Leadership Lessons from William Borden
This series of articles seeks to examine the character attributes of highly successful leaders, regardless of their adherence to a strong faith or moral standard. In presenting these thoughts, Leadership Ministries is not agreeing with or advocating these traits or practices, but rather presents these as ideas for discussion and development in your own leadership journey.
William Whiting Borden (1887-1913) was an American philanthropist, millionaire and Christian missionary. His family made a fortune in Colorado silver mining, and their son William was heir to millions. Borden surrendered his life to Christ as a child as a result of the witness of his mother. He graduated high school at age 16, and his parents gave him a trip around the world as a “gap-year” gift. It was during this trip that Borden developed a love for people and cultures, and with it a desire to become a missionary. Though it has never been proven, it is reputed that Borden wrote three phrases in his Bible that defined his life and mission: “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.”[1]
No reserves. Borden wrote at age 6, “I what to be an honest man when I grow up, and a true and loving and kind and faithful man.” He dedicated his life to Christ at age 7. Following his trip around the world, Borden attended Yale.[2] The phrase “no reserves” indicates Borden’s understanding that he was responsible for his own life and accomplishing the mission God had given him—no “reserve” was waiting in the wings to fulfill his life’s purpose. He engaged in sports and studies, joining the boxing, yacht, and track and field teams. Borden wrote, ““Every man in the University must be reached.” He started a Bible study in his freshman year which grew to 150 students. By his senior year, 1,000 of the 1,300 students at Yale were a part of the weekly time in God’s Word.
Borden’s rescue mission received a new building after his death at 305 Crown Street. Now a multi-use building, elements of its history still decorate its facade, including these words from the Gospel of Matthew. Photo: Public domain
Borden also started a rescue mission in New Haven, where the poor were fed and the gospel was preached. In one year, 14,000 men attended a gospel meeting, over 17,000 received a warm meal, and 8,000 were given a place to sleep. Borden supported the mission in his spare time. He used money from his family fortune to underwrite the mission’s programming, as well as to purchase the building that housed it. The Yale Hope Mission was founded in 1907 and continued until 1968, when the University took over the building.
No retreats. During college, Borden read The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. His father died in 1906, and it was assumed that Borden would go on to run the family business. At the end of his senior year, he didn’t return home, and also turned down a number of lucrative job offers. Instead, he went on to Princeton Theological Seminary and got involved in the Student Volunteer Movement, whose motto was, “the evangelization of the world in this generation.” During this time, he became aware of millions of Muslims living in China, with absolutely no access to the Gospel or any Christian witness.
Borden determined he would live among the Muslims of China. It would be a challenging and years-long undertaking. “If ten men are carrying a log,” Borden exhorted other students, “nine of them at the little end and one at the heavy end—and you want to help—which end will you lift on?” The phrase “no retreats” indicates Borden’s intent to leave his rich family upbringing and dedicate his life to the mission of Christ in China.
No regrets. Borden’s desire to minister and witness in China required learning Arabic and knowledge of Islam. On December 17, 1912, he set sail for Cairo, Egypt, for training. The newspapers tracked him. “Millionaire Gives Up All,” printed one Chicago daily. On arrival he moved in with a Syrian family in a neighborhood friendly to both Muslims and Christians. He organized a Scripture distribution campaign for the city of 800,000.
Three months into his training in Egypt, Borden contracted spinal meningitis. He deteriorated rapidly, and just 19 days later, died. His mother, on her way to visit her son, received word of his passing just hours before her ship docked in Cairo. It is said that upon opening his Bible, friends found a third phrase added sometime during Borden’s final days on earth—“No regrets.” Though his dreams of living on mission were not fulfilled, he did not bear a grudge against God for how his life ended. His colleagues wrote tracts about his testimony, translating them into Arabic, Persian, and Hindustani. The Chinese version was distributed to 35,000, opening doors for new missions throughout China.
Borden’s grave has been updated and now includes the famous words attributed to him—”No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” Photo: Public domain
A statue in Borden’s honor is erected in Dwight Hall on the Yale campus, where he held his Bible studies, and where Christian meetings still continue to this day. On hearing of his death, the newsletter of Princeton Seminary declared, “No young man of his age has ever given more to the service of God and humanity!”[3]In 2016, a Yale graduate in Cairo came upon his tomb, which had been neglected. Funds were raised and a new marble plaque was installed, with one addition—the phrases “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.”