A Baptist Page Mission
Brief
Adonirum Judson
Adonirum
Judson was born
in 1788, the son of a devout Congregationalist minister. Unlike
many other missionaries, Adnorium did not have an early call from God
or love for Him. In fact, Judson fell in with a number of atheists.
Not long after leaving home, sure of his new atheistic beliefs, Judson
spent the night at an inn. Through the night he heard the agonizing
cries and pleas of a dying man in the next room who obviously did not
know God. To his horror he was told that the name of the man he had
heard die in the night was James Eames, the man who had led him into
unbelief and atheism.
That event led Judson to Christ. After attending college, Judson and his wife sailed for India to be missionaries. In route to India they studied the Scriptures and soon realized they needed to be baptized and become Baptists. After being baptized by the great missionary, William Carey, Annd and Adonirum Judson foudn they were not to be allowed to serve in India. Soon they were sailing to Burma as the first missionaries to enter that stange land. Torture and mass executions were common occurrences. Any foreign religion was dealt with swiftly and unmercifully. The country's rulers were proud men who vainly believed their nation was superior to all others and invincible. This is the place, which Adonirum had brought his fair Ann to minister for the Lord Jesus Christ.
It took seven years to see the first convert to Christ. At one time Adonirum was imprisoned for two years with one hundred other men. The long imprisonment took its toll on Ann. A few months after Adonirum was freed, his dear wife died on October 24th, 1826 to be followed by their daughter Maria in 1827. The call of missions had indeed cost the Judson's dearly.
In spite of such trials the work continued. By 1839 recorded 47 baptisms. During 1832 there were 217 who came to Christ and 1144 baptisms in 1836. Eight years after the death of Ann, Adonirum married the widow of a fellow missionary, Sarah Boardman. None of Ann's children survived but Adonirum and Sarah would have six children who survived. God had restored much to Judson and in 1840 He allowed him to finish his great translation of the Burmese Bible. Nearly eight more years passed with great victories and great love between Sarah and Adnorium. Again, tragedy visited Judson, as Sarah grew ill. Determined to go with her to America, Judson left Burma with his wife. The trip was too much and Sarah was laid to rest in St. Helena.
Arriving in American, s Judson married for a third time. Emily proved a faithful companion and sister in Christ in the remaining years of Judson's life when they returned to Burma. Finally, having laid down his all for Christ, Judson died in April of 1850 and was buried at sea.
Adonrium Judson stands as a model of selfless commitment to the cause of Christ. He was no perfect man as none of us are. When faced with the loss of his dear Ann and Maria, he slipped into what would probably be diagnosed as Manic-Depression in another day. His only counselor was the Holy Spirit and His assurance in a Sovereign God. He was willing to suffer loss for sake of what he believed to be true doctrine. He believed firmly in the Doctrines of Grace, the necessity of the Gospel, and the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
At the time of his death there were over 7000 baptized Christians in Burma along with 63 churches and 123 missionaries and pastors. His influence was felt far and wide. Through the mission societies Judson helped establish there were over 2700 missionaries around the world. Judson's greatest legacy was his undying love for Christ.
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