<![CDATA[Frontline Fellowship

<![CDATA[Frontline Fellowship - Missions]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 17:29:41 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[Adoniram and Ann Judson]]>Sun, 13 Jul 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/adoniram-and-ann-judsonAmerica's First Foreign Missionaries - Adoniram and Ann Judson
By Dr. Peter Hammond

Adoniram and Ann Judson had the distinction of being America’s first foreign missionaries. Adoniram Judson was the son of an austere Congregational minister. Adoniram learned to read by age three. From the beginning it was clear that he was destined for an exceptional life.

Conversion
When he entered Brown University on Rhode Island, he became enchanted with Deism and unbelief and slipped into a restless life. After graduation he wrote for the stage in New York. Then he chose to head West for the frontier. En route, at an Inn, he listened all night to a man dying in the next room. In the morning he was shocked to learn that the deceased man was one of his closest companions at college, an outspoken unbeliever who had opposed the Gospel of Christ vehemently. Adoniram knew that Jacob Eames was lost, but he also recognised that the same was true of himself. The West lost its allure, he turned his horse around and enrolled at a Theological Seminary. He was converted to Christ there, in 1808.

Called
The conviction grew that he was called to be a Missionary to Burma, but there were no missionary societies in America yet. So Adoniram travelled to England to consult with the London Missionary Society.

Captured
His voyage by sea involved being captured by a French warship and imprisoned in France. Adoniram showed the kind of ingenuity which was to characterise his whole missionary life, by escaping from this French prison and making his way back to America, arriving 8 months after he had left. Despite opposition from family and friends, Adoniram lost no time in making preparations.

Courtship
Adoniram courted Ann Hasseltine who was generally accepted as “the most beautiful girl in Bradford, Massachusetts.” His letter to her father is a classic: “I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter, whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and suffering of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of 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?” John Hasseltine consented and Adoniram married Ann Hasseltine.

Commissioned
They were consecrated for missionary service the day after their wedding, and within 2 weeks they were sailing for India - sent out by the newly formed American Board of Commission for Foreign Missionaries.

Conflict
Adoniram and Ann spent much of their honeymoon arguing - about baptism. By the time they had reached Calcutta, Ann had also come to agree with the Baptist position and they sent a resignation letter back to the Mission Board that had just sent them out! They then convinced the Baptists to adopt them with the formation of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.

Carey
En-route to Burma, the Judsons visited William Carey – the Father of Modern Missions - in India. There they were baptised by immersion, by Carey’s co-worker, William Ward.

Tragedy
En-route by ship to Rangoon, their first child was stillborn during the voyage. In July 1813, the Judsons reached Rangoon. Their hearts sank at the sights and the smells of the place. Burma was a resistant Buddhist nation, under a cruel and despotic king, who viciously opposed their work. The Judson’s 7-month old son died.

Tribulation
Adoniram was struck by fever, which left him close to death. One missionary excursion dragged into a nightmare that lasted 7 months, much of it afflicted by fever. Back in Rangoon, Ann was subjected to severe harassment and withstood a devastating plague of cholera which swept the city.

Perseverance
The Judsons used a Zayat (a shelter) to provide rest for travellers, where discussions took place. It was at this Zayat in June 1819 that the Judsons were blessed, after 7 years of labour, with the first Burmese convert, Maung Nau.

Resistance
At one point, Adoniram Judson sought an audience with the Emperor, to present the Gospel to him. His attempt was abruptly dismissed by the Emperor. The Judsons battled discouragement and ill health.

Reinforcements
At one point Ann had to be sent back to America to recover from a debilitating fever. She returned with more missionary volunteers.

Torture
In 1824, war broke out between Great Britain and Burma. Although Judson was an American, he was accused of being an English spy and incarcerated in “Death Prison” for 18 months. Adoniram was mistreated and tortured by the Burmese, confined with 50 others in the most atrocious conditions, filth and squalor. At night his feet were tied to a bamboo pole, which was raised above his head so that he was forced to sleep, if at all, with only his head and shoulders on the ground.

Degradation
On the first occasion that Ann was allowed to visit her husband, eight months after his arrest, she carried their new born daughter, Maria. Ann was shocked that her normally fastidious, neat and presentable husband was in such a degrading state, having to crawl towards her in a condition that she was not even able to describe.

Devastation
When the British were able to free Adoniram, he was hit with another devastating blow, his beloved wife Ann had died. Six months later, their 2-year-old daughter, Maria, was buried alongside her mother. Adoniram sunk into extreme depression, and for a time, the work of the Gospel in Burma came to a halt.

Success
Inspired by the steadfastness of the Judsons, new Missionaries from America began arriving. More and more Burmese were converted to Christ. In one year, 200 converts were baptised. In 1832, Judson’s translation of the New Testament was completed, followed in 1834 by the Old Testament.

Progress
Adoniram then married Sarah Boardman, the widow of a missionary colleague. He worked at revising his translation of The Bible, alongside instructing native preachers and Evangelists. When his work on The Bible was finally done, he turned his attention to a Burmese dictionary.

Disaster
As Sarah’s health deteriorated, Adoniram accompanied her by sea back to America for recuperation, but she died en-route and was buried on the Island of St. Helena in August 1845. Then the news reached him that their 1½-year-old son, Charles, had died a month before his mother.

America
Although by now, he could barely whisper, large crowds gathered to hear him speak in America. When he returned to Burma, he took his third wife, Emily Chubbuck, with him. Emily generated some controversy as she was half his age and a writer of popular stories. Nevertheless, there was no doubt that she was a dedicated Christian and devoted to the Mission.

Karen for Christ
By 1849, the English-Burmese Dictionary had been completed. By the time Adoniram died in 1850, he had established 63 Churches amongst the Karen tribe. Over 100 000 Karen people had been baptised. Before he died, Adoniram declared: “When Christ calls me home, I shall go with the gladness of a boy, bounding away from his school.” All Judson’s 5 surviving children grew up to distinguish themselves in Christian service. The Karen people in Burma have remained steadfast in their Christian Faith despite severe persecution, an island of Christianity in a sea of Buddhism.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the Faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Dr. Peter Hammond

This article was adapted from a chapter of The Greatest Century of Missions book (224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps), available from:
Christian Liberty Books,
Email:admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za, Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

]]><![CDATA[The GRAHAMSTOWN EVANGELISTIC MISSION]]>Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/the-grahamstown-evangelistic-mission45 Years Ago – The GRAHAMSTOWN EVANGELISTIC MISSION

The Vision
The vision for the Grahamstown Evangelistic Mission grew out of our daily Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship, which I initiated in my first week of National Service at 6th South African Infantry Battalion. As the Bible Study grew and as we had the joy of leading fellow soldiers to Christ, we were praying over how to reach the next intake, which would come in July 1980. When I suggested organising an Evangelistic Mission during the first month of the next intake, there was excitement. But, inevitably, hard realities were discussed: Initially, there will be over 2,000 conscripts. How on earth could we reach them all? How could we possibly organise permission? What venue could possibly be big enough? Who would be the best Evangelist to invite?

The Evangelist
Well, I immediately knew that Rev. Roger Voke was the ideal man. Roger Voke was a dynamic Evangelist and the most challenging speaker that I had heard at Holiness Conventions at Glenvar Bible College and Keswick Conventions. Roger Voke had trained me in Evangelism Explosion.

The Chaplain’s Office
After completing my infantry training, I was assigned to be chaplain’s clerk (which meant that I cleaned the church buildings, rang the bell for services and drew up the Part Two Orders for Chaplain services, etc., The chaplain had given me a key to the building to accommodate our Bible Study and Prayer Meetings each night. I handled some basic correspondence and collected the mail for the chaplain, amongst other duties. It also meant that I had access to the chaplain’s stationery.

The Invitation
So, I had the audacity to handwrite a letter, on chaplaincy stationery, to Rev. Roger Voke, asking if he would be willing to be our guest speaker at the “Grahamstown Evangelistic Mission” for the July 1980 Intake. The letter included the details of how many men he would be ministering to and how I planned to arrange for further meetings in the local churches and schools in Grahamstown.

The Team
Within a few days, an enthusiastic reply came back from Roger Voke accepting the invitation and informing me that he had contacted Rev. Frank Retief of St. James Church of England to requisition their music and drama team. He also mentioned his intention to invite Rev. Harold Peasley to conduct an Evangelism Explosion Clinic for our Bible Study and Prayer Group members, to better prepare us for counselling, follow up and outreach to our unit.

Attempting to Achieve Authorisation
He asked a whole number of logistical questions which led me to take ever more bold and unauthorised steps towards realising this dream. After morning P.T. and a stint at the shooting range, I found the chaplain smoking his pipe and reading the newspaper in his office, so I asked what he thought of inviting Rev. Roger Voke, an international Evangelist, to be a guest speaker for an Evangelistic Mission to the new intake in July. Without pausing in reading the newspaper, the Dominee extracted his pipe and said that he doubted that the Commandant would give permission and anyway there was no venue big enough to accommodate all the troops.

Approaching the Commandment
I realised that there was a tension between the commandant, who was apparently Gereformeerde (Reformed) and the chaplain, who was NGK (Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk). I had a good rapport with the commandant’s secretary (she typed up my Bible Studies along with the Part Two Orders for the chaplain services each week). So, I requested a meeting with the commandant. The Commandant was somewhat surprised to see a simple Rifleman march into his office. He asked: “What is on your mind, son?” “Sir, I have just come from speaking to the Chaplain. I was proposing an Evangelistic Mission to reach the new intake with the Gospel and the Dominee was questioning whether you would grant permission.” The Commandant looked surprised and replied: “I have no objection to any measures that you may organise to bring the Gospel to every intake of this unit. Our men must hear the Gospel!” I saluted, thanked the Commandant, did an about turn and marched smartly out of his office.

The Transport Hanger
With that tenuous verbal encouragement, I marched over to the Transport Hanger and found the Lieutenant in charge. “I have just been speaking with the Chaplain and the Commandant. We are planning an Evangelistic Mission for the new intake. We need your Transport Hanger to be cleared of all vehicles in time for the event.” The Lieutenant was aghast. “But it will take a week to clean out this Transport Hanger. Many of the vehicles in here cannot even be moved without repairs, or being towed!” I looked at the man and asked: “So what do you want me to tell the Chaplain?” The man looked intimidated at the mention of the Chaplain, who had the equivalent rank of Colonel and therefore was the highest rank in the base. “Well, of course, we will do it,” he assured me.

The Logistical Arrangements
Then I followed up with a request for a vehicle and a driver to go to town to organise services, school assemblies and the loan of over 2,000 chairs. The Transport Officer apparently assumed that I had the necessary authorisation, which actually I did not. So, through prayer, bluff and audacity, I arranged services in many churches in town, school assemblies in every school in town and hired the 1820’s Settlers Monument main auditorium for a special final Sunday night Evangelistic crusade, to which all in the town would be invited. I also arranged to borrow, from different schools, enough chairs to fill the Transport Hanger for the over 2,400 Officers, NCO’s and soldiers anticipated for the Evangelistic outreaches every night at 6th SAI Bn.

Enthusiasm for Evangelism
The enthusiasm throughout the town was intense. Every church I approached was eager to participate. Doors were opened to every school who were eager to welcome the respected international Evangelist Roger Voke to address their assemblies, including all students, teachers and staff. Christian fellowships that I was running at the local Rhodes University and at the local Nurses hostel at the Hospital also got involved and helped with the organisation. Youth groups eagerly combined for special events.

Intensive Preparations
In the next weeks, a stream of memos, phone calls and letters were issued from the chaplain’s office. Which the chaplain was mostly unaware of, as he tended to play golf frequently and was seldom actually in the office. Juggling military duties with chaplaincy duties was challenging enough. Organising an intensive 12-day Evangelistic Mission with over 40 meetings, required going into hyper-overdrive.

Funds Run Low
There was such a shortage of funds. While I was able to use my salary to pay for the printing of the large A2 posters to advertise the Roger Voke Crusade at the 1820 Settlers Monument, I could not afford the typesetting costs and so, with a ruler and a permanent marker, produced the simple design myself.

The Accommodation
The week arrived. By then I had accommodation arranged at the homes of different pastors and church families in town, all eager to host the members of the music and drama team and Rev. Roger Voke, Rev. Harold Peasley and Rev. Roger Horward, who would be leading the music and drama team.

The Part Two Orders
One of my duties was to write out the Part Two Orders and take it through to the Commandant’s secretary to type up and have it roneod (before photocopiers we used Gestetner Roneo machines which printed from wax stencils through a perforated drum) and distributed to all companies and sections. The chaplain never checked my draft of the Part Two Orders. So, I always took them straight through to the Commandant’s secretary. Each day I allocated a different company to report to Wenela e.g. Alpha Company - All Ranks 10 am at Wenela Hall for Chaplains period: Guest speaker: Rev. Roger Voke.

Lunch Time all Officers at Officers’ Mess for special lunch and message from guest speaker: Rev. Roger Voke.

19h00 All Officers, NCO’s and all Ranks, all Companies at Transport Hanger for special Evangelistic Rally: Guest Speaker: Rev. Roger Voke. So, it went on. Every day a different Company for Chaplains service. At some lunch times, special meetings for either the NCO’s, or Officers. Every evening, a combined Evangelistic Rally in the Transport Hanger.

City-Wide Evangelistic Campaign
Meanwhile, another parallel programme was being designed to maximise the use of the team. Each morning, the music and drama team and Evangelistic speakers were being booked for different school assemblies, normally 8 am, including Saint Andrews College, Kingswood College, Diocesan School for Girls and Victoria Girls. On both Sundays, the team was split up between different churches in town, including the Methodist, Baptist and Assemblies of God congregations. It all culminated the final Sunday evening with the Crusade, which packed out the main Auditorium in the 1820 Settlers Monument overlooking Grahamstown.

