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When Moung Nau died in Burma in the 19th Century, he did so as a Christian. The Buddhist had been reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his native land by the efforts of an American missionary who labored and suffered like no other.
But would that missionary’s success be worth the horrible anguish he faced?
On February 19, 1812, Adoniram Judson and his wife of seven days, Ann Haseltine, set sail for India with the intentions of evangelizing the sub-continent’s mostly Hindu population.
Talk about an unforgettable honeymoon!
Their plans were short-lived, however, as the East India Company refused them access to the country. Frustrated and heartbroken, they finally discovered an opportunity in the neighboring country of Burma (today’s Myanmar).
Adoniram and Ann had their work cut out for them; at the time of their arrival in Burma, there wasn’t a single Christian living in the land. They immediately went to work and labored for an entire year…but without any converts. A second year also passed without any conversions. When the third year came and went without any success, the Judsons despaired and questioned their calling.
Little did they know they were only halfway to their first convert! It would take another three long years – six years total! – before they met Moung and led him to Christ. But finally, in July of 1819, the Judsons baptized Moung Nau upon his confession of Christ as Savior. On that joyous occasion, Adoniram wrote in his journal, “Oh, may it prove to be the beginning of a series of baptisms in the Burman empire which shall continue in uninterrupted success to the end of the age.”
That prayer was answered over time. Slowly but surely, the Kingdom of God began to grow in Burma! It wasn’t long before the total number of believers in-country rose to 18.
But along with success came tragedy and persecution.
The Judson’s first baby, Roger William, died when he was eight months old. Maria, a daughter, also died in infancy. Both children were buried in the soil of the wild land their parents labored in for the sake of Gospel.
But Judson’s troubles would continue. When he couldn’t convince the authorities otherwise, he was arrested on charges of being a British spy and jailed at Ava Prison. For 21 trying months, he was imprisoned in a foul, rat-and-disease-infested cell with other criminals. He was sentenced to death, but was spared by the constant intercessory prayer and pleadings of Ann and the other believers. During this desperate time, the Judsons lost almost all of their possessions.
Eventually, Adoniram was released, but the suffering had taken its toll on Ann. She died in 1826, and was also buried on the mission field. After Adoniram regained his strength, he resumed his evangelical mission. He married again, this time to Sarah Hall, but she would also die from causes related to working and living in a harsh land.
When Adoniram finally died at the age of 62, he’d spent 38 years ministering in Burma. The suffering he endured was almost unfathomable…but so was the fruit he bore for God’s Kingdom. Soon after his death, the Burmese government performed a survey and found that there were 210,000 Christians living in the land…which was 1 out of every 58 Burmese!
So, was his success worth the anguish he faced? Adoniram Judson thought so!
Resource’s Origin:
Mission for Life by Joan Jacobs Brumberg. The Free Press, 1980, Pages 95-106.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Baptism
Commitment
Death
Despair
Evangelism
Evangelist
God’s Kingdom
Gospel
Great Commission
Missionary
Missions
Persecution
Perseverance
Prison
Sacrificial
Suffering
Tragedy
Work
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
