• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
light magazine logo and tag

Light Magazine

Inspiring Faith For Everyday Life

  • Arts
  • Community
    • Alberta Community
    • British Columbia Community
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Leadership
  • Life
  • Mission
  • Jobs
    • Job Dashboard
    • Post a Job
  • Events
  • Directory
  • About Us

Giving thanks for Dr Neil Yorkston, a prayer warrior with a gracious spirit

July 6, 2023 by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird 1 Comment

Neil Yorkston

Jesus shone through his smile and the twinkle in Dr. Neil Yorkston’s eyes. He loved the Lord and he loved people. When he took your hands, it was like Christ was reaching out to you with His compassion and kindness.  Yorkston was a great prayer warrior with a gentle, gracious spirit.

Pacific Academy jan 15 25 post ad

He was born in 1928 to China Inland Mission missionary parents in Yunnan-Fu, China. When Yorkston was six years old, his parents took him to Chefoo school, on the east coast of China, where he attended as a boarder. He often talked about his being sent during WW2 to a Japanese internment camp in Weihsien. There he continued his education, and he worked in the kitchen. Yorkston often commented that Eric Liddell of Chariots of Fire renown was an inspiring missionary teacher in his internment school. His athletic friend Stephen Metcalf was thrilled to be given Eric Liddell’s worn-out Olympic running shoes. Yorkston was interned in the camp until American soldiers liberated him in 1945. He was then reunited with his parents in Australia. Sadly, Yorkston’s two brothers died in March 1945, while in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Alistair Young Nov 14 2024 post ad

In 1995 and 2005, Yorkston returned to China with his daughters where he saw first-hand how the Christian Church had grown throughout great persecution. He wanted the Chinese people to know the truth that would set them free. He never carried grudges and fondly remembered his 2005 reconciliation tour in Japan.

BC Christian Ashram 250

His son Ian said of his dad at the funeral: “His faith and work as a doctor were a unified whole. He did what he did precisely because of his yearning to be faithful to his service to God, caring for those in need.” As a medical student and young doctor, he and his future wife Elizabeth were very involved in running children’s camps for C.S.S.M, now known as Scripture Union.  Following the birth of their first daughter in 1958, Yorkston became a medical missionary. He served as head of the medical department at the Haile Selassie 1 Naval Base, Massawa, Eritrea, from 1958-1960.  In 1959, their second daughter was born. 

FFC School of MInistry 250

Relocating back to London in 1960, he served in Guy’s hospital. There his wife Elizabeth gave birth to their son and youngest daughter. In 1965, Yorkston went on to become a psychiatrist in London. In the late 1960s, he spent three years at Temple University, Philadelphia, as Associate Professor of Psychiatry. From 1970-73, he worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In 1973, he left the USA and returned to southeast London. He worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist at Friern Barnet Hospital in North London until he was appointed Consultant Psychiatrist at the Royal Bethlem and Maudsley Hospitals.

In 1980, the Yorkston family moved to Vancouver, where Yorkston served as Head of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia.  He later practised psychiatry in Australia in 1990, and Durham, England in 1992.

The All Saints Church community in Crescent Beach knew Yorkston for just over three years, the same length of time Jesus served on earth. During that relatively short period, Yorkston had a lasting impact on our congregation. His good friend Dr. J.I. Packer of Regent College recommended All Saints Church when Yorkston and his wife Elizabeth moved to White Rock.  In fact, Yorkston was the one who made the church leaders aware of a newspaper article advertising the sale of Holy Cross Church in Crescent Beach. That was the catalyst for All Saints Community Church to miraculously purchase the building during the COVID pandemic!  When it was felt impossible to finance the purchase, Yorkston quoted Hudson Taylor: “God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” 

Yorkston was a regular, not only on Sundays, but also during the prayer and Bible studies which sometimes lasted for forty nights. Not even rain or snow could keep him away. He loved to read and teach the Bible to fellow seniors. He kept current with medical literature and never stopped learning, even at the age of 94 years old. Yorkston introduced many All Saints parishioners to his favourite book Revival, authored by his mentor Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones.  David Short, rector of St. John’s Church Vancouver, said at Yorkston funeral: “He would want us to encounter the astonishing joy that was at the centre of his life, that is the person Jesus Christ.”  

