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Adoniram Judson
1955 Moody Press Paperback
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 5, 2018
Where is the Christianity today with the sacrifice and faith like that of Adoniram and Ann Judson? This book was a short read of just a glimpse of what the Judsons faced on their journey to reach Burma. The book itself seemed like a summary of their years in the ministry. I recommend this book if you want a snapshot of their lives, but I now want to read more of their testimonies. Adoniram Judson would leave his wife Ann for months--without the communication or technology of today, she would not even know if he were still alive. Her dedication to the Saviour was not simply riding on the faith of her husband's. She had a determination and a heart to serve the Lord and obviously had a very personal walk with God to lead her while her husband was away either traveling or when in prison. The Judsons were not in Burma for fame in ministry. Their prayer, "God grant that we may live and die among the Burmans, though we never should do anything else than smooth the way for others." When Adoniram returned to America after 33 years, the people wanted to hear stories from him of the mission field. They were disappointed when he would tell them the most thrilling story he could imagine, the story of salvation. "My business is to preach the Gospel of Christ. Not to tickle their fancies with amusing stories, however decently strung together on a thread of religion! Tell me--how could I--in the hereafter, I mean--face God's charge: 'I gave you one opportunity to tell them of me. You spent it painting your own adventures.'" I want to live my life to point others to Christ as the Judsons did.
September 5, 2010
Though the book is written simply (for kids or teens, I believe), it was an informative and inspiring book. Mr. Judson was the first missionary to Burma, a hot and dangerous land. The many trials he goes through was enough to make me feel ashamed at how little I do and what little things over which I cringe.
October 11, 2012
Adoniram Judson Apostle of Burma, L. Helen Percy, Gospel Trumpet Company, 1926, 128pgs.
1. Adoniram Judson was born and raised in New England. He was a Pastor's son, and inherited his name from his father. He learned to read and write at the hands of his mother. He was able to read at age three, and was preaching to his friends at age four. As a boy Adoniram enjoyed solving puzzles and was very good at it. In-fact people would come and pay the young boy a dollar to solve hard puzzles they could not figure out themselves. He was a book worm and began reading theology by the age of ten. At the age of fourteen Adoniram was stricken with illness which gave him great time to think about his future. He wanted to be famous, well achieved, but being on his death bead caused him to think about his future. When he was sixteen he enrolled in Providence College where he excelled the top of his class. In college Adoniram walked away from his faith at the hands of his friend E. After college Adoniram traveled the states, he wanted to see the world. One night he found himself staying a night in a Inn. One room over he could hear a very sick man dieing. This caused him to think about his own life and what would happen after his own death now that he had denied his Christian Faith. The next morning he asked the Inn-keeper what had happened to the man one room over, the Inn-keeper told him that the man pasted away last night. Adoniram then asked him who the man was, the in-keeper, replied a man named E. At this point E was convicted that Christianity and the Bible are true so he returned home to his father. When he arrived home he was offered a chance to go to seminary, he refused at first and taught for awhile in Boston, but then came to his senses and went to seminary. It was here at seminary that Adoniram first realized his call to missions. When he realized this call he met with a few colleges on a hay stack to pray about going to reach the heathen. A council for missions was developed and Adoniram's dream started to seem real. He was sent to England to try and team up with the missions agency there to start one in America. While here he preached the Gospel at parties, and at one he met his lovely wife Ann. He married her a few weeks later and set out for India almost immediately. For the first year they tried to gain access to the people of India and boarded ships traveling back and forth within the area. Him and his wife eventually landed in Rangoon where they started their mission. When they got there, Adoniram really felt that he needed to learn the Burmese language and translate the scriptures into their language. He met folks who knew little about Jesus there, and they became his disciples. He eventually has a big enough group that he started building a congregation from them and praying. Adoniram wanted these people to come to Christ. He faced many trials with his health during this time, had to face governments and overpowering kings. Lost his wives, and children. But he reached thousands of the Burmese people. He succeeded in translating the entire Bible before his death, being the first missionary to leave the shores of America, and when he returned home he was greeted with unexpected fame and the title of Doctor.
