This provocative heading is the title of chapter ten in Courtney Anderson's book To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson, one of the best missionary biographies I have ever read. It came to mind during our pastoral staff meeting this morning as we discussed the previous Sunday's sermon--specifically Jesus' reference to those who have "left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel" (Mark 10:29).
In a day when there were no such things as transoceanic flights, e-mail, Skype and cell phones, missionaries left their homelands never to return. Farewells said to mothers, fathers, siblings, and close friends were permanent. Sacrifices were made not only by the missionaries in leaving their families, but also by their families in letting them go.
Adoniram Judson was driven by God's call on his life to take the gospel to those who had never heard of Jesus Christ. Yet he also felt his heart drawn to one Nancy Hasseltine, whom he began courting one month after he met her. Their relationship deepened through correspondence, and eventually Adoniram asked Nancy's father in writing for her hand in marriage. Adoniram did not mince his words. He let Nancy's father know full well what giving his daughter to Adoniram in marriage would cost him:
She said yes -- not principally out of her love for Adoniram (as strong as her affection was), rather her consent stemmed from her devotion to the Lord and how she might best serve Him. In a confidential letter to a friend named Lydia Kimball, Nancy wrote,
Nancy became Adoniram's wife. Two weeks after their wedding, on February 19, 1812, they set sail for India, and after a short stay there reached the golden shore of Burma (Myanmar). As he predicted in his letter to Mr. Hasseltine, Adoniram and Nancy suffered much hardship. They had three pregnacies. The first one ended in a miscarriage. Their son Roger died eight months after his birth, and their third child Maria died only six months after her mother's death.
Nancy died at age 36 of smallpox, having suffered through illness, the 17-month imprisonment of her husband, and a host of other hardships. Upon hearing of his wife's death, Adoniram "began to weep, softly at first, later with hoarse, racking sobs. Finally, as the full, crushing weight of the letter's meaning descended upon him, he leaned forward over the writing table in front of him and pillowed his head on his arms" (To the Golden Shore, p. 371).
Nancy was the first Protestant to translate any of the Scriptures into Thai when in 1819 she translated the Gospel of Matthew. She also translated the books of Daniel and Jonah into Burmese. The fruit of her labors cannot in any way be quantified and will not be fully known till all the redeemed reach the Golden Shore of Heaven.
I pray that the Judsons' spiritual legacy would not be lost in our day but would inspire a new generation of individuals and couples to count all things as loss for the sake of the gospel.
In a day when there were no such things as transoceanic flights, e-mail, Skype and cell phones, missionaries left their homelands never to return. Farewells said to mothers, fathers, siblings, and close friends were permanent. Sacrifices were made not only by the missionaries in leaving their families, but also by their families in letting them go.
Adoniram Judson was driven by God's call on his life to take the gospel to those who had never heard of Jesus Christ. Yet he also felt his heart drawn to one Nancy Hasseltine, whom he began courting one month after he met her. Their relationship deepened through correspondence, and eventually Adoniram asked Nancy's father in writing for her hand in marriage. Adoniram did not mince his words. He let Nancy's father know full well what giving his daughter to Adoniram in marriage would cost him:
I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?I wonder how many fathers would have granted their consent after reading such a letter. In the case of Mr. Hasseltine, he left it to Nancy to make up her own mind.
She said yes -- not principally out of her love for Adoniram (as strong as her affection was), rather her consent stemmed from her devotion to the Lord and how she might best serve Him. In a confidential letter to a friend named Lydia Kimball, Nancy wrote,
I feel willing, and expect, if nothing in providence prevents, to spend my days in this world in heathen lands. Yes, Lydia, I have about come to the determination to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his providence, shall see fit to place me.Nancy went on to affirm, "Nor were my determinations formed in consequence of an attachment to an earthly object; but with a sense of obligations to God, and with a full conviction of its being a call in providence, and consequently my duty."
Nancy became Adoniram's wife. Two weeks after their wedding, on February 19, 1812, they set sail for India, and after a short stay there reached the golden shore of Burma (Myanmar). As he predicted in his letter to Mr. Hasseltine, Adoniram and Nancy suffered much hardship. They had three pregnacies. The first one ended in a miscarriage. Their son Roger died eight months after his birth, and their third child Maria died only six months after her mother's death.
Nancy died at age 36 of smallpox, having suffered through illness, the 17-month imprisonment of her husband, and a host of other hardships. Upon hearing of his wife's death, Adoniram "began to weep, softly at first, later with hoarse, racking sobs. Finally, as the full, crushing weight of the letter's meaning descended upon him, he leaned forward over the writing table in front of him and pillowed his head on his arms" (To the Golden Shore, p. 371).
Nancy was the first Protestant to translate any of the Scriptures into Thai when in 1819 she translated the Gospel of Matthew. She also translated the books of Daniel and Jonah into Burmese. The fruit of her labors cannot in any way be quantified and will not be fully known till all the redeemed reach the Golden Shore of Heaven.
I pray that the Judsons' spiritual legacy would not be lost in our day but would inspire a new generation of individuals and couples to count all things as loss for the sake of the gospel.
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light,
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.
Behold how many thousands still are lying
bound in the darksome prison-house of sin,
with none to tell them of the Savior's dying,
or of the life he died for them to win.
Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is love;
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that we might live above.
Give of thine own to bear the message glorious;
give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious;
And all thou spendest Jesus will repay.
- Mary A. Thompson