Departure for Tibet (1892)

On March 28, 1892, William Christie sailed from the United States toward Buddhist Tibet, setting his face toward a land largely closed to the gospel and fraught with hardship for any outsider. As he left, he wrote, “By the grace of God I will spend and be spent for my Savior and the salvation of those who are sitting in awful darkness and sin and misery.” His words were not romantic bravado but a settled offering—life placed on the altar for Christ’s name and for souls.

In an era when Tibet guarded its borders and foreigners were often viewed with suspicion, Christie’s departure meant more than distance. It meant entering years where loneliness, language barriers, thin air, and the dangers of travel were constant companions. Yet he went because Christ is worthy, and because the good news is not a Western possession but God’s power for every people.

A Land Closed and a Gospel Opened

Tibet’s religious life was deeply shaped by centuries of Buddhist devotion, with monasteries serving as spiritual and cultural centers. For a Christian witness, this was both a barrier and a poignant reminder of humanity’s universal need: zeal without saving knowledge of the living God. Christie’s burden was not to win arguments but to bring the message of the crucified and risen Lord—publicly when possible, personally whenever given a hearing.

He carried the Great Commission as a compass: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20). Where doors remained shut, he learned patience; where conversations opened, he sowed Scripture; where suffering pressed, he leaned on the promise of Christ’s presence.

“Apostle of Tibet” and Enduring Example

Christie’s costly witness would earn him the name “Apostle of Tibet,” not because he sought a title, but because he kept going when comfort would have counseled retreat. The heroism of such a life is measured less in dramatic moments than in daily faithfulness: prayer when fruit seems small, love when misunderstood, courage when threatened, and holiness when no one applauds.

His resolve echoes the apostle’s testimony: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16). Christie’s journey still calls believers to give themselves—steadily, gladly, and without reserve—to Christ and to the peoples who have yet to hear His name.