The Moment of Truth
The Part Two Orders were published every Friday morning and I waited with bated breath. A roar of anger from the chaplain’s office alerted me to the fact that the dominee had noticed my innovations in the schedule. He ordered me in and gave me a severe talking to and said that he was going to rescind the orders. When I reminded him that the Commandant had given his permission for any initiatives we could take to ensure that all intakes are thoroughly Evangelised, he dismissed it out of hand. I saluted, did an about turn and left the office in a state of prayer.

The Post
Because it was that time of the day, I walked to the base Post Office to collect the daily mail. One letter stood out amongst all the others. The gilt and purple triangle of the Chaplains Corp alerted me that this was a letter from the Chaplain General. After delivering the envelope to the Chaplain, who was still steaming, I soon heard another exclamation of surprise.

The Chaplain General
Apparently, the Chaplain General of the South African Defence Force had been informed by Roger Voke of the Grahamstown Evangelistic Mission. The Chaplain General was now congratulating and commending the Chaplain for his tremendous initiative and Evangelistic vision! Moreover, arriving at the railway station that afternoon was a consignment of equipment which he thought would make our event more effective, including audio visual materials, PA systems, extra 16mm projectors, overhead transparencies, slide projectors and much more. The Dominee could not even look me in the face as he told me to arrange transport to collect the consignment so generously made available by the Chaplain General for this Mission, which now, no longer seemed to be cancelled. I knew better than to try ask any questions at that sensitive moment and responded with a “Yes Sir”, a firm salute, about turn and went rejoicing on my way to arrange transport. A tonne of bricks was probably going to fall on my head when the whole schedule was over, but the Mission was a “Go!”

The Schedule
I welcomed the convoy from Cape Town, saw them to their hosts, then gave them the detailed daily schedule. I thought Rev. Voke would be happy with the packed programme that I had arranged, but he exclaimed! “Peter, you want kill me!” He started rattling off the daily speaking engagements arranged for him and declared: “This is not a schedule! This is a marathon race! No human being can possibly keep up with such a schedule!” He then started to reassign some of the engagements that I had arranged for him to Roger Horward, Mark Dickson and Harold Peasley. The team seemed somewhat intimidated by the intensity of the schedule. They phoned Newton Park Baptist Church, down in Port Elizabeth, to send up their choir to assist and there was a flurry of activity to rise to the challenge of the Grahamstown Evangelistic Mission schedule.

Evangelism Explosion Training
The next day, Saturday, Harold Peasley had 34 of our Bible Study and Prayer Group members to train in the 6SAI Bn. Chapel. We were taken through the Evangelism Explosion Training programme of Dr. James Kennedy.

Coffee Bar Outreaches
That evening several of the team attended our Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship and coffee bar event. The team informed us that they had brought a trailer of thousands of biscuits donated for our coffee bar outreaches every night at the military base. There was unprecedented excitement at all this activity and we never had so many visitors at our coffee bar or Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship. Evangelistic conversations were intense.

Sunday Services
On Sunday, I joined the teams that were ministering at the Methodist church and at the Baptist church. Others were spread out amongst a variety of congregations in Grahamstown.

Military Mission
On Monday morning, the Military programme swung into action. Every morning there was a different Company at the Wenela Hall. Each Lunch Time there was a special Evangelistic message, either at the NCO, or Officers’ Mess. Every evening the Transport Hanger was packed with over 2,400 soldiers of all ranks. The Commandant and all his staff were right in the front row. The St. James Music and Drama Team and the Newton Park Baptist Choir were very well received and the applause and cheers was often deafening. Roger Voke was on top form. He was, without a doubt, one of the most dynamic Evangelistic speakers I had ever heard.

Altar Call
At the end, 99 men came forward to publicly commit their lives to Christ. Each of our trained counsellors had to counsel three men. It had been a long and busy day. Each day had an average of 5 Evangelistic meetings at local schools, churches and the military base. Yet, at the end of that day, I saw Roger Voke straightening out hundreds of chairs. Those of us who were not at the coffee bar, or counselling, felt suitably chastised and immediately threw ourselves into straightening the chairs, so that our guest Evangelist, who was at least three times our age, could get some well-deserved rest. It was almost midnight that I finally got to the door of my bungalow and there was another National serviceman standing waiting for me. “I should have gone forward tonight,” he said. “Is it too late?” I beamed and declared: “No, it is most certainly not too late. Tonight 99 people came forward and I wondered where was that one lost sheep that the Lord said we should leave the 99 for, to seek after.” It was a perfect ending to an amazing day.

The Harvest Was Large
To hear over 2,000 soldiers sing: “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!” was inspiring. We counselled over 360 soldiers that week. I have no idea how many people came forward at the Evangelistic meetings at the churches, schools and at the Grahamstown Evangelistic Mission’s Rally in the 1820 Settlers Monument that week. But it was many.

Intense Ministry Marathon
Each night, or rather early hours of the morning, as our head finally hit the pillow, we were out, cold. It seemed we had no sooner got to sleep than the bugle sounded for 5am P.T. Each day was packed with logistical challenges, Evangelistic encounters, counselling opportunities and intensive prayer in action. It was a never to be forgotten intensive outreach, which transformed many lives.

Long Term Abiding Fruit
There was no doubt that many lives were transformed and quite a number mentioned to me that they were called to dedicate the rest of their life to Missions. Now, 40 years later, I can look back on numerous of those soldiers and several students in town, who ended up in Operation Mobilisation, Youth With A Mission, Wycliffe Bible Translators and a host of other missions worldwide.

Everything has Consequences
It was an exhilarating experience to have dared to organise an Evangelistic Mission to reach our entire Battalion and the adjacent town, without exactly having the authority to do so. Of course, the military has a way of dealing with those who buck the system. I knew that what you sow is what you will reap. There are consequences for everything. There is a price to be paid. As I was waving goodbye to the Roger Voke Evangelistic team convoy, heading back to Cape Town, as the last car passed out of sight around the bend, I felt a hand on my shoulder, a military policeman. The Chaplain had laid charges against me for breach of military discipline.

CB
There followed weeks of CB (Confined to Barracks). That does not sound so bad, but CB was designed for AWOLers, drug addicts and other delinquents. CB involved wearing a red helmet, full kit and at the double, drilling and P.T. throughout the day, interspersed with inspections, with only a 2-minute break between each hour of intensive at the double drilling or P.T., rock sit-ups, etc. Those in CB are targets for sustained Punishment P.T.

Revenge
There were NCO’s who remembered that I had ordered the bars closed for blasphemy and that I had laid a charge against an NCO for repeated blasphemy. For these and a number of other issues, there were grudges to settle and individuals keen to see that I got what was coming to me. Standing at attention while the corporal stubbed out his cigarette on the inside of my arm, or held a hot iron against my arm, or stood on my shoulders while I was doing press-ups, again and again, I repeated the verses: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Encouragement
Not that all of the NCO’s were unsympathetic. There were a few individuals who quietly apologised to me saying they understood what I had done and greatly appreciated it and admired me, but they had a job to do. Those individuals would allow the 2-minute breaks each hour to be longer and the P.T. to not be quite as intense when others weren’t watching.

It Was All Worth It!
But it must have been disturbing for some of the new Christians to see the organiser of the Evangelistic Crusade, Bible Study and Prayer Group, treated like a criminal delinquent. Attendance at the Bible Study and Prayer Meeting dropped off during that time of disgrace. But I think I went through that 3 weeks of at the double CB drilling and punishment P.T. with a smile on my face, because the whole time I kept recollecting, remembering and relishing the memories of what had been accomplished and experienced during that incredible Grahamstown Evangelistic Mission. It was definitely worth it!

Missionary Vision
William Carey declared: “Attempt great things for God! Expect great things from God!”
As I reflect on how this audacious campaign had succeeded against the odds, I dared to dream of smuggling Bibles across hostile borders into Marxist countries we were at war with, such as Angola and Mozambique. So, the vision for Frontline Fellowship was born. As C.T. Studd declared: “Some like to live within sound of church or chapel bell, I would like to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell!”
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship

A first hand, eyewitness account of war and persecution during tumultuous events. From the Bush War in Rhodesia to the Border war in South West Africa and Angola, to the killing fields of Mozambique, capture, interrogation, imprisonment, smuggling behind the Iron Curtain, the Seven year Jericho Prayer March that led to the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the Iron Curtain, Revolution in Romania, Missions to Albania, the most atheist country in Europe, the Holocaust in Rwanda, under artillery and rocket fire and aerial bombardment in Sudan, to the successful struggle for secession of South Sudan.

BUY HERE

]]><![CDATA[William Carey - The Father of Modern Missions]]>Sun, 01 Jun 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/william-carey-the-father-of-modern-missions

It is impossible! It cannot be done! Do not be ridiculous – what difference can one person make?”

Have you ever encountered these reactions? Anyone who embarks on a challenging enterprise – especially those determined to end legal abortions, eradicate pornography, establish a Christian school or Christian Teacher Training College, stop the ongoing slave trade in Sudan, work for national Reformation and Revival or evangelize a Muslim nation – will encounter those people who seem to believe that they have “the gift of criticism” and “a ministry of discouragement!”

Should Christians be Involved in Social and Political Issues?
Then there are those who maintain that Christians should not even be involved in social issues at all! When you tell them of the abortion holocaust or the pornography plague they mutter that “all we can do is pray”, “just preach the Gospel” and “it is a sign of the last days!”

We suspect that such attitudes are often motivated more by laziness and cowardice or a selfish desire to shirk responsibility and hard work than anything else. Certainly those people who resort to such superficial excuses are being disobedient to the clear commands of Scripture: “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27); “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37); “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8); “Rescue those being led away to death” (Proverbs 24:11); “Make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19); “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins” (James 4:17).

Those who maintain that Christians should not be involved in social or political issues display their ignorance of both the Bible and Church history. Over 70% of the Bible deals with social, political and national issues. Abraham used military force to rescue Lot and his family from the four kings (Gen. 14). God raised up Joseph to be Prime Minister of Egypt (Gen. 41). Samuel, Nathan, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezra – in fact almost all of the prophets – were heavily involved in politics as advisors to kings and exerted a godly influence on national affairs. Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah and John the Baptist publicly confronted and rebuked wicked rulers. King David was described as “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). Daniel and Mordecai became prime ministers in pagan Babylonian and Persian governments – yet without compromise. God raised up Deborah and Queen Esther to national leadership positions. Joshua, Gideon and Nehemiah also held senior political positions.

“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it...” Ezekiel 22:30

Those who maintain that Christians should not be involved in political and social issues are not only ignoring the Word of God but also showing their ignorance of Church history.

Slavery and Human Sacrifice
Before the advent of Christianity every culture practised slavery and human sacrifice. In the Roman Empire abortion, infanticide and the abandonment of unwanted babies was legal and commonplace. The Aztec Empire in Mexico, the Inca Empire in Peru and the Mayan Empire in Central America engaged in slavery, ritual rapes and mass human sacrifices. Slaves were marched up the stairs of the pyramid type temples. At the top a priest would rip out their beating hearts – one by one. There were over 80,000 human skulls on the skull racks of just one of King Montezuma’s many temples. Only the advent of Christianity introduced a respect for the sanctity of life and ended the rampant infanticide and human sacrifice.

Similarly, slavery was eradicated as a result of the tireless efforts of Christians such as William Wilberforce and David Livingstone. The whole concept of charity was a Christian innovation, as were hospitals (hence the universal healing symbol of a cross to represent hospitals.)

But of course these monumental achievements were not easily achieved. Every victory for life and liberty was only accomplished by much sacrifice and ingenuity over many, many years of hard work.

If you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the immensity of the task before you, or discouraged by a seemingly never-ending series of obstacles and opposition, frustrations and failures – take heart! The man whom God used to launch the modern missionary movement faced all this and much, much more.

Launching a Reformation
Undereducated, underfunded and underestimated, William Carey seemed to have everything against him. He was brought up in abject poverty and never had the benefit of high school. He had a thirst for knowledge, read widely and had a keen interest in nature. Carey’s formal education ended in junior school. Yet, at age 12 Carey taught himself Latin. Then he went on to master – on his own – Greek, Hebrew, French and Dutch! He eventually became professor of Bengali, Sanskrit and Marathi at the prestigious Fort William College in Calcutta (where the civil servants were trained). Carey and his co-workers, William Ward and Joshua and Hanna Marshman, started over 100 Christian schools for over 8,000 Indian children of all castes and launched the first Christian College in Asia – at Serampore. This college continues to this day! Carey finally succeeded in translating the Bible into 6 languages, and New Testaments and Gospels into 29 other languages!

Mission Impossible
Carey’s achievements are all the more astounding when you consider that his bold project to plant the Gospel among the Hindus in India was completely illegal! By an act of the British Parliament it was illegal for any missionary to work in India. For the first 20 years, Carey’s mission to India had to be carried out with ingenuity and circumspection, based under Danish protection in the small Danish colony of Serampore. At last the British Parliament – under pressure from evangelical Members of Parliament such as William Wilberforce – reversed its policy and compelled the British East India Company to allow missionaries in India.

Passion and Principle
Sometimes his students in England saw him in tears while teaching geography. Carey would point to various places on the map and cry “And these are pagans! Pagans! ”Carey was considered a radical in his day. He boycotted sugar because he was intensely opposed to slavery and sugar from the West Indies was produced with slave labour. Carey also took the extremely unpopular stand of supporting the American War of Independence against Britain.

Insanity and Disease
He was also subjected to vicious criticism and gossip. Under the extreme heat and in abject poverty, initially with daily dangers from snakes, crocodiles and tigers in a remote and mosquito-ridden jungle house, Carey’s wife, Dorothy, went insane. She would rant and rave about the imaginary unfaithfulness of her husband and on several occasions attacked him with a knife. She was diagnosed insane and had to be physically restrained with chains for the last 12 years of her life. The Careys also lost their 5-year-old son, Peter, who died of dysentery in 1794. Every family member suffered from malaria, dysentery and other tropical diseases – frequently.

