Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Death of Adoniram Judson - 160 Years

To my Brothers and Sisters in Haverhill,

Today marks the 160th anniversary of Adoniram Judson’s death. I ask that we take a moment to remember the impact that this man had, through the grace and sustenance of God, on missions, the country of Myanmar, and for all future missionaries.

This should have incredible significance to us in Haverhill because of the deep roots that this man had in Haverhill, Malden, and Andover. Born in Malden, MA, he attended Andover Theological Seminary just down the street. He married Ann Hasseltine of Bradford, MA who attended Bradford Academy (later Bradford College) where, during a “revival” she felt led to a “life of usefulness”. Ann was the first female foreign missionary from the United States. Her father was a deacon at the church (now, the First Church of Christ In Bradford) that hosted the gathering that founded the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; the ministry that sponsored Adoniram Judson’s mission to the Burmese. The two met in Bradford at this gathering. I am incredibly humbled to have my front door overlook where this happened and know that the handiwork of God was strong and powerful just outside my door.

So for those of you in ministry please be reminded of the work that God has done and is doing in Haverhill! On the very soil that you toil so hard, one of the greatest missionaries to ever come from the United States was sent into the nations to spread a passion for Christ among unreached peoples. As a result of what God grew from this seed that died 160 years ago, 3700 congregations, 617,000 members, and 1.9 Million affiliates claim allegiance to the Christ who died to save sinners; the same Christ that the Burmese had never heard of prior to Adoniram Judson’s and Ann Hasseltine’s arrival.

Here we look at this city of 60,000 people and wonder what God may be doing? Perhaps one of this 60,000 might be the next Adoniram Judson who will bring the gospel to the nations. Perhaps Haverhill might see this revival that Ann Hasseltine saw in the early 1800’s and will lead to hundreds of “grains of wheat” that will die and bear much fruit. Perhaps the hearing of the Gospel in one of the 6,645 unreached people groups in the world will depend on just one person from Haverhill being radically driven by God to lay down their comforts for the sake of the name of Christ.

I pray that you don’t lose focus of how mighty and how global our God is. Nothing is impossible for Him and He is doing a thousand things with everyone one thing that we see. Keep planting the seeds and turning the soil! You never know what God may water into a fruit-bearing tree!

In Him,

Paul

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