I recently asked my daughter Alyssa to share with me about a missionary biography she had just read, and what she shared was so good, encouraging, and insightful, I asked her to write a blog posting so others could likewise be blessed. So here’s what she wrote, and may you be challenged and encouraged by this devoted servant of God.

Adoniram Judson. Have you heard of that name before? I got the opportunity to watch a missionary conference a few months ago and one particular book was recommended several times- To the Golden Shore, a biography of Adoniram Judson. If he were here today, he would probably not enjoy his name to be the center of attention, as his whole life was dedicated to making God’s name known. As I read through this book I was inspired, grieved, convicted, and encouraged by the testimony and work of God through these missionaries.

One day in Malden, MA in the year 1788 a boy was born to a minister and his wife. This boy’s father always told him he was going to do great things in his life, but what would that look like? He had lots of ambition and was extremely intelligent. When he got older he started channeling that ambition to make his name known. He thought about writing plays, he even went to New York to see what that could offer him. But God had a different plan for this man’s life. Many years later Adoniram would set sail to Burma as one of the first missionaries to bring the salvation message to the Burmese people, and later translate the Old and New Testament in their language.

The suffering and death depicted in this biography is not like anything I’ve seen. It brings light to when Jesus says in Mathew 16:24-25 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” This book showed me that everyone is capable of doing amazing things for the Lord. It may not look like translating the bible into Burmese, but if you have a heart willing to sacrifice for the name of Christ, if you are willing to see this life as temporary in light of eternity, if you are willing to view the souls of others with the value that God sees them, and if your desire is to bring God praise, then no matter who you are or what your talents and abilities are, he can use you in mighty ways for his kingdom. What an encouragement! God has sacrificed so much for us, that we might be called children of Him. He is worthy of every tribe, tongue, and nation to give Him praise. How much more should we then follow in His example? I pray God gives us the grace and strength we need.

I could not fully unpack the amazing and harrowing trials and triumphs explained in the many pages of this book, I suppose you will have to read it for yourself (which I highly recommend!) But I can share some highlights and quotes that stuck out to me.

Perhaps one of the most famous letters from the life of Adoniram was the letter he wrote asking his Father in law for permission to take Nancy’s hand in marriage. Knowing that her father may never see her again, he wrote this:

Before Adoniram and Nancy left for their voyage (just a few days after they got married!) there was an ordination for them. As hundreds of people gathered, hands were laid on the missionaries as a prayer of consecration was said. “The moment was too much for the audience. An irresistible sighing and weeping broke out” As it was said, “Go, carry to the poor Heathen the good news of pardon, peace and eternal life. Tell them of the God whom we adore; of the savior in whom we trust; of the glorious immortality for which we hope.” (pg. 112)

One devastating trial (the first of many) that Adoniram and his wife Nancy experienced was the death of their first son. “Our hearts were bound up in this child; we felt he was our earthly all, our only source of innocent recreation in this heathen land. But God saw it was necessary to remind us of our error, and to strip us of our only little all…When for a moment we realize what we once possessed… the wound opens and bleeds afresh. Yet we would still say, ‘thy will be done.’”

The amount of grief Adoniram experienced from being in a “death” prison for a year, his wife (Nancy) and later his second wife (Sarah) dying, several of his children dying, and living in a very harsh environment all seems like it is too much to bear, and oftentimes he was overcome with guilt. Yet he was still faithful to the calling on his life, to follow Christ, take up his cross, and proclaim the only message of salvation.

While preaching in various churches in America, several people asked him why he didn’t tell more stories from his time in Burma. And he replied with this, which I think sums up his life fairly well.

“Then I am glad they have it to say, that a man coming from the antipodes had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus’ dying love.”

Oh may we have the same desire to share that message with the world!