Debt and Discouragement
Carey’s first co-worker, John Thomas, squandered all their money and bankrupted the mission, forcing William to work on a plantation to provide for his malnourished family. In their first seven months in India the Careys had to move home five times! And although Carey frequently wrote home, to family and mission society – it was 17 months before they received their first letters! One of these first letters from the Society criticised Carey for being “swallowed up in the pursuits of a merchant!”

Toil Amidst Turmoil
Somehow, while often sick, holding down a full time secular job, surrounded by domestic turmoil, with an insane wife screaming from the next room, Carey mastered Bengali and Sanskrit and by 1797, the New Testament was translated into Bengali and ready for printing! Carey had also established several schools and was preaching regularly in Bengali. However, after seven years of tireless toil in India, Carey still did not have a single convert!

Persistence and Productivity
How did William Carey manage to maintain such a productive schedule while having to endure all these crushing disappointments, the endless distractions, the undeserved criticisms, the physical ailments and the heart-breaking tragedies? How did he manage to persevere and to keep on keeping on without even the encouragement of a single convert to justify all his effort and sacrifice? To understand what motivated this most remarkable man we need to look at what inspired him in the first place.

A Vision of Victory
One of the most influential sermons in world history was preached on 31 May 1792, by William Carey in Northampton, England. Carey’s sermon literally sparked the greatest century of Christian advance. It marked the entry of the English-speaking world into missions. Since that time English speakers have made up 80% of the Protestant missionary work force.

The Sermon that Launched the Greatest Century of Missions
The text of this historic sermon was Isaiah 54:2-3:
“Enlarge the place of your tent and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes! For you shall expand to the right and to the left and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make desolate cities inhabited.”

The theme of his sermon was summarised as: “Expect great things from God! Attempt great things for God!”

Rebuked for Missionary Zeal
Yet, riveting as the sermon was, the result was initially indecision. Carey was considered “an enthusiast” (a fanatic) and an embarrassment – because “he had a bee in his bonnet about missions.” One story recounts how an older pastor rebuked Carey for his missionary zeal: “Young man, sit down! Sit down. You are an enthusiast! When God pleases to convert the heathen He will do it without your help or mine!”

The Prototype Mission Society
But Carey persisted until, five months later, 12 Reformed Baptist ministers formed the “Particular (Calvinist) Baptist Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen.” Their first collection from these pastors amounted to thirteen pounds, two shillings and sixpence.

Inspiration
What inspired Carey’s landmark book “An Enquiry into the Obligation of Christians to use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens” and this prototype pioneer missionary society was his eschatology of victory. William Carey was a Post-millennialist who believed that God who commanded His Church to “make disciples of all nations” would ensure that the Great Commission would ultimately be fulfilled.

Unwavering Conviction
“The work, to which God has set His hands, will infallibly prosper... We only want men and money to fill this country with the knowledge of Christ. We are neither working at uncertainty nor afraid for the result.... He must reign until satan has not an inch of territory!”

Time and again, in the face of crushing defeats, disappointments, diseases and disasters, Carey reiterated his unwavering optimistic eschatology: “There are great difficulties on every hand, and more are looming ahead. Therefore we must go forward.”

“God’s cause will triumph!”
Carey’s faith was most certainly vindicated. The years of hard work and wholehearted sacrifice were graciously rewarded by God. Carey’s ministry literally transformed India.

The Horrors of Hinduism
When Carey stepped ashore at Calcutta on 11 November, 1793, India was in a terribly degraded state. If an infant was sick, it was assumed that he was under the influence of an evil spirit. The custom was to expose sick infants to the elements – perhaps hanging them up in a basket. Near Malda, Carey found the remains of a baby that had been offered as a sacrifice to be eaten alive by white ants. At the Sagar Mela where the Ganges river flows into the sea, Carey witnessed how mothers threw their babies into the sea to drown, or to be devoured by crocodiles. This the Hindus regarded as “a holy sacrifice” to the “Mother Ganges”!

Carey undertook thorough research into the numbers, nature and reasons for the infanticide and published his reports. He presented several petitions to the government until, in 1802, infanticide was outlawed. This marked the first time that the British government interfered directly with religious practice in India. It set a precedent for the abolition of other practices.

Hinduism had an extremely low view of women. It was often stated “In Hinduism there is no salvation for women until she be reborn a man.” Her only hope lay in serving men in complete subjection. Many female babies were smothered, strangled or drowned at birth. Girls were married as young as 4 years old! Widows were perceived as bad omens who had brought about the deaths of their husbands. Widows were also seen as an economic liability. Bereaved widows had to shave off all their hair, remove all jewellery and were forbidden to remarry – but a widow was required to cohabit (niyogo) with her deceased husband’s nearest male relative. Tremendous pressure was exerted on the widow to submit to Sati or immolation – to be burned alive on the funeral pyre of her husband. Amongst the Weaver (Kories) caste, widows were buried alive.

Because of the Hindu practice of Sati, children who had lost their father would also lose their mother and be orphaned at the same time. The Hindu practice of polygamy compounded the problem. On one occasion Carey documented 33 wives of one man burned alive at his funeral. On another occasion an 11-year-old widow was burned on the funeral pyre of her husband!

Lepers were rejected by their families and society and burned alive. Hinduism taught that only a violent and fiery end could purify the body and ensure transmitigation into a healthy new existence. Euthanasia was also widely practised on those afflicted by other sicknesses. The infirm were regularly carried out to the riverside and left exposed to cold and heat, crocodiles or insects.

Confronting Cruelty
Carey fought against these and many other evils – including child prostitution, slavery and the caste system. He publicly criticised the government for inaction and passivity in the face of murder. He organised public debates and spoke out and wrote often on these atrocities. At first he met with official indifference. The Indian Supreme Court in 1805, ruled that Sati had religious sanction and could not be questioned.

A Pioneer for Freedom
Carey established the first newspaper ever printed in an oriental language, the Samachar Darpan and the English language newspaper Friends of India. Carey pioneered mass communications in India, launching the social reform movement, because he believed that: “Above all forms of truth and faith, Christianity seeks free discussion.”

Carey was the first man to stand up against the brutal murders and widespread oppression of women through female infanticide, child marriage, polygamy, enforced female illiteracy, widow burning and forced euthanasia. He conducted systematic research and published his writings to raise public protest in both Bengal and England.

Transforming a Nation
Carey educated and influenced a whole generation of civil servants through his lectures at Fort William College. He fought against the idea that a woman’s life ceases to be valuable after her husband’s death. He undermined the oppression and exploitation of women by providing women with education. He opened the first schools for girls.

Education was a major emphasis of his mission. Carey wrote in 1805 that his chief objective was “the forming of our Indian brethren to usefulness, fostering every kind of genius, and cherishing every gift and grace in them; in this respect we can scarcely be too lavish in our attention to their improvement. It is only by means of native preachers that we can hope for the universal spread of the Gospel through this immense continent.”

In 1800, Carey was invited to lecture on Bengali, Sanskrit and Marathi at Fort William College. In 1806, he was made a Professor. In 1818, he and his colleagues launched Serampore College which taught Theology, Botany, Zoology, Sanskrit, Arabic and English literature. Carey produced a 1,000 page Sanskrit Grammar. William Ward produced a book on Manners and Customs of the Hindus.

Working for Reformation
It was Carey’s relentless battle against Sati – for 25 years – which finally led to the famous Edict in 1829, banning widow burning.

Carey was also the first man who led the campaign for a humane treatment for leprosy and ended the practice of burning lepers alive.

Carey certainly had a comprehensive view of the Great Commission. He ministered to body, mind and spirit. Carey introduced the idea of Savings Banks to India and made investment, industry, commerce and economic development possible. He founded the Agric–Horticultural Society in the 1820s (30 years before the Royal Agricultural Society was established in England)! He introduced the steam engine to India. He pioneered the idea of lending libraries in India. He persuaded his friends in England to ship out tons of books to regenerate and reform India.

A Pioneer for Scientific Advance and Conservation
Carey also introduced the study of Astronomy into India. He saw that the prevalent astrology with its fatalism, superstitious fears and inability to manage time had terribly destructive consequences. Hinduism’s astrology makes us subjects – with our lives determined by the stars. However, the Christian science of astronomy sets us free to be rulers – to devise calendars, identify directions, study geography and better plan our lives and work.

Carey was the first man in India to write essays on forestry. Fifty years before the government made its first attempts at forest conservation, Carey was already practising conservation, planting and cultivating timber. He understood that God had made man responsible for the earth. Carey was also a botanist who cultivated beautiful gardens such as the Serampore Gardens and the Calcutta Botanical Gardens.

He frequently lectured on science, botany and zoology because he believed that “all Thy works praise Thee, O Lord.” He knew that nature is worthy of study. Carey pointed out that even the insects are worthy of attention – they are not souls in bondage but creatures with a God given purpose.

Innovation
William Carey was also the father of print technology in India. He introduced the modern science of printing, built what was then the largest printing press in India and devised the fonts.

Destruction
In 1812, a devastating fire destroyed Carey’s warehouse with his printing presses, 55,000 printed sheets, 1,200 reams of paper, whole sets of type for 14 languages and manuscripts for a Bengali dictionary, 2 grammar books and several Bible translations representing many years of work.

Determination
Even in the face of this catastrophe, Carey praised God that no lives had been lost and quoted Psalm 46: “Be still and know that the Lord is God.” He resolved to do better translations than the ones that were now ashes and consoled himself: “Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit”; “The Lord has laid me low, that I might look more simply to Him”; “However vexing it may be, a road the second time travelled is usually taken with more confidence and ease than at the first,” declared Carey, He quoted Isaiah 61:1-4 and trusted God for better printing presses and more accurate translations – a “phoenix rising out of the ashes.”

Calamities and Conflicts
Not only was Carey hit by the fire, but there were deaths in each of the seven missionary families at Serampore. Carey himself had just buried a grandson. Carey also had to endure unjust and unbalanced criticisms from new young missionaries who actually split from the Serampore Mission, and slanderous accusations from the Mission Society in England, as well as an earthquake and a flood. One of his sons, Felix, caused much embarrassment when he backslid, adopted a lavish lifestyle and began drinking heavily. Ultimately, however, Felix came back to the Lord and became fully committed to the mission.

Monumental Achievements
Yet despite the controversies, calamities and conflicts, William Carey’s monumental achievements outshine all his critics. He was a dedicated Christian whom God used in extraordinary ways to launch the greatest century of missionary advance, to translate the Scriptures into more languages than any other translator in history and to save literally millions of lives by his compassionate social action and tireless labours. He excelled as a missionary strategist. He was humble, hard-working, industrious and persistent, persevering for over 41 years in the field, without any furlough. Carey succeeded in producing and distributing over 200,000 Bibles, New Testaments or Gospels in 36 languages, in addition to many books and tracts.

We need to follow his example by ministering to body, mind and spirit and persevering through all disappointments and opposition with an unshakeable faith in God’s sovereign power.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms 126:5-6

Dr. Peter Hammond

This article was adapted from a chapter of The Greatest Century of Missions book (224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps), available from:
Christian Liberty Books, Cape Town, South Africa,
Tel: 021-689-7478
E-Mail: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za

]]><![CDATA[The UPBRINGING of DAVID LIVINGSTONE]]>Tue, 18 Mar 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/the-family-faith-and-upbringing-of-david-livingstoneThe FAMILY, FAITH and UPBRINGING of DAVID LIVINGSTONE

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The Fighting Missionary
The hero of the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington, described Dr. David Livingstone as "The fighting parson."

The Friend of Africa
Jacob Wainwright, who had been rescued from slavery by Dr. Livingstone, described him as: "The friend of the African."

Practical Christianity
American journalist and explorer, Henry Morton Stanley, described Dr. Livingstone as: "A truly pious man - a man deeply imbued with real religious instincts. His religion… is of the true, practical kind, never losing a chance to manifest itself in a quiet, practical way - never demonstrative or loud. It is always at work, if not in deed, by shining example."

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An Example of Excellence
Stanley described his attitude when he first arrived in Africa: "as prejudiced against religion as the worst infidel…" However, the example of David Livingstone, who had truly left all to follow Christ, converted Stanley. It is not so much what you say, but what you do that counts. Action is eloquence. David Livingstone said what he meant. He meant what he said and he did all he promised. He was true to his word.

Inspiring
David Livingstone was hailed in his lifetime as the greatest missionary explorer of all time. As one contemporary journalist described it: "the Christian's Faith in God is strengthened by the author's very survival of every imaginable danger. The abolitionist is inspired by the prospect of stopping the slave trade. Medical men are intrigued by Livingstone's approach to disease and the value of his treatment for fever…" The incredible courage and sacrifices of David Livingstone inspired multiplied hundreds of men and women to dedicate their lives to Missions in Africa. What can we learn about the family and upbringing of David Livingstone, to understand his Faith, courage and vision?

Born in Blantyre
David Livingstone was born 19 March 1813, in the industrial town of Blantyre, 8 miles from Glasgow. Today the largest city in Malawi is called Blantyre - in honour of the birthplace of David Livingstone.

The Father
His Father, Neil Livingstone, was a dedicated Christian who had met his future wife, Agnes, when he was apprenticed to a local tailor. He won the hand of the tailor's daughter and became a tea salesman so that he could travel and preach the Gospel, distributing Evangelistic tracts to his customers door-to-door. Neil also taught at Sunday school and was a zealous member of a local Missionary Society, persistently promoting prayer meetings and Missionary causes. David Livingstone later wrote concerning his Father: "He deserved my lasting gratitude and homage for presenting me from infancy with a continuously consistent pious example."

Strict Standards
Neil Livingstone was also a strict disciplinarian who sought to bring up David in the fear of the Lord. At age 9, David was challenged to learn the longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119 (all 176 verses) off by heart in order to receive a copy of the New Testament. Because Neil had seen the ravaging effects of alcoholism, he was a teetotaller and persuaded his son to follow his example in abstaining from alcohol, for life.

