George Grenfell Steams Up the Congo

by 1 Comment

This is the day that … George Grenfell (not to be confused with Wilfred Grenfell of Labrador!) was born in 1849, near Land’s End in Cornwall, England.

At fifteen years of age, in the spiritual aftermath of the great revival of 1859, he was soundly converted and baptized. His first job, apprenticed in a large hardware and machinery plant, was to prove an important resource for his future ministry.

He kept company with a devout group of young men who spent each Sunday in strenuous activity, involving seven services along with tract distribution. Then on Monday mornings they would study Greek and Bible from 6.30am. George edited their paper, called Missionary Work, sharing missionary stories from around the world.

At age 24 he entered the Baptist College at Bristol to prepare for missionary service in Africa. He first went to Cameroon, in January 1875, married there and suffered the death of his bride less than a year later. His next objective was to take the gospel up the mighty Congo River.

Henry M Stanley, following the efforts of David Livingstone, gave impetus to Grenfell’s dream with the publication of his own journeys.

It was a one thousand pounds (Sterling) donation in 1882 from eccentric Robert Arthington, the “Miser of Headingley” (England), which was given to the Baptists for work in the Belgian Congo. As a result a steamboat, “the length of a cricket pitch” was especially constructed and shipped to Africa in 800 sections … then carried inland “by a vast army of porters.”

The boat was named “Peace” and it was George Grenfell who would sail her up and down the Congo in six eventful missionary trips. For that matter, he, along with native helpers, had to assemble the boat in the first place, the three engineers coming from England to oversee the task having died shortly after arriving in Africa.

The “Peace” was even surrounded by wire screens as a protection from poisoned arrows … “There was a time when 50 war canoes attacked the steamer and the protective blinds proved their value” (The Missionaries, by G. Moorhouse, page 200).

The Royal Geographical Society (England) awarded Grenfell a “Founder’s Medal” because of his exploratory work, and King Leopold of Belgium made him “Commander of the Royal Order of the Lion” due to the blessings this man of God had brought to the heart of Africa.

But Grenfell and King Leopold ‘fell out’. The Congo state government confiscated the “Peace” to carry guns and soldiers on a war expedition!

Ruth Tucker writes: “Despite the overwhelming obstacles, Grenfell saw surprising success during his years in the Congo … he supervised Baptist missions (there) for 20 years and witnessed a great spiritual awakening at his own mission station in Boloko” (From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, page 156).

George had buried two wives and several children in Africa, to add to his pains. He also confronted horrific practices of murder, cannibalism, slave trading, gross immorality, atrocities and heart-breaking cruelty. His driving passion was his conviction that the he was bringing light into the dark heart of Africa. After 20 years he saw many evidences of the new attitudes and practices along the Congo.

George Grenfell died up the Congo River on July 1, 1906.

This post is based on the work of my late friend Donald Prout whose love for books and Christian history led him to collate a daily Christian calendar. I continue to work with Don’s wife, Barbara, to share his life work with the world. I have updated some of these historical posts and will hopefully draw from Don’s huge files of clippings to continue this series beyond Don’s original work. More of Don’s work can be found at www.donaldprout.com.

Adoniram Judson Impacts Burma

by Leave a Comment

This is the day that … Adoniram Judson was born, in 1788.

He was to become America’s first foreign missionary. His passion for reaching Burma led to the formation of the first American Mission societies. He sailed from his homeland as a Congregationalist, and arrived in India as a Baptist, in 1812. En route his translation of the New Testament from Greek to English convicted him the Baptist position on baptism was correct.

With his young bride, Ann, he soon found himself in Burma, with a 33 year ministry (without furlough) ahead of him, during which he would see the death of both Ann and his second wife, Sarah; endure a 23-month imprisonment in intolerable conditions – and translate the Bible into the Burmese language.

Then he would return to America for a brief furlough – and go back to Burma with his third wife, Emily. Each of his wives is hailed for their commitment and contribution to his life and work. (On August 22 I will share with you a moving account of the life of Judson’s third wife, Emily Chubback)

It took him six years to see his first convert and he faced many obstacles that would have discouraged a lesser man. Significant among his converts was the first convert from the Karen tribe. The man, Ko Tha Byu, has come to be known as the Karen Apostle, the virtual founder of Karen Christianity. Recognising that Christianity was the fulfilment of his people’s own legends this man’s ministry resulted in the conversion of thousands. Within 25 years there were over 11,000 baptised Karen believers.

When Judson died in 1850 he left behind a flourishing church with 7000 members and more than 100 national Burmese pastors. He insisted that each convert be discipled with thorough Biblical training, rather than just make a confession. This led to a strong church among the converts.

