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Editor ’ s note : This article was adapted from Adoniram Judson : A Bicentennial Appreciation of The Pioneer American Missionary ( B & H Publishing , 2012 ). The collection was edited by Jason G . Duesing , academic Provost and Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary . America ’ s first formally-sent foreign missionary , Judson ( Brown 1807 ) spent nearly 40 years in Burma ( also known as Myanmar ) and translated the Bible into Burmese .
At the start of his second year at Andover Theological Seminary , Adoniram Judson began to “ reflect on the personal duty of devoting his life to the cause of missions .” The idea of consecrating his life to go to the ends of the earth , though perhaps an abrupt concept for his family , was not a novel development in 1809 New England . Jonathan Edwards ’ Diary and Journal of David Brainerd appeared on the reading list for all students . Edwards ’ work told the story of the sacrificial life of the young New England minister , David Brainerd , spent reaching Native Americans with the gospel . As one historian relates , “ To get through Andover without reading Brainerd was virtually unthinkable .” Also in New England , especially among evangelicals , there existed a wide following of William Carey . Motivated by the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 , Carey , with the publication of his Enquiry in 1792 , led British Baptists to support an effort to take the gospel to “ those who have no Bibles , no preachers , nor many other common advantages which are taken for granted at home .”
Judson ’ s reading of Brainerd and awareness of Carey prepared him to respond to a sermon he read in September 1809 on
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Matthew 2:2 , “ For we have seen His Star in the East , and are come to worship Him .” Claudius Buchanan , an Anglican priest and chaplain in the East India Company , took the account of Jesus ’ birth and emphasized the uniqueness of the Gentile visitors , the wise men following a star , as “ representatives of the whole heathen world .” Judson said that the reading of Buchanan ’ s sermon had two effects on him . First , in February ,
1810 , while walking alone , he arrived at a moment of decision : “ The command of Christ , ‘ Go into all the world , and preach the gospel to every creature ,’ was presented to my mind with such clearness and power , that I came to a full decision , and though great difficulties appeared in my way , resolved to obey the command at all events .” Thus , at age 21 , the Word of God , brought to his mind by the Spirit , solidified his future course .
Second , Buchanan ’ s sermon focused Judson ’ s gaze on the East . Judson began to read all that he could regarding countries
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in the East . He discovered a book by Michael Symes , An Account of an Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava , and within its pages found his future home . Symes , a British army officer sent to Burma in 1795 , detailed his experiences in that land . As Courtney Anderson concludes , a civilized society in the East that was completely pagan and without the Word of God held forth a great opportunity in the mind of Judson .
With newfound clarity regarding his life and ministry , Judson searched for likeminded compatriots among the students and professors at Andover . He soon found friends among the members of a student missionary society . The Brethren had first formed at Williams College after committing to the missionary task while meeting in a field under a haystack during a storm . Led by Samuel Mills , these “ Haystack Prayer Meeting ” Brethren were joined by Judson and came to share his sanctified ambition for the East .
In response to a request from Judson and the Brethren , the Congregationalist General Association voted to form an American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions “ for the purpose of devising ways and means , and adopting and prosecuting measures , for promoting the spread of the Gospel in heathen lands .” They counseled Judson and the others to pursue prayer and continued studies until such openings presented themselves . They responded that they considered themselves “ devoted to this work for life , whenever God , in His providence , shall open the way .” | cu
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