2. I believe that the author's intent in writing this book was to tell the great story of Judson. To encourage others by the work that God accomplished through this one great man. The dedication at the beginning of the book reads, “ To the Youth of America With the Hope that in the Life of America's Pioneer Missionary, You May Catch a New Vision of the Joy of Sacrificial Service.” The author's intent was to spark a fire in the readers' hearts. To kindle a fire for service dedicated not to themselves, but to the Lord and reaching his people. I believe that the author's intent in the dedication was clearly portrayed, and I was very inspired by his rendition of Judson's life and persuaded toward a new vision of joy and sacrificial service.
3. There were many interesting parts in this man's life story, but one that truly stuck out to me was the part where Adoniram was in the Inn. It was at this point that Adoniram went back to his faith. He ran away from the faith he grew up with to pursue deism. He was influenced by a great college. But then at this point, he hears a man dieing in the room over. He hear him moaning in pain and wonders what the man must be thinking. Did this man hear of God and his Son Jesus Christ, and have hope of a salvation after this life? Or did he have no hope to comfort him? I believe that this would be a big turning point for me experience death first hand. In fact I went through a similar situation being in the presence of my grandmother passing away in a coma. I think just being around death, causes us to think how serious we take our faith. Adoniram knew that Christianity was the faith he needed to cling to in the back of his head, but it took a dramatic moment like this for him to truly realize what he actually believed deep down. The irony of the situation though is how the man turns out to be his friend E. It was truly sad to hear that his friend was the one who died that night before one room over, but at the same time God works in mysterious wondering ways; n this case shocking ways, but he definitely used this moment to draw Adoniram back to him and set him on course for the great mission he would accomplish in his lifetime.
4. I truly feel for Judson because he went through so many difficulties and sufferings on his missionary journey. In fact he facet one as soon as he set sail for England. At the time that he set sail, England and France were at war. So on his journey crossing from America to England, his ship was captured by the French and he was taken prisoner. He also faced many illnesses on his journey. He not only faced illnesses, but his wife did as well. In fact his wife's illnesses got so bad that she had to take one or two trips back to America for medical attention. On the field him and his wife had a few children. But their first two passed away not long after they were born. Besides health and family issues Adoniram had to go through many trials with trying to reach the Burmese people. The Burmese language was very hard to learn, it is said to be harder then Chinese which at the time was claimed to be the hardest language to learn. He had to find ways around government and royal authorities. He had to find ways to reach the people. He was persecuted under royalty at times where he was locked in jail for preaching the Gospel. He was locked in jail with little to nothing to eat or drink. But through the trials and persecution, Judson still preached the Gospel and many of the people who were causing him trials and persecuting him, came to Christ.
5. My personal reaction to the story was that it was brilliant. I could not put it down. I spend three hours on Saturday reading it in the living room on the couch. I was so inspired by it, that I was reading it to my housemate John who wants to be a missionary to an unreached people group, and he was very moved to read it just by the few parts that I narrated to him. For some reason after reading this book, God has opened up a new view on missions for me. He has kindled, more of a fire for missions in my life. I don't know if I necessarily feel called to switch my major to missions or intercultural, but going into the mission field at least part time is on my mind. Judson was a great man of God, and his faith and persistence were very encouraging to me. I think of everything he went through to preach the gospel. I think of how he walked away from the faith, and how God still chose to use him. This book just truly inspired me. It's lighted a fire for me to persist in my faith no matter what challenges I may face, and to preach the Gospel in any situation is may present itself. Also to follow God's leading and not quench the Holy Spirit. When God tugs on my heart I will follow him in faith just like His Apostle Adoniram Judson, the Apostle to Burma.
