Timothy Richard Fund
Timothy Richard, a Welsh missionary who was deeply committed to China, had significant roots in Shanxi Province, Evergreen’s home base. Richard believed that the best way to preach Christianity in China was to live the principles in an appropriate manner for the local culture, and to connect with local men of integrity who could use their influence to reach others. Richard therefore spent his time developing relationships with local government officials and religious leaders.
When famine struck China in 1876, Richard became an important and highly recognized organizer and administrator of famine relief arriving from overseas, thus creating one of the first programs of humanitarian relief in the world. Later in his career, the governor of Shanxi Province had Richard serve as s consultant and it was through this relationship that Richard was instrumental in bringing a university to Taiyuan.
While not everyone agreed with Richard’s methods, Richard was widely recognized as enthusiastic, visionary, committed, courageous, and always learning and growing.
Richard’s strategy of cultural immersion and key relationships are precursors to Evergreen’s distinctive approach. It is therefore in his honor that Evergreen has created the Timothy Richard Fund, which seeds new Evergreen expansion projects. This fund serves as an endowment that propels Evergreen into the future in partnership with the changing needs of China, allowing growth, development and adaptation.