Adoniram Judson to His Future Father in Law.

When  Joey asked for my dad's permission to marry me, he told him that it was his desire to be on the mission field one day, possibly to China. My dad said yes to the marriage and NO to China. Ultimately my dad knows that we will go wherever God leads us but the thought of his little girl moving around the world was not a pleasant one. Here is the letter that Adoniram Judson (first real, American foreign missionary) wrote, to his prospective father-in-law asking Ann Hasseltine’s hand in marriage


Letter to Mr. Hasseltine Asking for His Daughter’s Hand in Marriage

“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world ? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”

 Wow!!! What do you say to that? I am utterly amazed at the commitment to Jesus Christ and the dedication of these founding missionaries no matter what the cost. I pray for faith like that. Mr. Hasseltine gave his consent which also took a great deal of faith. Ann Judson died on the mission field in Burma but had an eternal impact alongside her husband. 100 churches in Burma and 8,000 Burmese believers are accounted for today and Burma (Myanmar) has the 3rd largest number of Baptists worldwide. 

Think of what God can do when we get our eyes off of ourselves and  totally surrender to HIM.