1. Adoniram Judson was born and raised in New England. He was a Pastor's son, and inherited his name from his father. He learned to read and write at the hands of his mother. He was able to read at age three, and was preaching to his friends at age four. As a boy Adoniram enjoyed solving puzzles and was very good at it. In-fact people would come and pay the young boy a dollar to solve hard puzzles they could not figure out themselves. He was a book worm and began reading theology by the age of ten. At the age of fourteen Adoniram was stricken with illness which gave him great time to think about his future. He wanted to be famous, well achieved, but being on his death bead caused him to think about his future. When he was sixteen he enrolled in Providence College where he excelled the top of his class. In college Adoniram walked away from his faith at the hands of his friend E. After college Adoniram traveled the states, he wanted to see the world. One night he found himself staying a night in a Inn. One room over he could hear a very sick man dieing. This caused him to think about his own life and what would happen after his own death now that he had denied his Christian Faith. The next morning he asked the Inn-keeper what had happened to the man one room over, the Inn-keeper told him that the man pasted away last night. Adoniram then asked him who the man was, the in-keeper, replied a man named E. At this point E was convicted that Christianity and the Bible are true so he returned home to his father. When he arrived home he was offered a chance to go to seminary, he refused at first and taught for awhile in Boston, but then came to his senses and went to seminary. It was here at seminary that Adoniram first realized his call to missions. When he realized this call he met with a few colleges on a hay stack to pray about going to reach the heathen. A council for missions was developed and Adoniram's dream started to seem real. He was sent to England to try and team up with the missions agency there to start one in America. While here he preached the Gospel at parties, and at one he met his lovely wife Ann. He married her a few weeks later and set out for India almost immediately. For the first year they tried to gain access to the people of India and boarded ships traveling back and forth within the area. Him and his wife eventually landed in Rangoon where they started their mission. When they got there, Adoniram really felt that he needed to learn the Burmese language and translate the scriptures into their language. He met folks who knew little about Jesus there, and they became his disciples. He eventually has a big enough group that he started building a congregation from them and praying. Adoniram wanted these people to come to Christ. He faced many trials with his health during this time, had to face governments and overpowering kings. Lost his wives, and children. But he reached thousands of the Burmese people. He succeeded in translating the entire Bible before his death, being the first missionary to leave the shores of America, and when he returned home he was greeted with unexpected fame and the title of Doctor.
2. I believe that the author's intent in writing this book was to tell the great story of Judson. To encourage others by the work that God accomplished through this one great man. The dedication at the beginning of the book reads, “ To the Youth of America With the Hope that in the Life of America's Pioneer Missionary, You May Catch a New Vision of the Joy of Sacrificial Service.” The author's intent was to spark a fire in the readers' hearts. To kindle a fire for service dedicated not to themselves, but to the Lord and reaching his people. I believe that the author's intent in the dedication was clearly portrayed, and I was very inspired by his rendition of Judson's life and persuaded toward a new vision of joy and sacrificial service.
3. There were many interesting parts in this man's life story, but one that truly stuck out to me was the part where Adoniram was in the Inn. It was at this point that Adoniram went back to his faith. He ran away from the faith he grew up with to pursue deism. He was influenced by a great college. But then at this point, he hears a man dieing in the room over. He hear him moaning in pain and wonders what the man must be thinking. Did this man hear of God and his Son Jesus Christ, and have hope of a salvation after this life? Or did he have no hope to comfort him? I believe that this would be a big turning point for me experience death first hand. In fact I went through a similar situation being in the presence of my grandmother passing away in a coma. I think just being around death, causes us to think how serious we take our faith. Adoniram knew that Christianity was the faith he needed to cling to in the back of his head, but it took a dramatic moment like this for him to truly realize what he actually believed deep down. The irony of the situation though is how the man turns out to be his friend E. It was truly sad to hear that his friend was the one who died that night before one room over, but at the same time God works in mysterious wondering ways; n this case shocking ways, but he definitely used this moment to draw Adoniram back to him and set him on course for the great mission he would accomplish in his lifetime.
4. I truly feel for Judson because he went through so many difficulties and sufferings on his missionary journey. In fact he facet one as soon as he set sail for England. At the time that he set sail, England and France were at war. So on his journey crossing from America to England, his ship was captured by the French and he was taken prisoner. He also faced many illnesses on his journey. He not only faced illnesses, but his wife did as well. In fact his wife's illnesses got so bad that she had to take one or two trips back to America for medical attention. On the field him and his wife had a few children. But their first two passed away not long after they were born. Besides health and family issues Adoniram had to go through many trials with trying to reach the Burmese people. The Burmese language was very hard to learn, it is said to be harder then Chinese which at the time was claimed to be the hardest language to learn. He had to find ways around government and royal authorities. He had to find ways to reach the people. He was persecuted under royalty at times where he was locked in jail for preaching the Gospel. He was locked in jail with little to nothing to eat or drink. But through the trials and persecution, Judson still preached the Gospel and many of the people who were causing him trials and persecuting him, came to Christ.