The Mother
David's mother, Agnes, was a gentle, small and delicate woman whose compassionate kindness and loving nature served as a counter-balance to her husband's strict and austere rule. It was said that her son, David, inherited her remarkably bright eyes. Agnes instilled in her family, a scrupulous concern for cleanliness and immaculate appearance. Later, Henry Morton Stanley commented on the immaculate standards of David Livingstone to his men as they began their epic 999 day expedition across the Congo: "Dr. Livingstone shaved every day of the 4 months, I was with him in the field - and you will shave everyday!"

The Napoleonic Wars
David was born during the last years of the ruinous Napoleonic wars which devastated Europe. The economic impact of the 25 years of French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars had left many unemployed in Britain and an economically depressed environment.

The Family
The Livingstones lived a very frugal lifestyle on a miniscule budget. The Livingstone family lived in a single room, ten feet by fourteen feet. Two baby boys had died in their infancy, David had one older surviving brother, John. Another brother, Charles, and two sisters, Janet and Agnes were born after David.

The Home
There was neither hot nor cold running water in the tenament building and David had to walk many times a day down the tightly curved, brick staircase to fetch water from the pump in the yard, and heave it back up the stairs and along the corridor of the 3rd floor to their room. The Livingstone's shared their tenament with 24 other families. At night mattresses were pulled out from under the parents bed which was set into a recess in the wall. Privacy was non-existent and the family cooked, ate, sewed, studied and slept in that single room.

A Passion for Reading
David Livingstone borrowed extensively from the local library, particularly books on travel and science. William Wilberforce's Practical Christianity had a major impact on his life and clearly influenced his life-long crusade against the slave trade. Sitting by the banks of the River Clyde, engrossed in a book, young David was startled to hear the desperate cries of a young girl and her baby brother drifting in a boat towards the weir of the old Mill. David immediately plunged into the icy waters and rescued them from disaster.

The Cotton Mill
At age 10, David began his full-time employment, 14 hours a day, 6 days a week, for the next 10 years at the Monteith and Company Cotton Spinning Factory. He was to be a piecer, to repair broken threads in spinning frames. David's day began at 5:30am every morning as the bell was rung. Work would begin at 6am and continue until 8pm. The workers in the cotton mill had to work in tremendous heat and humidity. Steamed temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit were considered ideal for the production of thread.

Physical Training
Everyday David would have to walk an average of 34km, much of this in a crawling or stooping position, amongst and under the machinery, or balancing over it. One can imagine what tremendous physical training this was for his later transcontinental expeditions throughout Africa. Piecers received constant beatings from their supervisors to keep them moving through such long shifts, despite fatigue and exhaustion.

Hunger for Knowledge
Yet, David used his first week's wages to purchase Ruddiman's Rudiments of Latin. David managed to read in the factory by balancing his book on a portion of the spinning jenny so that he could catch sentence after sentence as he rushed by at his work. In this way he maintained fairly constant study undisturbed by the roar of the machinery. Less than 10% of the children who worked in the Cotton Mills ever learned to read or write. David not only learned to read and write, he taught himself Latin, Greek and Hebrew. After work, he would attend a night school, 8pm to 10pm. Then he returned home to study, often until midnight. His mother frequently had to take his books away before he would go to sleep.

Conversion
At age 12, David Livingstone came under intense conviction of sin and experienced a radical conversion to Christ. He wrote: "In the glow of love that Christianity inspired, I resolved to devote my life to the alleviation of human misery." He wrote: "That the Salvation of men ought to be the chief desire and aim of every Christian." He made a resolution that he would give to the cause of Missions all that he might earn beyond what was required for his subsistence.

Perseverance
At age 13, he attended an extra Latin class. When all the other students gave up, he alone remained in the class and the school teacher cancelled the lessons, not seeing the overzealous son of a tea merchant as worthy of his attention. David continued to learn Latin on his own.

The Grandfather
David's grandfather, Neil Livingstone Senior, also had an impact on the upbringing of David. He had been a tenant farmer on the island of Ulva, off the West coast of Scotland. He was evicted by the English to open up the area for a vast sheep farm. He passed on what he had heard from his grandfather: "I have searched most carefully through all the traditions of our family, and I never could discover that there was a dishonest man among your forefathers. If therefore any of you, or any of your children, should take to dishonest ways, it will not be because it runs in our blood… I leave this precept with you; be honest!"

Thomas Burke
Another man who influenced David Livingstone was Thomas Burke, an old soldier who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars who would ring his bell to shatter the peace and quiet of Blantyre every Sunday morning to rouse the people to attend his early morning Prayer meeting. Burke was abrupt, direct and challenging. The Livingstone family faithfully supported him.

David Hogg
Another man who impressed David Livingstone was David Hogg, who from his deathbed challenged the young boy: "Now lad! Make religion the everyday business of your life and not a thing of fits and starts; for if you do not, temptation and other things will get the better of you!"

The Free Church
1832 was a special watershed year for the Livingstone family. Neil Livingstone, dissatisfied with the spiritual life of the Church of Scotland, changed his church membership to the Free Church. This required the Livingstones to walk to Hamilton, a nearby village for their Sunday worship services. Although they received many invitations to dine with families of the congregation, they chose to carry their own food and not impose upon the limited resources of the other families of the congregation, which they knew were also struggling financially. After Sunday lunch, the Livingstone family were treated to their one luxury, a barley sweet each. The Livingstones never accepted any hand-outs. They worked for everything they had.

Setting the Captives Free
The Free Church in Hamilton were strong supporters of Missions. In 1833, William Wilberforce's lifelong crusade against slavery was successful. Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire, by an act of Parliament. This inspired ever greater vision for Missions. Those who had been freed from physical slavery, now needed to be freed from spiritual slavery. Missionaries were needed to go to the ends of the earth!

Revival Fires
Books and tracts from the Revival movement sweeping America reached Scotland and created much excitement and deepening of spiritual life and vision. David Livingstone received a pamphlet written by Karl Gutzlaff, of the Netherlands Missionary Society. In it Gutzlaff appealed for medical missionaries to go to China. David was inspired at how a medical missionary could be much more effective in converting the lost. He had learned enough Latin to be able to understand most medical terms. He was remarkably well read and easily would pass the University entrance requirements. His chief obstacle would be lack of finances.

University
Through great determination, he saved most of his money during the next 18 months to be able to put himself through Medical school and Theological College. At the age of 23, David set out on foot to begin his Theological and medical studies in Glasgow. From 1836 to 1838, he benefited from the best Theological and medical training available at that time. Each weekend he would walk back home to Blantyre. Although he was frequently offered lifts in a horse and cart, David would refuse, preferring the 4-hour long walk, often in the snow, in order to strengthen his muscles for his career in Missions.

London Missionary Society
In his second year at college, David applied to the London Missionary Society. David's Father was concerned that his son's application had omitted important facts. Therefore without David's knowledge, Neil Livingstone wrote to the LMS Board informing them of his son's diligence in attending lectures, refusing offers of a lift to town, his refusals of secure teaching posts offered, of his early quest for Latin proficiency and of his hard work, sacrificial lifestyle and dedication to study.

Marriage Concerns
In response to the question on whether he was married or engaged, David wrote: "unmarried; under no engagement relating to marriage, never made proposals of marriage, nor conducted myself so to any woman as to cause her to suspect that I intended anything related to marriage; and so far as my present wishes are concerned, I should prefer going out unmarried, that I might be without that care which the concerns of a family necessarily induce and give myself wholly to the work."

Probation
Eight months after his application, David was finally invited to London, 30 August 1838, for an interview. After a second interview in September, the Directors accepted Livingstone on probation. He was placed under the mentorship of Rev. Richard Cecil who described David as having: "sense and quiet vigour; whose temper is good and his character substantial."

Failure Does Not Need to be Final
However, at his first preaching opportunity, David froze in the pulpit and abruptly declared: "Friends, I have forgotten all I have to say!" and hurried out of the pulpit. The Directors of the London Missionary Society seriously considered rejecting his candidacy. However, a wise man pleaded hard that his probation should be extended. At future preaching engagements, he proved himself a capable and energetic communicator.

Integrity
One lady in Ongar, wrote of David Livingstone: "I never knew anyone who gave me more the idea of power over other men, such power as our Saviour showed while on earth, the power of love and purity combined."

Uncommon Christians
During his studies, David wrote to his sisters, urging them: "to seek to be uncommon Christians, that is eminently holy and devoted servants of the most High… let us seek - and with the conviction that we cannot do without it - that selfishness be extirpated, pride banished, unbelief driven from the mind, every idol dethroned, and everything hostile to holiness and opposed to the Divine Will crucified; that Holiness to the Lord may be engraved on the heart, and evermore characterise our whole conduct. This is what we ought to strive after; this is the way to be happy; this is what our Saviour loves - entire surrender of heart. May He enable us by His Spirit to persevere until we attain it!"

Focused on God's Kingdom
It was noted that David earnestly sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He steadfastly sought the Lord's will for his life and he persevered through every problem. David Livingstone was described as an idealist, an eccentric bookworm loner. He took his task and calling most seriously. Whatever he did he performed thoroughly. His character was uncompromising. He was inflexible in his adherence to his word.

Knowledgeable
Dr. Risdon Bennet, of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons described David Livingstone as: "Pure and noble… simple, modest, unassuming and self-reliant…" Dr. Bennet wrote that he was "struck with the amount of knowledge that Livingstone had already acquired of those subjects which constituted the foundation of medical science…"

Redirected to Africa
David Livingstone's plans to be a medical missionary to China was frustrated when the Opium War erupted. The LMS declared China closed. It was at that opportune time that LMS Missionary Robert Moffat conducted speaking engagements in London. He inspired David Livingstone as he spoke of: "The smoke of a thousand villages where no Missionary has ever been." David switched his focus from Asia to Africa.

Crusade Against Slavery
While attending a meeting of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilisation of Africa, in Exeter Hall, on 1 June 1840, Livingstone heard Thomas Foxwell Buxton speak of the Importance of Commerce and Christianity to defeat the slave trade in Africa. Africans would only be saved from the slave trade when they had an alternative to selling their own people to pay for the beads, cloth, guns and trinkets that they coveted.

Doctorate
During his final medical exams, David Livingstone argued with the Board who were not convinced about the usefulness of the stethoscope. Despite Livingstone's unorthodox views, he qualified with a Licentiate of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, November 1840.

Departure
On a bleak November morning, 1840, in Blantyre, the Livingstone family rose at 5am and the 27 year old David read Psalm 121 to his family. He then read Psalm 135. The family bowed in prayer and then Neil walked his son to the Glasgow docks and saw his son embark on his great African adventure.

Ordained
On 20 November 1840, David Livingstone was ordained as a Congregational Missionary in the Albion Street Chapel. On 8 December, he set sail in the George for Cape Town, South Africa.

Against All Odds
David had experienced little childhood or adolescence. In his upbringing he had little, or no play, or recreation. Against all odds, he had already achieved far more than would have been thought humanly possible for someone born into such a poverty stricken and disadvantaged background. To achieve what he had, Livingstone had had to be decisive, goal-orientated and inflexible. As time went on, he became less and less flexible and showed little or no patience for those with lower standards of devotion to Christ and His Great Commission.

Let the Earth Hear His Voice
To those who said that the work at home must be completed thoroughly before any Missions be engaged in abroad, Livingstone responded: "All men have the right to hear God's Word. No nation ought to hoard the Gospel like a miser!"

Through Tempestuous Seas
Livingstone described his three months journey to Cape Town: "Our little vessel went reeling and staggering over the waves as if she had been drunk. Our trunks perpetually breaking from their lashings, were tossed from one side of the cabin to the other, …huddled together in glorious confusion… imagine if you can a ship in a fit of epilepsy." David befriended Captain Donaldson and learnt all that he could concerning the quadrant and the sextant, frequently staying up until past midnight to take lunar observations and work out directions using the stars. As the ship rocked and reeled over the perilous seas, Livingstone studied Theology. Finally a raging storm split the foremast of the ship and they had to put into Rio de Janeiro to have it repaired. He also acquired quinine bushes from his hikes. This proved to be most fortuitous as he later developed his treatment for Malaria from it.

Ministry in Brazil
David described battling profusely to refuse bottles of liquor that were offered to him from all sides in Brazil. The Brazilians expressed shock that any Englishman should refuse alcohol, for many of his fellow countrymen and seamen had continually disgraced themselves in the streets of Rio by intoxication. David handed out Gospel tracts at the notorious Waterfront Bar and narrowly escaped with his life as 20 drunk, angry sailors assaulted him. He engaged in ministry at the local hospital and witnessed raging drunken delirium. He shared the Gospel with a dying French sailor and urged him to trust in Christ alone for eternal Salvation.

The Cape of Good Hope
On 17 March 1841, Livingstone sighted the majestic Table Mountain as the George edged into Table Bay. Thus began one of the most incredible Missionary careers of the best friend Africa ever had.

Dr. Peter Hammond
The Reformation Society

Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstone200.org
Website: www.ReformationSA.org

See more:
What Would David Livingstone Say to Us Today

]]><![CDATA[Hudson Taylor - Missionary to China]]>Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/hudson-taylor-missionary-to-china

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Consecrated
Hudson Taylor’s father, James Taylor, before his birth, knelt beside his 24 year old wife, Amelia, in the parlour at the back of his busy chemist shop in Yorkshire, England, and prayed: “Dear God, if you should give us a son, grant that he may work for You in China.”

Deviated
By age 4, Hudson would declare: “When I am a man, I mean to be a missionary and go to China.” Also by age 4, he had learnt the Hebrew alphabet. Hudson was home-educated and grew up in a Godly home. However, by age 17, he was severely backslidden, restless and rebellious against his parents.

