Missionary

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By Patricia Liddell Russell, John Merrishaw Hoyte, Bob Rendall, John MacMillan, on June 13, 2025 , , , ,

The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell

Eric Liddell achieved global fame with a storybook gold medal win at the 1924 Olympics.

What happened next is perhaps even more remarkable. Eric left competitive running to follow a call to missionary service. Spending the next twenty years in China, Eric would eventually die in a Japanese internment camp near the end of the Second World War.

Learn more about Eric’s life and legacy and be inspired by his steadfast faith, sacrifice and perseverance. In this exclusive, pre-recorded discussion you’ll hear from people who knew Eric personally, including Eric’s daughter and others.

Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 8:00 - 9:15 pm ET
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom Webinar (Virtual)

For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire

Eric Liddell ran—and lived—for the glory of his God. After winning gold, he dedicated himself to missionary work. He travelled to China to work in a local school and as a missionary. He married and had children there. By the time he could see war on the horizon, Liddell put Florence, his pregnant wife, and children on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind, his conscience compelling him to stay among the Chinese. He and thousands of other westerners were eventually interned at a Japanese work camp.

Learn more of his inspiring story here.

Duncan Hamilton is an investigative journalist and award-winning sportswriter. He is the author of For the Glory, a best-selling biography of Eric Liddell. In this exclusive interview you'll discover the story behind the book.

Additional Resources

Over the past 48 years we have developed many publications, discipleship resources, videos, and tools to help you grow in your faith. Because you were interested in this event we have pulled together the following resources that we believe will be of interest to you.

Eric Liddell: Muscular Disciple and Olympic Champion

by Joel Woodruff

At twenty-three years of age, Eric had become a world-renowned athlete, fervent evangelist, and hero to many.

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Orientation to Mission & Dependent Prayer

by Stuart McAlpine

Our engagement with those that Christ died for begins with our orientation to mission and dependency on prayer!

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Making Disciples Like Jesus Did

by Greg Ogden

Discover how you can invest in a few individuals at a time and by God's grace make a difference for eternity with Dr. Greg Ogden

Watch Here

C.S. Lewis on Authentic Discipleship

by Chris Mitchell

From the time C.S. Lewis came to faith in Jesus Christ to the day he died, he desired, worked, and struggled, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing, to bring all of his life captive to Christ.

Read Here

Pursuing God's Call On Your Life

by Art Lindsley

How do we know that calling is from God and not from ourselves or the world in which we live?

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God's Call On Your Life

by Stuart McAllister

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (ESV)

A Two-Part Audio Series...

Listen Here 

Our Guests Include:

Patricia Liddell Russell

Guest Speaker

Patricia Liddell Russel is the eldest daughter of Eric Liddell and the only surviving relative with personal memories of him. She was born in China in 1935 and was only six years old when she said farewell to her father for the final time and moved with her mother to Canada for safety.

 

John MacMillan

CEO, The Eric Liddell Community

John MacMillan is CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, a charity serving the people of Edinburgh, Scotland through community health and wellbeing programs, dementia and caregiver support, and more.

 

John Merrishaw Hoyte

Author

John Merrishaw Hoyte was born in 1932 in Ping Yang Fu, China, of medical missionary parents. He attended a British-run boarding school at Chefoo, Shantung Province, along with his three brothers and two sisters. During World War ll, he was taken to the Weihsien Prison Camp where Eric Liddell served as his mentor. After the war, John went on to study in England and then worked as an engineer for Hewlett-Packard before founding his own company, Spectrex Corporation.

 

Duncan Hamilton

Journalist and Author

Duncan Hamilton is an investigative journalist and award-winning sportswriter. He is the author of For the Glory, a best-selling biography of Eric Liddell.

 

Bob Rendall

First CEO, The Eric Liddell Community

Bob Rendall was the first CEO of The Eric Liddell Community and worked for years in Edinburgh to establish a community center in his honor.

 
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