3. Sowing and Reaping
3. Sowing and Reaping
As we view the work of Carey and Judson in perspective, we note that there was an initial period of sowing without any reaping. Then followed the first sign of the harvest: just one soul. Then two or more. As a foundation was formed, sowing continued. The harvest began to be reaped. These pioneers respected each other and their co-workers. For instance, Judson did not date the first convert in Bengal as eight years after William Carey’s advent in India. Rather he looked back to the work of Dr. Thomas beginning in 1783, that is, seventeen years.[35]
The British had made their headquarters at Amherst, a little town of about 2,000. This was soon abandoned in preference for Moulmein, 25 miles to the north. Well situated on a river frontage, Moulmein had a population of about 30,000. Adoniram saw the need to move and decided to close the mission work in Amherst. With his fellow missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Wade and George and Sarah Boardman, recently from America, Adoniram consolidated the missionary enterprise at Moulmein. He built a zahat in the poorest part of the town. He taught there daily. Then he built a second zahat in Moulmein and a third in the country nearby. The faithful Moung was an invaluable assistant in the zahat work. Enquirers increased and the work thrived. After teaching, reasoning, and questioning, many committed themselves to Christ. In addition to this activity, Sarah Boardman and Mrs. Wade administered a school for Burmese girls.
The missionary enterprise advanced significantly when George and Sarah Boardman moved to the town of Tavoy, from which center they pioneered a work among the Karen people. In the meantime refreshing news came from Rangoon. The small church of 18 members, scattered by the war, was now re-assembled through the work of one of the early converts. Tha-e had not ceased to preach the Gospel during his time of wandering. Now he had taken the lead to re-establish the church.
Adoniram traveled to Rangoon and there ordained Tha-e as the first Burmese pastor. He then proceeded on a mission of exploration up the Irrawaddy to the ancient city of Prome. There he labored for over three months. This visit proved successful, but the old Buddhist monopoly, exercised through the power of the king, challenged this advance. Judson was defended by Burney, the British administrator. Nevertheless he was obliged to withdraw.[36] Returning to Rangoon, Adoniram was encouraged by the growth of the church there.
From Maulmein, he wrote to the mission board in America in February 1831, with the news of the tragic passing of George Boardman, who died during one of his expeditions to the Karen people in the jungle. Lamenting this severe loss, Adoniram suggested that those with a tendency to consumption should not think in terms of missionary service. He noted that four male missionaries including Dr. Price, who had this tendency, had died, and that they were consumptive before they left America. It is interesting to observe that it was not until 1882 that a German, Robert Koch, isolated the bacteria known as mycobacterium tuberculosis (related to leprosy). It is that discovery which confirmed the nature of consumption. Not until 1944 was the first effective antibiotic (streptomycin) discovered. Judson was always careful to keep himself in a fit physical condition. Now, with medical knowledge available, we can look back and understand the nature of the sufferings of these missionaries. Some possessed a natural resistance to the disease. Those weakened by stress or lack of nutrition were much more vulnerable.[37]
That same time, February 1831, Judson was able to report that during 1830, 47 had been baptized: 12 at Maulmein, 7 at Rangoon, and 28 at Tavoy. Five of the 47 were Europeans. In this letter he reported progress in his translation work in the Old Testament. He was about to begin work on Isaiah. On the general state of affairs, he wrote:
The most prominent feature in the mission at present is the surprising spirit of enquiry that is spreading everywhere, through the whole length and breadth of the land. I sometimes feel alarmed, like a person who sees a mighty engine beginning to move, over which he knows he has no control. Our house is frequently crowded with company; but I am obliged to leave them to Moung En, one of the best assistants, in order to get time for the translation.[38]
His impression of an upsurge of interest was correct. During the year 1832, 217 were baptized as believers. In review, we note that 18 were baptized in the years 1819 to 1822, none during the period of the war. Then just four in the two years at Amherst 1826 and 1827. From 1828 there was a marked increase: 353 from 1828 to 1831. Then beginning in 1828, there were many more. Like Ezekiel’s river, the waters rise (see Eze 47:5). In 1836 alone, 1,144 were baptized (Maulmein 54, Tavoy 91, Rangoon 206, Ava 7).[39] Up to 1836, 181 foreigners were baptized at Maulmein. It was the presence of the British army that accounts for the high proportion. Of 40,000 men who served in the expeditionary force, no less than 15,000 died through illness of one kind or another. Only about 600 died in battle. These statistics go a long way to show that the high mortality rate among the missionaries was due to lack of medical knowledge to deal with the diseases in Burma.[40]
Adoniram pressed forward, improving his translation of the Bible. Concerning the New Testament, he wrote from Maulmein on January 8, 1829, “I consider it the work of a man’s whole life to procure a really good translation of the New Testament in an untried language” (note his use of italics).[41]
Missionary Interest in Your Church?
Question 1. Is there a regular spot at the prayer meeting or in the worship services for a focus on missionary vision, current work, or particular missionaries?
Question 2. Is there a missionary fellowship meeting or a prayer meeting devoted specifically to missions?
Question 3. Does missionary support form part of your church budget? What percentage of the church budget is devoted to missionary endeavor? Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, gives 34 percent of undesignated gifts to missions. This 1,000 member church, which supports eight full time pastors, has sent out 52 missionaries.
Question 4. Do you write encouraging letters to missionaries? They love to receive letters. Pioneer missionary to China, Robert Morrison, stated that he only received one encouraging letter from his homeland for every 200 newsletters that he posted.
Question 5. Are missionary books displayed on your church book table? Occasionally, are such books reviewed and recommended?
Interest in and support of missionaries cannot be artificially stimulated. The weapons of our warfare are spiritual. Prayer is essential.
Stained-glass window portraying the Judsons departing Salem February 19, 1812
The Judsons arrive in Rangoon July 13, 1813
Ann Judson’s first work in Burmese 1878
The script above is Pali, upon which the Burmese language is based
Maung Naw, first Burman to follow Christ, 1819
Judson asks for toleration of Christianity, 1820
Disciples urge missionaries not to leave, 1820
Ann brings Adoniram the New Testament hidden in a pillow, 1824
Judson begins teaching in Zayat ("meditation place")
Judson interprets at Treaty of Yandabo, 1826
Judson visit Karen villages north of Moulimein, 1832
Judson dedicates the completed Burmese Bible, 1834