The worst missionary biographies are for armchair evangelists, allowing a little safe excitement and redundant knowledge. The best promote thanksgiving, worship and action. This slim book by Erroll Hulse is of the latter category.
Its subject, Judson, was a pioneer evangelist in Burma in the early 19th century. He endured imprisonment, illness, the loss of two wives and two children, to produce the first Burmese New Testament and establish the foundations of today's church. The drama of this passionate and disciplined man is told with care, inspiring less awe at a spiritual giant, and more reverence for our santifiying, empowering God. A useful doctrinal and pastoral assessment of Judson is made, outlining his early move to a Baptist belief and fleshing out the man of action. In addition, interspersed through the narrative are pages which tell of Burma's condition today and call for prayer. The title of the biography is made clear in the final section, describing Judson's appeals for missionaries. His call is not one of mystical feelings, but of responsible compassion: 'We are in distress. We see thousands perishing before us. The fields grow whiter every day, and no labourers to reap the harvest.' Judson's labors as a missionary in Burma are told of as an example of self-discipline, intense commitment to Christ, laborious work and huge vision. The vast, unfinished work of reaching people who have not yet heard the message of Christ is impressed upon the reader.
Distributed title: Reformation Today
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