Who Said That...

Adoniram Judson was born in August 9, 1788 in Malden Massachusetts, his father was a Congregational Minister. Adoniram was a very intelligent boy and he graduated from Providence College as Valedictorian at the age of 19.

His intelligence and time in college were not all good for his Christian life. Although he had grown up in a Christian home he turned from the teaching he had received and claimed to be an atheist. He had made some new friends in College, one of which was an outspoken atheist named Earnest. A strong relationship developed between the two intellectuals, this is what led to Adoniram's claiming to be an atheist.

The death of Earnest while they were out on a tour of adventure made Adoniram turned to the Bible for answers. Found his security through Christ and did not look back.

His time in Seminary brought on the burden of missions. Hearing and reading the stories of missionaries around the world influenced him to give his life over to missions. A group of friends from the Seminary garter with Adoniram under a haystack to take refuge from a storm. There they dedicated their lived to the spreading of the Gospel.

With this dedication of lives a missionary society was formed to support them. Once the necessary supplies were gathered the missionaries prepared to leave. Prior to their departure Adoniram married Ann Hasseltine on February 5, 1812. On the 19th the Judson's boarded the ship Caravan, bound for Calcutta.

During their voyage the Judsons changed denomination to Baptist. This was a very large decision as they would no longer be supported by the churches they left back in the States.

Once they reached India they had to leave by order of the East India Company. The company was afraid of intervention in trade by the Missionaries. After several time of being told they would be deported they boarded another ship, the Georgianna, that was described as a "crazy old vessel". They were in the Bay of Bengal for 3 weeks riding out a monsoon. Ann became very ill Adoniram expected her to die at any time. It was during this illness that Ann gave birth to their first child, with Adoniram being the husband, Doctor and Midwife. The baby soon died and was buried at sea.

They sailed into the harbor of Rangoon. Getting off the ship they found a very dirty village with streets strewn with garbage. Tempted to return home feeling that every door had been shut in their face they turned to prayer. Feeling Gods leading to stay they began a long plight to reach the Burmese people. In 1834, he completed a translation of the whole Bible into the Burmese language.

During Anglo-Burmese War, Adoniram was imprisoned as a British spy for 21 months, only to be comforted by his wife in the middle of the night sneaking him food and tender encouragement. He returned to his homeland after 33 years of service for his only furlough after the death of his wife. While home he married Emily Chubbuck who would return to Burma with him to reach the people he loved so.

Adoniram became very ill in the spring of 1850. They believed his only hope for recovery was to take a long voyage at sea. He was carried aboard by weeping nationals not wanting their teacher to leave, for he was the one who had loved them enough to stay and tell them of the love of Christ. Thomas Ranney went with Adoniram, Mrs. Judson stayed behind. On April 12, 1850 Adoniram Judson went home to be with his Savior, and experience his love first hand. At the time of his death there were 63 churches and 7000 converts!