Converted
In June 1849, when he was 17, his mother locked herself in the room 50 miles from where Hudson Taylor was, and determined to pray that her son would become a Christian and that she would not leave the room until she was sure that her prayers had been answered! That same afternoon, Hudson Taylor picked up a Gospel tract and was struck by the phrase: “The finished work of Christ.” “Light was flashed into my soul by the Holy Spirit. There was nothing to be done but to fall down on my knees and pray for salvation.” As he rushed breathlessly to tell his mother of how he had been “born again” she interrupted him and told him that she already knew!

Conviction
Hudson Taylor wrote of the “intense longing for God” that gripped him: “From that time, the conviction never left me that I was called to China.” Immediately, he began to prepare himself by studying Chinese through a copy of Luke’s Gospel in Mandarin. He denied himself comforts and imposed disciplines on himself to prepare himself for the mission field. He undertook work amongst the poor and the sick, and read avidly on China. He also threw himself into studying Latin, Greek, Theology and Medicine.

Preparation
Hudson immersed himself into the Bible and prayer, including an entire night of intense prayer. One word came to characterise Hudson Taylor – faith. He determined to trust in God alone for all his needs. He loved to give to God and so tithing was soon left far behind as he gave away two-thirds of his income. His maxim became: “See if you can do without.” His concern for China grew into an overwhelming burden and he felt as though Christ’s compassion for the multitude was flooding his soul.

Shattering
Meeting a missionary to China, Hudson excitedly told him of his plans. This missionary discouraged him, telling him that the Chinese would never receive him on account of his fair hair! (Later while trying to dye his hair black, Hudson was injured and almost blinded when the ammonia mixture exploded the glass bottle it was mixed in!)

Conflict
In 1853, as the Taiping rebellion broke out, Hudson Taylor, just 21 years old, said an emotional goodbye to his mother and sailed from England. The journey by sea took six months, and included a severe storm. By the time that Hudson Taylor landed in Shanghai in 1854, the rebels held the city and 50,000 Imperial soldiers besieged it. Horrific sights and sounds greeted him. China was passing through an immense upheaval. There were several major uprisings in China in the 1850s and the 1860s, two of them resulting in 25 million dead. Another 10 million died in the years 1877 to 1879, during a famine in the North of the country. There were also wars between China and Britain, France, Russia and Japan. It hardly seemed the time to launch a new mission into China, but Hudson Taylor was gripped by the fact that some 380 million people in the vast interior of China had never seen a Westerner, nor heard the Name of Christ. He determined to change that.

Under Fire
The house Hudson was staying in, in Shanghai, was struck by gunfire and the house next door to his was destroyed. Nevertheless, he gave himself to the study of the language, to evangelism and to helping the victims of the war. During these fearsome upheavals, Hudson travelled to take the Gospel to previously un-evangelised areas. One of these trips was a 200 mile journey up the Yangtse River. He frequently witnessed people being beheaded and himself came very close to being lynched on occasion.

William Chalmers Burns
It was during this time that he developed a brief, but deep, friendship with William Chalmers Burns, and they determined together to adopt Chinese dress. Burns and Taylor were men of one heart and mind. They stayed at Swatow, a centre of the opium trade and “the most wicked place imaginable.” Burns was taken prisoner during their time in Swatow.

An Indigenous Approach
Hudson Taylor’s decision to shave his head and adopt Chinese dress was rooted in his deep respect for Chinese culture and his view of the role of the missionary. Many Chinese objected to Christianity, he argued, because it seemed to be a foreign religion. His decision was greeted with derision and contempt by most Westerners. For his part, Taylor thought many of the missionaries to China were worldly, lacking in dedication and ineffective.

Courtship and Marriage
Hudson Taylor, whose proposals for marriage had already been rejected by two women in England, then met and courted a missionary teacher, Maria Dyer, the much sought after, 20 year old daughter of prestigious missionary parents. The missionary establishment were horrified at this “unsophisticated” missionary who had “gone native” wearing Chinese dress and opposed the marriage. However, Maria showed herself to be of equal dedication to Hudson and on 20 January 1858, Hudson Taylor and Maria Dyer became husband and wife. It was to be an uncommonly happy marriage, lwargely because they shared the same deep passion to evangelise China at great personal sacrifice.

Defeat and Retreat
From the start they were frequently in danger and their first child, Grace, was born with a riot raging outside. Hudson’s missionary partner, Dr. Parker, who had opened a clinic at Ningpo, was compelled to return to Scotland when his wife died. With supplies dwindling, and Hudson’s health deteriorating, he had to make the painful decision to close the medical clinic and return to England. There he was to remain for six years. But this temporary retreat proved to be the precursor of a great missionary advance.

Burdened in Prayer
His burden for inland China was becoming overwhelming and the only relief he could find was in prayer and the Word of God: “First earnest prayer to God to thrust forth labourers, and second, the deepening of the spiritual life of the Church, so that men should be unable to stay at home”, wrote Hudson.

Without a Vision a People Perish
In 1865, Hudson dictated a book “China, its Spiritual Need and Claims” to Maria, while he restlessly paced the floor. One paragraph declared: “Can all the Christians of England sit still with folded arms, while these multitudes in China are perishing, perishing for lack of knowledge, the lack of that knowledge which England possesses so richly, which has made England what England is, and made us what we are? What does the Master teach us? Is it not that if one sheep out a hundred be lost, we are to leave the ninety and nine and seek that one? But here the proportions are almost reversed, and we stay at home with the one sheep and take no heed to the ninety and nine perishing ones!”

Doubt
Hudson knew that a new missionary organisation dedicated to the evangelisation of inland China was needed, but at this point he found himself racked with doubt. He rarely slept for two hours at a time. He agonised over the desperate spiritual plight of China, and with what he called his “unbelief.” He feared taking responsibility for sending young men and women into the interior of China where they would be subjected to rejection, illness and severe persecution. He thought that he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He wrote: “For two or three months, intense conflict …thought I should lose my mind.”

Agony
One Sunday morning, he slipped out of Church after worship “unable to bear the sight of a congregation of a thousand or more Christian people rejoicing in their own security, while millions are perishing for lack of knowledge.” He wrote that he wandered out on the sands of Brighton Beach, “alone in great spiritual agony.”

Full Surrender
But, during this prayer walk “the Lord conquered my unbelief and I surrendered myself to God for this service. I told Him that all the responsibility …must rest with Him; that as a servant it was mine to obey and to follow Him …His to direct, care for and to guide me and those who might labour with me….”

China Inland Mission
Immediately he wrote in the margin of his Bible: “Prayed for 24 willing, skilful labourers, Brighton, June 25 1865.” The China Inland Mission that Hudson now planned to launch was innovative and radical for the time. Hudson Taylor launched the first truly interdenominational faith mission.

Revolutionary Strategy
From the first, Taylor determined that the China Inland Mission would have six distinctive features: (1) Its missionaries would be drawn from any denomination, provided that they would sign its evangelical, Protestant doctrinal statement; (2) CIM missionaries would receive nosalaries, but trust in the Lord to supply their needs. Income would be shared, no debts would be incurred; (3) No appeals for funds would be made; (4) The work abroad would not be directed by the home committee, but by himself, and eventually other leaders, in the field, in China; (5) The organisation would press on into the interior of China “where Christ has not been named”; (6) The missionaries would wear Chinese clothing and worship in Chinese style buildings. In addition, CIM would use lay workers rather than ordained ministers, and it would even accept single women as missionaries. For the time, all this was radical.

Volunteers
Within the year, Hudson and Maria Taylor and their four children set sail for China with 16 young missionaries on board. Soon there were 24 CIM missionaries in China. God’s blessings on this new enterprise were soon evident, with 20 of the ship’s crew making commitments to Christ during the voyage.

Dissension
But, within the year, the new mission was engulfed in opposition, dissension, controversy, fire and death. In 1867, their daughter, Grace, died. Their mission house in Yangchow was attacked and set on fire. Furious persecution engulfed them. As Hudson Taylor wrote: “If the Spirit of God works mightily, we may be sure that the spirit of evil will also be active.”

Dedication
Undeterred, Hudson treated more than 200 patients each day, with one of his converts, Tsiu, preaching to those waiting for medical treatment. Hudson made enormous demands on himself and expected equally high standards from his CIM missionaries.

Disruption
One of his new missionaries, Louis Nicol, grew increasingly bitter and resentful of Taylor’s style of leadership, and spent his time visiting other missionaries and grumbling. Louis Nicol soon abandoned the Chinese dress, claiming that the English clothes gave him more protection and respect. “I will not be bound neck and heel to any man!” he declared. After nearly two years of unpleasantness and disruption, Hudson regretfully dismissed Nicol from the mission, mainly for unrelenting slander and lies. Three CIM missionaries resigned in sympathy with Nicol.

Criticism
At around the same time, two other CIM missionaries complained that it was dangerous for so many unmarried men and women to live together at New Lane, the CIM headquarters in China, and they accused Hudson of being too familiar with the young ladies (Hudson and Maria kissed some of the girls on the forehead before they went off to bed). The ladies themselves denied any inappropriate behaviour, but still the complaint reached London and for a time led to a fall in support for the mission. In spite of constant controversies, the number of CIM missionaries grew, in time becoming the largest mission organisation in the world.

Controversy
Then Timothy Richard, a Welsh Baptist, began to cause further divisions within the CIM, arguing that God also works through other religions such as Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. A handful of CIM missionaries were influenced by Richard’s liberal views and left the mission. As Hudson began sending unmarried single women into the interior, another storm of controversy and criticism erupted.

Courage
The courage of these tenacious young pioneers cannot be exaggerated. Annie Royle Taylor (no relation to Hudson), one of the many bold individualists who joined CIM, set her sights on taking the Gospel to the forbidden city of Lhasa in the heart of Tibet. She adopted native Tibetan dress and shaved her head in the fashion of a Tibetan nun. Bandits stole her tent and clothing and killed most of her pack horses. Some of her workmen died, others turned back. One of her Chinese workers demanded more money and when that was refused, he brought accusations against her to the Tibetan authorities, which led to her arrest.

Tibet
Annie Taylor finally established her own agency, the Tibetan Pioneer Mission, recruiting 14 missionaries to work with her, but in less than a year, all had left her and the infant mission was in shambles. However, Annie Taylor continued for more than 20 years, working mostly alone in Tibet.

Missionary Commitment
Hudson Taylor did not make a distinction between married and single women. He expected married women to focus primarily on ministry, even as their single sisters did. To male recruits he wrote: “Unless you intend your wife to be a true missionary, not merely a wife, homemaker and friend, do not join us.” Maria set the pace for the other married women in the mission, caring for five children and actively reaching out to the Chinese women in daily outreach.

Death in the Field
In 1870, the Taylor’s son Samuel, died, and then their fifth son, Noel, died two weeks after being born, and then, a few days later, Maria Taylor died at age 33. Four of Maria’s eight children died before they could reach age 10.

Determination
Hudson returned to England, married Jennie Faulding, and suffered an accident, which left him with a damaged spine. But, even while recovering and immobile, he refused to be idle. Prayer and planning filled his time: “China is not to be won for Christ by quiet, ease-loving men and women …the stamp of men and women we need is such as will put Jesus, China and souls, first and foremost in everything, and at every time, even life itself must be secondary.” As someone who had literally given all to Christ in China, he found it impossible to expect any lesser commitment from others.

Steadfast
Hudson was frequently accused of being demanding and autocratic, but in his mind he was merely anxious to protect the integrity of the Mission. In spite of constant poor health, regular bouts of depression, and his self-confessed irritation and impatience, he also could show tremendous flexibility and steadfastness under trial.

Wholehearted
Hudson and Jennie Taylor presented an incredible example of dedication. When they were bequeathed several thousand pounds, they gave it all to the Mission. They were frequently separated from one another and engaged in demanding journeys and a relentless schedule of ministry. Still, Hudson could declare at the end of his life that “the sun had never risen upon him in China without finding him at prayer.”

Faith
There was an urgency in everything that he did. He was a man of faith, who stated that his life was based upon three facts: “There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and He will do all that He has promised.”

A Soldier for Christ
In a letter to his mother, Hudson described his own assessment of his life in these words: “Envied of some, despised by many, hated perhaps by others; often blamed for things that I never heard of or had nothing to do with; an innovator on what have become established rules of missionary practice; an opponent of mighty systems of heathen error and superstitions; working without precedent in many respects and with few experienced helpers; often sick in body, as well as perplexed in mind and embarrassed by circumstances; had not the Lord been specifically gracious to me, had not my mind been sustained by the conviction that the work is His, and that He is with me in …the thick of the conflict, I must have fainted and broken down. But the battle is the Lord’s and He will conquer. We may fail, do fail continually, but He never fails.”

China for Christ
Indeed, by the end of Hudson’s life, the very mission organisations that had belittled and ridiculed his methods had begun adopting many of them. By the time Hudson Taylor died, there were 205 CIM mission stations, 849 missionaries and 125,000 Chinese Christians. Today there are over 120 million Christians in China.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, races and tongues standing before the Throne and before the Lamb ...” Revelation 7:9

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Email: mission@frontline.org.za

This article was adapted from a chapter
of The Greatest Century of Missions book
(224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps),
available from Christian Liberty Books,
PO Box 358 Howard Place 7450
Cape Town South Africa
Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za,
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

]]><![CDATA[Robert Moffat-Pioneer Bible Translator]]>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/robert-moffat-pioneer-bible-translator

Robert Moffat (1795-1883), was brought up near Edinburgh by devout Christian parents, who filled his heart and mind with accounts of the exploits of missionaries in other countries. After being apprenticed as a gardener and a brief experience as a sailor, Robert Moffat determined to join the London Missionary Society. However, his first application was rejected. Undaunted, the Scot tried again the next year and was accepted.

Commissioned
In October 1816, at Surrey Chapel in London, he and 8 others were set apart for the work of the LMS. One of the others was John Williams, who was destined to lose his life at the hands of cannibals in the South Seas. Robert Moffat set sail for Africa, arriving in Cape Town in January 1817.

First Fruits
The government officials frowned on missionary activity as being likely to provoke unrest amongst the natives of the interior. The journey into the interior was long, dangerous and arduous. He came near death on several occasions, including from lions, poison and starvation. Robert was shocked at the low standards of behaviour and prevalent immorality as he set out to establish a mission station amongst the tribes along the Orange River. However, his first missionary journey was blessed with the conversion of the most notorious bandit and murderer in the country, Afrikaner. His name was synonymous with terror. He was a killer who had murdered a white farmer and his family, he was feared throughout the territory. When Robert returned to Cape Town with Afrikaner, the entire community was stunned at the obvious transformation of this notorious savage into a gentle and humble Christian.

Marriage
In December 1819, Mary Smith, whose parents had initially refused permission, arrived from England to marry Robert Moffat. Together they set off for Bechuanaland and settled at Kuruman. For the next 50 years, the Moffats would develop this mission station into a model that many others copied. Mary and Robert became one of the greatest husband-wife teams in missionary history.

Courage
Their prospects for success seemed bleak indeed, as the Tswanas were gripped by witchcraft and threatened the Moffats, demanding that they left. The resolution of the Moffats in standing their ground completely amazed the Tswana, who declared that they had never seen such bravery before.

Kuruman
During a tribal war, Robert Moffat’s intervention secured peace and deep respect and gratitude. However, it was 9 years before the first converts were baptised and the Church at Kuruman established.

Tswana
After learning the Tswana language, Robert Moffat translated the Westminster Catechism and some great Hymns of the Reformation into Tswana. He was the author of the very first Hymn in Tswana. He then translated the Gospel of Luke into Tswana and ultimately the whole Bible. This was the very first complete Bible to be translated into an African language.

Printing
After his painstaking work in translating the Gospel of Luke, Moffat travelled to Cape Town to have the translation printed, but was astounded to find the printers unwilling to accept the work. He realised that the only alternative was to print it himself. So, he was forced to learn printing skills and to acquire a printing press. This he took back with him to Kuruman. By 1840, the New Testament was completed and to print this required his return to England.

Vision
During this time in Britain, he challenged David Livingstone to respond to the “smoke of a thousand villages where the Name of Christ has not yet been preached.” Livingstone was later to become Moffat’s son-in-law.

Publishing
By 1851, Moffat had completed the translation of the Old Testament into Tswana. It had taken him 29 years to translate the whole Bible into Tswana. He also wrote “Missionary Labours and Scenes in South Africa” and translated “Pilgrim’s Progress” into Tswana.

Evangelism
Robert Moffat was a tireless evangelist and on one visit to a neighbouring village he was awakened by “the eager clamour of the natives who had gathered.” He preached to them and then retired to wash. He returned to his tent for breakfast, only to find that the people had gathered there for a second sermon. The people listened attentively and discussed what they had heard and later were back that same day for another service.

Mission to the Matabele
Another amazing achievement of Robert Moffat was the friendshiphe developed with Mizilikazi, the King of the Matabele (in present day Zimbabwe). Mizilikazi was a vicious tyrant feared by his people and the long-suffering neighbouring tribes, many of whom were enslaved by him. Yet Mizilikazi developed a strong respect for Robert Moffat and they struck up a friendship which lasted 30 years. When the London Missionary Society proposed to establish a mission amongst the Matabele, Robert’s own son, John Moffat, was the first to volunteer for this daunting task. Robert Moffat had the satisfaction of seeing his work in Kuruman reproduced some 700 miles away by his own son. They were the first missionaries among the Matabele.

Abiding Fruit
Of the seven children born to Robert and Mary Moffat, five became actively involved in missionary service. His daughter became a teacher at the mission school in Kuruman. Education and literacy training were always of great importance in Moffat’s missionary strategy.

Deputation
In 1870, after 53 years of service in Africa, the Moffats retired to Britain. His last 13 years were devoted to promoting the cause of Christ in Africa, travelling the length and breadth of the British Isles.

Pioneer Bible Translator
Although Robert Moffat was overshadowed by his famous son-in-law, often being referred to as the father-in-law of David Livingstone, Moffat was the more effective evangelist, Bible translator and educator of the two. David Livingstone was, without doubt, the greatest missionary explorer and the most effective campaigner against the slave trade in Africa, but it is to Robert Moffat that the honour belongs of first translating the complete Bible into an African language

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Dr. Peter Hammond

This article was adapted from the first chapter of The Greatest Century of Missions book (224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps), available from
Christian Liberty Books,
PO Box 358 Howard Place 7450
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-7478,
Fax: 086-551-7490,
Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za,
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

]]><![CDATA[Mary Slessor - Missionary to Nigeria]]>Thu, 01 Dec 2022 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/mary-slessor-missionary-to-nigeria

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Raised in Poverty
Mary Slessor (1848-1915) was born, the second of seven children, into a poor and troubled home in Scotland. Although her mother was deeply religious, her father was a violent drunkard, who brought the family to abject poverty, fear and misery. Their one-roomed home had no water, lighting or toilet and hardly any furniture. Mary slept on the floor. Mary’s older brother died, leaving her as the oldest surviving child. When her father died, the burden of supporting her family fell upon her young shoulders. At 10 Mary began work as a half-timer, spending half her time at school and half her time at the mill. At 14 years Mary began working full time, a 58 hour week at the looms. However, her mother ensured that Mary went to Church every Sunday.

Conversion
Mary was frightened into the Kingdom of God by an old widow who warned her of the dangers of hell fire. Horror seized her and she could not sleep until she came to repentance and faith.

Called to Missions
Mary became a tireless Sunday school teacher, who gave herself completely to working in a mission to the slums around the Church that she attended. Her mother’s interest in missions, her memory of her older brother (who had often spoken of becoming a missionary) and the death of a younger brother (who also had been dedicated to becoming a missionary in Africa) led Mary to wonder if it was possible that she could take her brothers’ place! At that time single women in missions were unheard of. The news of the death of David Livingstone in 1874 settled the matter for her.

Training
In 1876, Mary left home in Dundee for missionary training in Edinburgh. The United Presbyterian Church appointed Mary as a missionary teacher and she was assigned to a mission station in Calabar (in present day Nigeria).

Evangelising Animists
The tribes amongst whom Mary was sent were animists who worshipped the sky, sun and rain, and the spirits of the rocks, rivers and trees. Enslaving people of other tribes was an accepted and entrenched practice.

Enthusiastic Soul Winner
Mary was enthusiastic and impatient, finding the progress of work at the established mission station far too slow. She ached for more demanding tasks, and was reputed to have climbed every tree in the region! Frequent illnesses and attacks of fever, which almost took her life on several occasions, did not seem to diminish her zeal for winning souls for Christ. Mary maintained a cheerful faith.

Missionary to Calabar
Mary was assigned to a mission station at the Old Town on the East bank of the Calabar River. The people in this area were utterly degraded. Amongst the many things which horrified Mary was the practice of killing twins: “A woman who gave birth to twins was regarded with horror. The belief was that the father of one of the infants was an evil spirit, and that the mother had been guilty of a great sin to bear twins. At least one of the children was believed to be a monster, and so twins were seized, their backs were broken, they were crushed into a calabash or water pot and taken out – not by the doorway, but by a hole broken in the back wall, which was at once built up again, and thrown into the bush, where they were left to be eaten by insects and wild beasts!” Mary’s fierce, red-headed passion raged against this massacre of innocents.

The Loss of Her Family
While Mary was desperately ill in 1883, a sister died in Scotland. Then Mary received news of her mother’s death, soon followed by news of the death of another sister in Devon. These were dark and difficult days for Mary. “Home” no longer existed. She threw herself even more wholeheartedly into serving her new adopted family in Calabar.

A Simple Lifestyle
For practicality, she cut her hair short, abandoned all Western comforts and Western food (except for tea as her only “luxury”) and went about barefoot!

Ministering to Body, Mind and Spirit
Mary moved to Creek Town, where she began caring for the many abandoned children. She was constantly interrupted by people coming to her for help. The sick needing treatment, the hungry seeking food and those with disputes seeking her counsel to bring about resolution. Mary set up schools in Ekenge and Ifako. Soon churches were built alongside the school houses. Amidst rampant witchcraft, drunkenness and immorality, Mary undertook much of the manual work of constructing the school and church buildings herself, as well as the daily tasks of education and evangelism. Mary served as a teacher and nurse, dispensing medicines and conducting four services each Sunday, walking many miles each day.

Healing Bodies and Saving Lives
Once when instructed to heal a dying chief, Mary knew that if she failed she would be blamed for his death. First she got rid of all the witchcraft charms and sacrificed chickens, then she prayed and gave the chief good medicine and nursed him back to health. His wives were particularly grateful as they would have otherwise been killed and buried with the chief. They were keen to learn about “The Book”.

The Harvest is Large and the Workers Few
A report of Mary’s pioneer exploits in the Missionary Herald prompted a young Scottish carpenter, Charles Ovens, to come out to Africa to help her with the carpentry. His arrival was a great encouragement and practical help.

Missions above Marriage
In 1891, during her furlough in Scotland, Mary was courted by Charles Morrison and became engaged. However, when Mary realised that her marriage would mean settling in Scotland and not returning to Calabar, she broke off the engagement and returned to Africa.

Mother of all the People
At this point the British government recognised that Mary Slessor enjoyed an unparalleled trust from the local people who called her Eko Kpukpro Owa - Mother of All the People - and appointed her as a Consular Agent. Later she was promoted to being Vice-President of the Itu Native Court. All the public affairs of the Okoyong were conducted through her. She presided over court cases and ensured that justice was served.

Confronting Witchdoctors
On one occasion as a woman was spread-eagled on the ground to have boiling oil poured on her, Mary boldly intervened and physically prevented the witchdoctor from harming his victim. The people were astounded at her courage in confronting chiefs and witchdoctors, and that she survived! They concluded that it was the power of her God which protected her.

Consular Agent of the Crown
Mary was held in the highest respect by the local people, although the British government would not have approved if they had known of the extent to which she went in her court cases.

Mary never let legal technicalities get in the way of fairness. One plaintiff, while having his suit upheld against another, was punished for not treating his mother properly, failing to maintain adequate hygiene and for neglecting his farm!

Converting Cannibals
Mary was seldom free from illness. When the population moved, she moved with them. In 1903, Mary had the joy of seeing the first seven young Christians baptised, and the first Communion service held. Shortly afterwards she moved to the Itu, which was notorious as a market place for slavery, and where cannibalism was still practised. Soon she had gathered a congregation of 300 and established a school with 68 pupils.

Perseverance
Despite illness and discouragements, Mary was tireless in her hard work and pioneering of mission stations, schools and churches. Fever and sickness constantly afflicted her until in February 1915, at the age of 66, she went to be with the Lord.

A Legacy of Liberty
Because of her efforts, many schools and churches had been established, the killing of twins ceased, slave trading in Calabar was eradicated, drunkenness, killing and witchcraft diminished and most of the people of Calabar came to embrace the Gospel of Christ.

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za

This article was adapted from the first chapter of The Greatest Century of Missions book (224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps), available from:

Christian Liberty Books,
PO Box 358 Howard Place 7450
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490,
Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za,
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

]]><![CDATA[Henry Martyn - Missionary to Persia]]>Wed, 26 Oct 2022 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/henry-martyn-missionary-to-persia

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Henry Martyn was born in Truro, Cornwall, England, and he was only two years old when his mother died from tuberculosis. (His sisters followed their mother to an early grave and by the time he was 28, he was the only member of his family still surviving.)

Reclusive Student
Henry was a gifted student, and the ease with which he was able to learn, tempted him to avoid hard work and he gained a reputation for idleness. He was not popular and his small physique invited bullying by other boys. To protect him from bullying, the teachers placed him under the protection of another boy, who had an enduring Christian influence on his life.

Conversion
While studying at St. John’s College, Cambridge, Henry got into arguments and fights. On one occasion he threw a knife at a fellow student. At this time his father died and his sister began intensive intercession for her wayward brother. A lecturer and another student challenged Henry about his relationship to the Lord, and he began reading The Bible. As Henry was converted to Christ, he also achieved great success in his academic studies, but now in the light of his conversion experience, Henry observed: “I obtained my highest wishes, but was surprised to find that I had grasped a shadow.”

Called to Missions
His mind had been set on becoming a lawyer, but now the testimony of William Carey in India, and a book on David Brainerd, inspired Martyn to dedicate his life to missions. After graduating with high honours, and ordained as a Minister of the Church of England, he offered his services to the Church Missionary Society and was appointed Chaplain to British soldiers under the British East India Company. Henry set sail for India.

Academic Evangelist
He was an academic, who loved the seclusion of study. It was a perpetual struggle for him to bring himself to confront people, when he would prefer to be engrossed in books and languages. But, as he sought to be faithful to his duty, a passion to win souls to Christ was fanned into flame. Henry wrote: “Let me forget the world and be in a desire to glorify God”.

Lydia
Another complication in his missionary work was his devotion to Lydia Grenfell. He feared that his passion for her was akin to idolatry. Should he go to India with God, or remain in England with Lydia? Did his calling require him to remain unmarried? He feared it did. His friends advised him to set sail alone. It was with a heavy heart that he said goodbye to Lydia. They never saw each other again after he sailed, but her name appears in almost every page of his journal.

Seizing the Cape en Route to Calcutta
Henry set out as a Chaplain, meant to work amongst the British staff of the East India Company. He was expressly forbidden to engage in missionary work amongst the Indians. When he set sail in August 1805, it was as part of a British fleet transporting 5000 troops to invade the Cape of Good Hope, and seize it from the Dutch. En-route to the Cape, Henry engaged in counselling soldiers and comforting victims of dysentery on the ship. He saw the Cape captured in January 1806 before continuing his voyage to India. Many of the soldiers and sailors responded to his evangelistic efforts with indifference, opposition and ridicule. He came away from the conflict for the Cape convinced that it was Britain’s duty and destiny to evangelise the world, not to colonise it. “I prayed that England whilst she sent the thunder of her arms to distant regions of the world might not remain proud and ungodly at home but show herself great indeed, by sending forth the Ministers of her Church to diffuse the Gospel of peace.”