5. My personal reaction to the story was that it was brilliant. I could not put it down. I spend three hours on Saturday reading it in the living room on the couch. I was so inspired by it, that I was reading it to my housemate John who wants to be a missionary to an unreached people group, and he was very moved to read it just by the few parts that I narrated to him. For some reason after reading this book, God has opened up a new view on missions for me. He has kindled, more of a fire for missions in my life. I don't know if I necessarily feel called to switch my major to missions or intercultural, but going into the mission field at least part time is on my mind. Judson was a great man of God, and his faith and persistence were very encouraging to me. I think of everything he went through to preach the gospel. I think of how he walked away from the faith, and how God still chose to use him. This book just truly inspired me. It's lighted a fire for me to persist in my faith no matter what challenges I may face, and to preach the Gospel in any situation is may present itself. Also to follow God's leading and not quench the Holy Spirit. When God tugs on my heart I will follow him in faith just like His Apostle Adoniram Judson, the Apostle to Burma.
February 20, 2024
Amazing!
April 24, 2023
This book is a hard jerk away from the idealism and romance of missions. It really made me think about the level of sacrifice we consider too much in taking the Gospel to others.
October 8, 2009
Please PLEASE read more biographies of famous missionaries! If you want something to bolster your faith, this will do it. 2 of his wives died on the mission field as well as 4 of his children (I think, or more, can't remember). An amazing and inspirational account of America's first missionary.
July 30, 2011
Read this story years ago. . . but it has stayed with me as one of the most inspirational missionary lives I have ever encountered on page! I highly recommend this book!
February 15, 2015
His life is amazing! The incredible suffering he went through for God's gospel is inspiring. I didn't like the writing style of this biography though.
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August 21, 20120421
December 7, 2014
Inspiring little account of a life of faith in Burma.
March 22, 2016
What a wonderful man! One may never know the impact of his or her life for the souls of others.
January 29, 2018
This book is simple and short, I think it's written for kids or young teenagers.
But it's a good introduction to the life of Adoniram Judson and his wives.
And what a life! Has anyone ever suffered so much and so long for the gospel? His life, labors, sacrifice, commitment to Christ and the lost are a great challenge to the Western church and to me.
If you are a Christian, you should read about Adoniram. Whether this biography or another.
But it's a good introduction to the life of Adoniram Judson and his wives.
And what a life! Has anyone ever suffered so much and so long for the gospel? His life, labors, sacrifice, commitment to Christ and the lost are a great challenge to the Western church and to me.
If you are a Christian, you should read about Adoniram. Whether this biography or another.
October 14, 2023
This books is timeless and inspiring. May we all strive to finish the work God has called us to.
September 21, 2025
Fantastic! If you are trying to find an in-depth biography, look elsewhere. If you would like to read the story of Adoniram Judson lovingly told, look no further. This is simple and beautiful.
January 12, 2023
"As young Adoniram stood in the burning heat of that Burmese July day, staring back at the great golden Shwe Dagon Pagoda that overshadowed the entire city, he did not guess the terribleness of the discouragement that waited for him in the muddy streets of Rangoon- that he would work fifteen hours a day for six full years before he would win a single convert; four years would pass before anyone would even stop to ask about this strange Christianity; that the dismal stench, the rotten air of the tropic would break Ann's health. He would know physical pain as he never had known it. His second child would die (the first had been born dead on the ‘Georgiana’). And in all the six years most Andover graduates of his class were building up tidy little New England congregations and rearing their families in cool, healthy New England air.”
"Dressing him in the black suit he always wore, they buried him at sea. There was no funeral service. Through the larboard port they lowered him silently into the waves."
"Dressing him in the black suit he always wore, they buried him at sea. There was no funeral service. Through the larboard port they lowered him silently into the waves."
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews