Country Served:

Burma

Dates:

1788 - 1850

Famous Quote:

“ The Prospects are as bright as the promises of God.”

Major Influence:

He taught that the Missionary must be able to live among the people to whom they are serving. He taught them European customs was not part of the Great Commission.

Short Story:

     Adoniram Judson was one of the first and most devoted of the foreign missionaries of the American churches, and the first to take the

gospel of Christ to the country of Burma, which lies east of India, south of Tibet, and west of southern China.

    When Mr. Judson grew up to be a young man, the gospel of Christ had never been preached in that country, and so he longed to go to that strange country and preach the gospel.

     In 1812 a young couple arrived in Burma, Adoniram and Nancy Judson, the 1st missionaries to Burma. After six years of service his first

convert was baptized Moung Nau. He worked during those first many years translating a Burmese Bible and an English- Burmese dictionary.

     During his time in Burma he spent time in prison for preaching the Word of God, but that did not discourage him. His wife also died only a few

short years into his ministry. Even through all these hard times he did not give up.

     After a period of time being a missionary that was rejected by the people, he came up with an idea. This idea was what was called a Zayat.

A Zayat was a hut in Burma on the side of the road for people to rest and listen to the Buddhist priest. So Adoniram Judson took this principle and built

works upon that fact, in doing so he immersed himself in the culture.

      In 1837 there were 1,144 converts as a result of his ministry, 25 years after arriving, and 11 years after the death of his wife. What great

fruit was seen, but imagine if he had given up and went home.

     Judson returned to his homeland for the first time in 1845, 33 years after he had left.

By the year 1846 when he returned from the furlough trip, the Lord had given the increase, there were 63 churches in Burma, which were under the care of 163 missionaries and helpers. Finally over 7000 converts had been baptized and received into Christ’s fold.

     Only a few short years after returning back to Burma this great man of God died and went on to be with the Lord. What a great influence this man had in mission’s history!

 Written and Prepared by Jon Allinson 2001