Rejection and Opposition
Arriving in Calcutta in May 1806, Martyn’s first sermon at St. Johns, evoked great antagonism. Martyn’s proclamation of basic Reformed doctrines was viciously attacked, even from the very pulpit. The coarse sights and sounds of heathen outrages committed daily on the streets, horrified Henry, who wrote: “If I had (the language), I would preach to the multitudes all the day, (even) if I lost my life for it.”

Chaplain to the Military
As Henry was assigned to different military bases to serve as the chaplain to the troops, he also engaged himself in learning Hindustani and translating the book of Acts and Scripture tracts into the local language. His chaplaincy work at the local hospital was particularly effective, especially amongst the Hindu women.

Evangelising Hindus
The Europeans were critical of his ministry and thought it degrading that he should be troubled about the Indians. For their part, the Indians tended to hate him simply because he was an Englishman. If Henry had taken to heart the harsh opinions voiced concerning him, it is doubtful that he would have been able to achieve anything.

Education and Translation
By 1807, Henry had established five schools for Indian children, in and around Dinapor. He then translated the Book of Common Prayer into Urdu/Hindustani and concluded a commentary on The Parables of Christ. Each Sunday he conducted a service at 7:00am for the Europeans and at 2:00pm for the Hindus. Hospital visitation was a daily ministry.

Devastating Disappointment and Despair
But before the end of 1807, which saw so many great achievements in his ministry, two items of news from England plunged him into despair, the death of his eldest sister and Lydia’s refusal to his proposal for marriage. A year had passed since his letter proposing to Lydia had been mailed.

Bible Translation and Conversions
Henry poured himself into his ministry and by March 1808, he had completed his translation of the New Testament into Urdu/Hindustani. In 1809 he was appointed Chaplain at Cawnpore, a further 300 miles up the Ganges River. Here he had over 1000 soldiers to minister to. He also began to preach the Gospel in Hindustani publicly. An influential Sheik, who came to observe this strange sight, was won over by the Gospel. By 1810 he had established a congregation at Cawnpore.

Duty and Delight Despite Disease
Henry suffered ill health and wrote that he found preaching physically demanding. Studying was his delight, but public speaking was a burdensome duty: “It is the speaking that kills me.”

Evangelising Muslims in Persia
Martyn completed the translation of the New Testament into Persian and determined to go to Persia to test and improve his translation. As he turned 30 years old, Martyn set sail for Persia. Convinced that his Persian translation of the New Testament was of inferior quality, he set about to completely revise his translation. He was also involved in regular private and public arguments, in challenging and refuting the claims of Islam. He succeeded in making the Gospel a talking point amongst the highest authorities.

The New Testament in Persian
By the time he had completed the Persian New Testament, it was declared fit to be presented to the Shah himself. While attempting to gain an audience with the Shah at Tehran, Martyn was challenged with an ultimatum of declaring that: “Muhammad is the prophet of God.” Henry Martyn boldly refused and asserted instead that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. His opponents were enraged and threatened to have his tongue torn out for blasphemy. There were fears that his precious Book would be destroyed there and then. It was only by God’s grace that he escaped with his life and his translation. He later also completed the translation of the Psalms into Persian.

God’s Word Never Returns Void
When Henry was again struck by fever, the Ambassador, Sir Gore Ousley, and his wife, nursed him back to health. Sir Gore himself presented the Scripture to the Shah. The Scripture was received with much gratitude and enthusiasm. The Shah wrote: “In truth through the learned and unremitted exertions of the Reverend Henry Martyn it has been translated in a style most befitting sacred Books. The whole of the New Testament is completed in a most excellent manner, a source of pleasure to our enlightened and august mind.”

Missionary to Arabia
Henry Martyn now intended to travel to Arabia, to complete a Bible translation into Arabic. However, his ill health as he contracted the plague forced him to return to England, and en-route he had the joy of seeing Mount Ararat, where “the whole Church was once contained … safe in Christ, I’d ride the storm of life, and land at last on one of the everlasting hills!”

The Man Who Never Wasted an Hour
Shortly after that, in North East Turkey, on 16 October 1812, the student they called “the man who never lost an hour” gained eternity. He had often been heard to pray: “Let me burnout for God!”

“Who shall not fear You, O God, and glorify Your Name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You.
For Your judgements have been manifested.” Revelation 15:4

Dr. Peter Hammond

This article was adapted from the first chapter of The Greatest Century of Missions book (224 pages with 200 photographs, pictures, charts and maps), available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358 Howard Place 7450, Cape Town South Africa, Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490, Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za, Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

]]><![CDATA[The Greatness of the Great Commission - Ascension Day]]>Sun, 04 Sep 2022 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/the-greatness-of-the-great-commission-ascension-day

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"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the Kingdom is the Lord's and He rules over the nations." Psalm 22:27-28

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…" We are not called to make converts, or "decisions", but disciples. We are to make disciples, not only of individuals, we must start there and of families, which is vital, we are not only to disciple congregations and communities. The Great Commission commands us to make disciples of nations - all nations!

The Great Commission is great! It contains:
- A great Truth - Jesus is Lord over all areas of life.
- A great Commission - we are to make disciples of all nations.
- A great Command - we are to teach obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded and
- A great Promise - the Lord Himself promises to be with us for all time.

A careful reading of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) should make it clear that we are called to do far more than merely "share the Gospel."

Jesus Christ declared: "All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth…" The Lordship of Jesus Christ in every area of life must be proclaimed and practiced.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…" We are not called to make converts, or "decisions", but disciples. We are to make disciples, not only of individuals, we must start there and of families, which is vital, we are not only to disciple congregations and communities. The Great Commission commands us to make disciples of nations - all nations!

"…Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" complete submission to Almighty God is essential.

"…Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you…" Education is an essential part of the Great Commission. And we are not just to teach faith, or a selection of a few of our favourite things. We have been instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ to teach obedience to everything that He has commanded.

Our Greatest Priority
This Great Commission must be our supreme ambition. The last command of our Lord Jesus Christ ought to be our first concern. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

Do Not Be Distracted
We must never allow distractions, danger, disappointments or determined opposition to deter us from obeying Christ’s Great Commission. Our purpose on earth is to "Make disciples… teaching obedience…" The life-blood of the Church is its Evangelistic zeal. No matter what the situation, or how adverse the circumstances may seem to be, our Lord's Command is to: "Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2

What Are We Commanded To Do?
We are commanded to: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15; "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations…" Luke 24:47;Jesus declared: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." John 20:21;Christ made it clear that we are to be "witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

When we consider the greatness of The Great Commission, that Christ is commanding us to follow His example, to be sent, even as He was sent, to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations, to be His witnesses to the very ends of the earth, to preach the Gospel to every person, to make disciples of the nations, teaching obedience to all things that He has commanded - we are overwhelmed! The task seems impossible. Which of us can possibly feel adequate to the incredible responsibility of discipling the nations?

The Promised Power
But every command of Christ comes with a promise. When the Lord commands us to go and make disciples of all nations, He reminds us that He has all authority in Heaven and on Earth and He promises us: "Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

When the Lord commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He promised miraculous power: "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs." Mark 16:20

When the Lord commanded "That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations…" He promised "power from on high." Luke 24:47-49

When the Lord commissioned His followers: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" He breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:21-22

At the Ascension, when the Lord commanded His followers to be His witnesses "To the ends of the earth" He promised: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." Acts 1:8

Nothing that God has commanded us to do is impossible. As we read in the Book of Acts: The Lord went up! The Holy Spirit came down! The disciples went out! (Acts 1:8-8:1). A handful of disciples in an upper room went out and changed the world!

The Greatest
The greatest experience is to come to Jesus. The greatest task is to disciple the nations for Jesus. The greatest priority is to go for Jesus.

Change
Changed lives - changing the lives of others. Forgiven sinners - sharing the way of Salvation to other sinners. Blessed Christians - seeking to bless others.

Discipleship and Evangelism
The first recorded words of Christ in His early ministry were: "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand…Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:17-19

Our Lord's call to repentance, to discipleship ("Follow Me") and to evangelism ("And I will make you fishers of men") are all inter-related. We are called to come to Him for Salvation and to go for Him to bring the message of Salvation to others.

Do You Have A World Vision?
Jesus is: "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29
Jesus is: "The Light of the world" John 8:12.
Jesus is: "The Way, the Truth and the Life. No-one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6: There is no other way, no other religion, no other hope for mankind. "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that My House may be filled." Luke 14:23 "Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8

Jesus said: "He who is not with Me is against Me and He who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." Matthew 12:30

You are either a missionary or a mission field. You cannot be neutral in missions. Walking by on the other side of the road is not an option for Christians.

Look at the Fields
"Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest!" John 4:35

Jesus commanded us to look at the fields. We need to investigate and understand the missionary challenge.

How well do you know your World? Did you know that there are 12,000 ethno-linguistic people groups in the world? There are 66 nations which restrict religious freedom and persecute Christians. Over 400 million Christians live under governments which persecute believers. 21% of the world's population are Muslims, 13% of the world's population is Hindu.

Africa occupies 22% of the world's land surface. 41% of Africans are Muslims. 14 countries in Africa have less than 1% Evangelical Christians: Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Comores, Djibouti, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, Algeria, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Mali. Over 100 million Christians in Africa do not yet possess a Bible. The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the Harvest to send out labourers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37-38

The Field
The Lord commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all Creation. This is a command, not only to go into all the geographical world, but into every level of society. We must go into the world of business and education, the judiciary, government, entertainment, economics, medicine, sports and the arts.

The Message
We areto proclaim the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins. We must deal with the primary issue of sin. People are not innocent victims needing deliverance, but guilty sinners needing forgiveness and mercy from Almighty God.

The Call
"As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you." As with Christ's incarnation we need to become one with and identify with the people we are sent to. We need to live and speak the Gospel in their language and in their culture. "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom…" Matthew 13:38.

The Mission
"You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world…" Matthew 5:13-14

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

What Is the Best Sermon Illustration?
The best sermon illustration is the life of integrity of a Christian neighbour, colleague or family member.

What is Most Effective in Bringing People to Christ?
At Evangelism Workshops, Great Commission Conferences and Biblical Worldview Seminars that I have conducted throughout Africa, Europe and the USA, I found that the vast majority of delegates surveyed came to Christ through personal evangelism, from friends, family and strangers in one-one-one witnessing and counselling. So far I have not come across anyone who reported being converted through Gospel music. Once, in a conference of 400 pastors and evangelists in Nigeria, I came across one individual who reported being converted through Gospel TV. Even in large groups of several hundred, I have seldom found more than 3% who could, along with myself, report being converted through an evangelistic crusade. There are normally a few dozen who report Gospel literature having been used of the Lord to bring them to repentance. However, at every Evangelistic workshop and conference that I have surveyed, the vast majority report that it was through family, friends, neighbours and even strangers, in one-on-one personal Evangelism that they were converted.

Our Duty
Jesus said: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in Heaven. That whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in Heaven." Matthew 10:32-33. We dare not let opportunities to witness for Christ pass us by.

Do Not Be Intimidated
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory and in His Father's and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26. Do not be intimidated into silence, fear God and not man.

Sacrifice is Essential
Jesus assured us: "There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for My sake and the Gospel's, who shall not receive a hundred-fold now in this time - houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions - and in the age to come, eternal life." Mark 10:29-30. Sacrifice is required.

Overcome Obstacles
"I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." Luke 4:43. Don't bottleneck the Gospel. Reach out across boundaries. "Let us cross over to the other side." Mark 4:35. Overcome all obstacles for the Gospel.

Take Initiative
"On this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18 Victory is assured. The best form of defence is attack!

"The Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it." Matthew 11:12: Be bold, innovative and persistent in seeking first the Kingdom of God. Nothing is impossible, nothing is beyond the reach of prayer - except that which is beyond the will of God. No one is unreachable. The will of God will never lead you - where the grace of God cannot keep you.

A Vision of Victory
"And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14

"That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven and those on earth and of those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14

Is your church consistently praying for the fulfilment of the Great Commission throughout Africa? It is written: "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations" Mark 11:17

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…" Matthew 6:9-10. We need to pray for God's Will to be obeyed - not just in the Church - but in the world! You are not to be the salt of the church, but the salt of the earth, the Light of the World.

Put Feet to Your Faith
This is the Word of God: "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!" Luke 11:28

Equipped and Empowered
If you are serious about missions and share our vision of winning Africa for Christ, contact Frontline Fellowship for the Great Commission Course 2020 audio MP3 boxset and the Great Commission Manual for Evangelistic resources that you can use to disciple the nations for Christ. Plan now to attend, or sponsor, someone else to participate in the next Great Commission Course, 25 June-14 July 2021, near Cape Town.

Give up your small ambitions and follow Jesus!

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.FrontlineMissionSA.org

This article has been adapted from a chapter in the Great Commission Manual, available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490, Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za and Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.

See also:
The Ascension and Authority of Christ
Ascension Day and Its Implications for Today

]]><![CDATA[Making Every Effort to Keep the Unity of the Spirit Through the Bond of Peace]]>Mon, 30 May 2022 09:14:06 GMThttps://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/making-every-effort-to-keep-the-unity-of-the-spirit-through-the-bond-of-peace“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:3

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The number one reason for missionaries failing and giving up is interpersonal conflict. Interpersonal conflicts are a primary source of disruption in Christian ministries, missions and churches.

Dependent
Some come to the field with serious character flaws, fears and phobias, which lead to major relationship problems. There are dependent people who need constant support and direction and, rather than contribute to the team, they sap its energy.

Independent
On the other extreme, there are the independent people, the lone rangers, who divert the team’s energy as they yank this way and that to pursue their own agendas.