Dr Neil Yorkston was a blessing to so many people. We thank God for a faithful servant in whom the Lord is pleased, whom He promoted to glory in the Father’s presence.

To the question, “What is home?”, Yorkston once answered: “Heaven is home.” His family find comfort in knowing that he has reached his final, truest home after travelling a long, extraordinary journey. Indeed, there is no place like home.

“No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

About Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird

Ed & Janice HirdBooks by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird include God's Firestarters; Blue Sky, a novel; and For Better, For Worse: Discovering the keys to a Lasting Relationship. Dr Ed’s newest award-winning book The Elisha Code is co-authored with Rev. David Kitz. Earlier books by Dr. Ed include the award-winning Battle for the Soul of Canada, and Restoring Health: Body, Mind, & Spirit.

View all posts by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird | Website

Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: Biography, China

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dr Ken Toop says

    September 22, 2024 at 7:29 pm

    Thank you for this link to the obituary of Neil Yorkston. I recognise the name and believe I met him, probably during his time in Durham. I was regional organiser for the Christian Medical Fellowship at that time, living in Stockton-on-Tees, about 40 minutes’ drive from Durham. In fact we had another David Short speak at one of our evangelistic dinners held just outside Durham; he was a consultant physician on Aberdeen when I was a junior doctor, and Physician to the Queen in Scotland.
    It is ten years since I retired from my practice in obstetrics and gynaecology and I have been active in discipling asylum seekers and refugees in the Stockton Baptist Church.
    God bless you as you live and work for Him.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Christian Herald
sign up 1
CSB Men ISI 360
Pioneer Camps post ad 360 x 240
BC Christian Ashram
Camp Tee Pee Pole Jun 2025 360
Alistair Young Nov 14 2024
sign up 2
Jan Stefanic 1
Lighhouse Harbour Ministries
Cultus Lake Parks ad 360
Jack Taylor The Sacrifice
BC Christian Academy 360
CSB Boys Jun 2025 360

Secondary Sidebar

Upcoming Events

Jun 6
June 6 @ 8:00 am - August 30 @ 5:00 pm

Rosebud, AB: Dream, A new Canadian Musical at Rosebud Theatre

Jun 30
June 30 @ 9:00 am - July 4 @ 3:00 pm

Edmonton, AB: AIA Soccer Camp

Jul 1
11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Mississauga, ON: Gospel Music Industry Hubfest

Jul 4
July 4 @ 8:00 am - July 20 @ 5:00 pm

Drumheller, AB: Badlands Passion Play

Jul 4
July 4 @ 8:00 am - August 30 @ 5:00 pm

Rosebud, AB: Every Brilliant Thing at Rosebud Theatre

View Calendar

Recent Jobs

  • Director, Philanthropy & Partnerships

    • Greater Toronto Area, ON, Canada
    • World Vision Canada
    • Full Time
  • Associate Pastor – sbf church

    • Saanichton, BC V8M, Canada
    • Saanichton Bible Fellowship
    • Full Time
  • Lead Pastor – White Rock Baptist Church

    • White Rock, BC, Canada
    • White Rock Baptist Church
    • Full Time
  • Graphic Designer

    • Vancouver, BC, Canada
    • Youth Unlimited
    • Full Time
  • Clinical Services Director

    • Winnipeg, MB, Canada
    • Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada
    • Full Time

Directory

Businesses
201
Ministries
909
Schools
427

Articles Archive

Copyright © 2025 · Light Magazine · Website by Shannon Stange · Log in

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!