August Women On Mission
A Missionary Legacy
In 1812, Ann Hasseltine Judson and Adoniram Judson were newlywed missionaries aboard a ship bound for India, sent out by a Congregational mission society. Aboard ship, they studied scripture and concluded that they agreed with the Baptist position on baptism and were baptized upon arrival in India. (They were no longer supported by the Congregationalist).
They were not permitted to remain in India and after many difficulties, settled in Burma. (Now Myanmar). Ann was the first American woman in Burma. Life was difficult and authorities unwelcoming. Still, Ann and Adoniram set to work, teaching, translating the Bible and evangelizing. Adoniram was imprisoned for 2 years, and Ann worked to secure his release while trying to provide him with daily food.
Ann died in 1826 and was soon followed by their infant daughter, Maria. Adoniram then married a missionary widow, Sarah Hall Boardman, who assisted him in translation, teaching women of the Karen tribe, and serving as a school administrator. She died in 1845. Adoniram married a third time. He died in 1850. The Judson’s ministry to Burma resulted in the winning of countless souls to Christ.
Fast forward to 2015. My son, David Russell, pastors a Baptist Church in Ames, Iowa. This summer he attended a seminar in St. Paul, Minn. On Sunday he visited the First Baptist Church. It was an old church with declining membership until refugees from Burma (Myanmar) began attending in 2000. All of them were Baptists, members of the Karen Hill tribe. The twin city area is home to thousands of Asians. This church has a vibrant and active congregation, 75 % of them from the Karen tribe of Burma. Other congregations have formed in the area from other
Burmese tribes.
The Sunday Dave visited was Judson Sunday, commemorating the arrival of the Judson’s in 1813. This is an annual celebration. What an amazing story of how God has worked for over 200 years in the lives of these groups from Burma, beginning with the sacrificial ministry of Ann and Adoniram.
* Please return Hunger Banks on Sunday, August 9th.
* A special thank you to Betty Busch, who has made 589 stocking caps over the past 11 years for the International Seafarers Center on Lake Michigan. This is a huge help to Chaplain Marshal Bundren as he ministers to
international seafarers who come into the port. Betty’s late sister, Dorothy Grossman, made 73 hats.
* Women on Mission will meet Monday, August 10th at 7:00 p.m. at the church. All our ladies are invited to join us in a time of study, prayer, and fellowship.