Interdependent
Missions need interdependent people, team players, who are willing to relinquish their own agenda and interests for the good of the team. They are self-starters, self-reliant in the healthy sense and able to reach out and be a support to others (Galatians 6:2-5).

Unstable
In a media-saturated culture, with severely dysfunctional families, there are more and more people with severe emotional instability. Those touchy and explosive people, who are prone to mood swings, easily upset by irritations, riding the emotional big dipper into periods of discouragement and depression, are becoming more and more common.

Undisciplined
Most homes have no discipline. Most schools have no discipline. Most churches have no discipline. So it should not surprise us that so many people applying for missions are lacking self-discipline and need to be prodded by a whole regiment of rules and constant supervision, in order to function.

Service
It is a rare blessing to have missionary volunteers, who come with a humble, teachable, servant attitude of: "How can I help you? How can I fit in with your plans?"

Called and Consecrated
There are two things that any mission organisation has to look for in candidates: first, evidence of a clear call; and secondly, a strong devotional life.

On the field, much of the support which we become used to, our home church, pastor, conferences, study groups, multitudes of books, magazines, radio programmes, etc. are often not available. For strength and growth, every missionary must be able to draw directly from God and His Word. In difficult and often hot environments, where they are constantly ministering, but seldom being ministered to, it is very common for missionaries to become spiritually depleted.

Those missionary candidates, who do not have clear evidence of the reality and power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, should not be sent out to the mission field.

When I asked my father-in-law, Rev. Bill Bathman, a veteran missionary with over 67 years’ experience in missions behind him, what made the difference between success and failure in missions, his response was that successful missionaries are those who are wholeheartedly surrendered and dedicated to Christ, with a definite assurance of their call. By way of contrast, he had noted that many of those who failed were those who may have been moved and inspired by the example of others, but they were not necessarily called of God. Therefore, they were easily disillusioned and tended to give up when faced with too much pressure, or too many problems.

Humble and Teachable
Dr. Thomas Hale, a medical missionary to Nepal since 1970 and the author of On Being a Missionary, observes: "Some mission organisations today may be catering too much to new missionary recruits. After the sales pitch, the candidate begins to enjoy the attention. Things like ‘submission to leadership’ are played down, while things like ‘self-expression’ and ‘self-fulfilment’ are played up. The new missionary comes out to the field expecting full autonomy from day one, and when his ideas are overridden, he cries: ‘Authoritarianism’, which is a very bad name indeed. The new missionary launches out on a journey of discontent and dissension, which may well lead to the destruction of his missionary team. What is lacking? Above all, humility,…teachability and open mindedness." "Pride only breeds quarrels..." Proverbs 13:10

Under Authority
He also asserts that one’s call: "must be confirmed by one’s local church. There are lots of lone rangers out loose in the world, who have ‘gotten called’ to do this or that. But they don’t fit in with anyone. They are often disruptive to the work of others …there is no place for totally independent missionaries …the sending church must share in this call; they have the duty to examine the call and modify it as necessary. Together with the missionary, they will need to evaluate the results of the call. An isolated call in itself never justifies a missionary’s activities."

Trained and Loyal
"Anyone who ventures into cross-cultural missions without some kind of preparation is nuts… no-one should begrudge the time spent in such preparation. It will cut out half the stress on arrival on the field, keep oneself from making needless mistakes and make one a much better missionary." This training would also have to include practical experience. "One month of good practical training can be worth a year of book work."

Dr. Hale adds: "Once you have chosen and been accepted, then enter into the life of the mission wholeheartedly. You’re not an employee, you’re a family member. You be loyal to them; they’ll be loyal to you."

Tried and Tested
Hale insists that missions must develop suitable screening programmes. The single most important factor for predicting one’s future missionary performance is ones past performance as a Christian. Missionary candidates must be tried, tested and proven.

"All missionaries, tent makers included, must be answerable to a church or churches. And on the field, they need to be linked with other Christians, and if possible, to be accountable to some form of field structure. To remain ‘independent’ is to cut oneself off from the Body of Chris and that will guarantee that the missionary will not bear fruit and ultimately, will not survive."

When a missionary reaches the field, he will discover new weaknesses, new temptations and new sins. "We learn much about ourselves when we arrive on the mission field. Some of our flaws and weaknesses may never have been revealed before in the security of our home country. But now they are. Our defects are exposed."

Dealing with the Spiritual Roots
Amy Carmichael wrote of this inner conflict: "One day I felt the ‘I’ in me rising hotly, and the Word came: 'see in it a chance to die.'"

We can seldom change our circumstances, but we can change our reactions. How are we going to react to the circumstances – by turning towards God and letting God use the circumstance for our good, or by giving in to complaining and a critical and bitter spirit?

Difficult circumstances are not the real problem. The real problem usually is in us. At its root, it is spiritual. Bad experiences can make us bitter or better.

On Being a Missionary exposes some of the sins that inevitably come to the surface in missions: "…a judgmental attitude, resentment, jealousy, pride …the sins of attitude …all these are root spiritual problems. They arise from pride, self-centredness, or lack of faith. And until the root spiritual problem – sinful attitude – is dealt with, there can be no final correction of the person's problem …the success or failure of a missionary’s career depends on the extent to which his attitudes are brought under the control of the Holy Spirit."

Constructive Conflict
"Conflict, in and of itself, is not necessarily sinful or even harmful. In fact, conflicts usually precede any kind of human progress or development. Conflict stimulates ideas, challenges us to find new solutions, brings out the best (or worst) in us and generally, if properly controlled, leaves us better people working in better organisations …conflict is also inevitable."

Pride, Envy and Jealousy
Hale highlights numerous sins which lead to many missionaries failing and giving up: "The first is the refusal to confess wrong and the second is the refusal to forgive. The first is always rooted in pride. The second is usually associated with …slander, judgementalism and envy …the third sin is self-assertiveness …a move to get my way …putting a higher value on our beliefs and objectives than on those of our colleagues, and for that we are prepared to sacrifice our colleague’s interests in order to protect our own …a desire to manipulate or to dominate ...self-assertiveness is more a problem in newer missionaries …all kinds of demons are released – impatience, criticisms, hostility, frustration. Why? Because the young person wanted his own way. …Jealousy is the second greatest sin among missionaries. …Those passed over for leadership are jealous of those appointed; those with lesser gifts in some areas are jealous of those with greater gifts; those who are not respected and sought out by the nationals, are jealous of those who are …jealousy always creates a desire to tear the other person down, to take away his advantage. Jealousy leads, inevitably, to resentment and backbiting. This is what destroys teams."

"The jealous person is unable to rejoice in another’s success. Yet that successful person, of whom we are jealous, may himself be a very humble person, not seeking any credit for himself, even embarrassed by recognition of any kind. His success may have been due to simple hard work and dedication, not to any desire for recognition. Among missionaries, the most harmful form of jealousy is that directed towards someone who is being successful in ministry. After some years of ministry, a missionary may have built great trust among the nationals …but to the person afflicted with jealousy, …he sees the successful missionary as someone who has sought prominence for himself and who wants to keep it at all costs. The jealous person feels that he, himself, is being kept back; he feels threatened by the other person’s success. No matter that the jealous person’s perceptions are thoroughly distorted. The seeds of grumbling, dissension and slander have been planted; jealousy is fertile soil for such seeds."

"In most cases, our so-called ‘righteous indignation’ isn’t righteous at all; it is merely our own sinful anger cloaked in self-righteousness. Whenever our anger becomes personal – that is, when it arises on our personal account or is directed against another person – it becomes selfish. The only sinless anger is that which is impersonal and unselfish."

Resentment and Bitterness
"Resentment and bitterness, on the other hand, are always sins. Resentment is prolonged anger, the continued feeling of being wronged, even after the wrong has ceased. Bitterness is the savouring of a bitter or painful experience. Resentment and bitterness are often the aftermath of anger. If we handled our anger better, we would have less trouble with resentment and bitterness."

"In the New Testament, there are relatively few instances of anger that we could say were appropriate. And even with appropriate anger, Paul gives a pretty strict time limit for it – sundown!"

Taking Up Grievances on Behalf of Others
"How do we tell righteous anger from sinful anger? By asking this key question: ‘For whose sake am I getting angry – for Gods’ sake or mine?' …A dangerous variation of indignation …is taking up another’s grievance against a third party. Nowhere in Scripture does God authorise us to do this. Christians often feel quite justified in taking up the grievances of others. ‘It’s not for my sake’, they say. ‘It’s unselfish.’ So, without a twinge of conscience, they nurture hostile feelings against people. …The fact is that being angry with someone on someone else’s account is no more righteous than being angry at someone on our own account.

"This indignation, this taking up of a grievance, is usually the outward expression of an underlying, personal animosity – though we deny it to ourselves. The less we know about the actual situation we are taking sides on, the more righteous our indignation seems to us, and the freer we feel to indulge it.

"I have often seen this visceral anger directed from one missionary to another colleague …in each case, the one angered did not know the full truth or even half the truth. The angered person’s only source was the ‘injured party.’ What’s more, the angered person felt obligated to take the side of the injured party against the ‘wrongdoer’, and to talk to others about the problem – all under the cloak of righteous concern! Before you know it, yet another mission team is split apart…

Search your Own Heart
"Search your own heart for the unrighteous source that will almost always be lurking there. Are you reliving a past conflict of your own? Does the person you’re angry with remind you of someone who has wronged you in the past? Or you may have a direct grievance against the person involved, but find it more convenient to ventilate it ‘on behalf of someone else’. How cleverly we justify our attacks on a brother or sister! How great is our capacity for self-deception!

Poisons for the Soul
"Resentment and bitterness all missionaries know …are poisons for the soul …in some people, resentment and bitterness go underground and do great damage to the person’s physical, emotional and spiritual health.

"Resentment or bitterness can be redirected towards God …all too often, …we end up with left over, unfocused anger, directed basically against God. We blame Him for our trouble and disappointment. Second, we may redirect our resentment to innocent parties or objects …nationals, …employees … children …mission leaders, we find excessive anger suddenly welling up inside us against these people for relatively trivial offences."

The Critical Spirit
Harold Cook, in Missionary Life and Work says: "By far the most serious overt threat to missionary relationships, the greatest danger of all, is criticism of one another."

"The devil’s chief method of rendering missionaries ineffective is to divide them, and his favourite means of dividing them is a critical spirit. The critical spirit is the most destructive attitude to be found among missionaries. …Criticism is basically passing judgement on someone else. Critical people are self-appointed executors of God’s judgement. They always see the faults and mistakes …just like modern-day Pharisees …without humility, without gentleness, without love …those who criticise reveal much more about themselves than the one being criticised. It is a common thing that picking at the faults of others is an unconscious cover for much larger sins in ourselves …we often render judgement against others in those very areas in which we ourselves are guilty. We project onto others our own wrong attitudes …and our blindness is the more remarkable because that shared fault we so easily see in our brother, we fail to see in ourselves. Beware of judging another. ‘For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged.’ Matthew 7:2 …Don’t deceive yourself …those most quick to judge others are also, not surprisingly, the most sure their judgement is correct …Joseph was one of the first victims of mistaken judgement in the Bible. The ‘proof’ of his intention towards Potiphar’s wife was the cloak he left in her hands. The household servants all saw it, and I can imagine them saying: ‘Proof, proof.’ ‘Fire, fire’, but they got the location of the fire wrong and the innocent Joseph went to jail."

"When it comes to Christians judging Christians, they get it wrong more than they get it right."

Blaming Our Benefactors
An elderly man wrote a letter addressed to God, describing his desperate needs and asking God for a certain sum of money. Not knowing how to deliver the letter addressed to God, the postal clerks in that town opened the letter and were moved to raise the money among themselves. They raised 80% of the old man’s request, but couldn’t raise it all. Rather than wait further, the postal clerks sent the man the money they had. A few days later another letter came addressed to God. The postal workers eagerly gathered around to see what his letter said. It read: "Thank you, God, for sending the money. But next time, please send it to me directly, not through the post office. Those thieving postal clerks pocketed 20% of it!"

"Many a time we have seen missionaries labour sacrificially for others, and then be totally misjudged concerning both their actions and their motives. In many cases, that which they had been desperately trying to correct and compensate for, has been the very thing they were accused of. All of us will experience abuse and slander, sooner or later, but the worst kind of all will come from fellow Christians whom we have loved and tried to help."

Criticism is Habit Forming
Some people are critical and judgemental because of an inferiority complex. Unconsciously, they try to build themselves up by tearing others down. Others may be critical because of resentment or hostility against the person. Still others may criticise out of jealousy. The trouble is that criticism is habit forming. The West has institutionalised criticism in the media. Journalists even get awards for ruining people’s lives – no matter how much of what they have ‘exposed’ is untrue, or is a misrepresentation of the truth. In Nepal, they call it "dogs biting at people’s heels." The Apostle Paul warned: "If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:15

"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to a fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife." Proverbs 26:20-21

John Calvin said: "No greater injury can be inflicted upon men than to wound their reputation."

Submit to God's Purpose
We need to try to see God’s purpose behind any given conflict and to submit to God’s purpose. God wants to discipline the participants in the conflict. God is at work in conflict, perfecting His servants, creating a stronger and better functioning Christian team or church. But we are so easily discouraged by our own sins and the sins of others. Some missionaries get so discouraged they just give up.

Paul said: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the Law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3

Dr. Peter Hammond | Director

Frontline Fellowship

PO Box 74 | Newlands | 7725 | Cape Town | South Africa

Tel: +27 21 689 4480
peter@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org

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Frontline: Behind Enemy Lines for Christ

This article is adapted from a chapter in Character Assassins – Dealing with Ecclesiastical Tyrants and Terrorists available from:
Christian Liberty Books
PO Box 358 Howard Place 7450
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-7478
Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za

See also related articles:
LEARNING FROM FAILURE
A Biblical Response to Slander
When All Men Speak Well of You

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