“Judson became an inspiring example of missionary sacrifice and dedication for several generations of young people,” says E.A. Wilson.

True! And he would continue to be an inspiration to today’s Christian young people if they would read his biography.

This post is based on the work of my late friend Donald Prout whose love for books and Christian history led him to collate a daily Christian calendar. I continue to work with Don’s wife, Barbara, to share his life work with the world. I have updated some of these historical posts and will hopefully draw from Don’s huge files of clippings to continue this series beyond Don’s original work. More of Don’s work can be found at www.donaldprout.com.

Benjamin Keach Compelled to Preach

by Leave a Comment

This is the day that … Benjamin Keach died in 1704.

He had been born in North Buckinghamshire, England, on February 29, 1640, in the days when England was about to be plunged into civil war…

Although brought up in the state church, he was baptised again at the age of 15 and joined a Baptist church … walking seven miles each Lord’s Day to join with the congregation in a neighbouring village.

At 18 he was ‘set aside for the work of the ministry’, the church having recognised his God-given gift in that area.

Two years later he married Jane Grove. And he began to preach …

But by now Oliver Cromwell was dead and Charles II was insisting that all church services conform to those of the Church of England.

Keach refused to do so … but continued his ministry. And as a result he was arrested and put in the pillory at Aylesbury. “Good people”, he said to the assembled crowd, “I am not ashamed to stand here this day, with this paper on my head. My Lord Jesus was not ashamed to suffer on the cross of me …”

Many a time he suffered similar indignities – ‘often seized, sometimes whilst preaching, committed to prison, sometimes bound, sometimes released on bail, and sometimes his life was threatened…’

In 1664 – at the age of 24 – we find him in Southwark, pastoring a Particular Baptist Church.

He had begun his days as a General Baptist (Arminian in theology), but now was Particular Baptist (ie, Calvinistic).

His first wife died at the age of 30, and Keach remarried in 1672.

He wrote 60 books and was “to the forefront in introducing congregational hymn singing into the Baptist church”.

This post is based on the work of my late friend Donald Prout whose love for books and Christian history led him to collate a daily Christian calendar. I continue to work with Don’s wife, Barbara, to share his life work with the world. I have updated some of these historical posts and will hopefully draw from Don’s huge files of clippings to continue this series beyond Don’s original work. More of Don’s work can be found at www.donaldprout.com.

Willam Carey – Desperate for Missions

by Leave a Comment

This is the day that … William Carey preached his “deathless sermon”, as it is described by his biographer, S. Pearce Carey.

It was 1792, and the place was Nottingham, England.

At 10.00 a.m. the young cobbler/pastor from Leicester rose to address the small group.  His text was Isaiah 54:2,3:  “Lengthen thy cords … strengthen thy stakes …” and then rang out a fervent plea for missions. The two key thoughts he drew from that passage are: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

One who was present tells us that Carey “was in an agony of distress” as he became spokesman for the perishing multitudes in heathendom.

As the ministers “once more quenched the Spirit” at the meeting’s close and began to leave, Carey grasped the arm of Andrew Fuller and cried:  “Is there nothing again going to be done, sir?”

“This”, writes S. Pearce Carey, “was a creative moment in the history of Christ’s Kingdom.  Deep called unto deep.  Fuller trembled an instant under that importunity, gesture and heartbreak, and then his soul was stabbed awake and the Holy Spirit flooded his spirit” (page 84).

With Fuller’s ‘inspired strength’ behind Carey’s vision, things began to move.

Before long the Baptist Missionary Society was born, and Carey himself was on his way to India.

While Count Zinzendorf’s Moravian community can be identified as an earlier missionary movement than Carey’s it is true that William Carey carried the burden of Missions like no-one before him. It was an obsession for him, which accounts for his passionate preaching.

Despite the ugliest of obstacles Carey got himself to India and pursued 41 years of missionary service. His wife’s insanity was but one of the crosses he had to bear. He had died to this world and spent himself in service of heaven.

Frederick Arvid Blom – Swedish Preacher

by Leave a Comment

This is the day that … Frederick Arvid Blom died in Sweden in 1927, at the age of 60.

Fredrick was born in Sweeden, May 21 1867 in Bred parish. In 1883 he took a degree in navigation and became a sailor. In 1902 he was declared “not found” in Sweeden – which suggests he absconded.

He spent some years in the Salvation Army in Chicago.  He attended Bible College … and then pastored an evangelical church … until 1915.  Then Mr Blom “fell deeply into sin and spent some years in prison.”  His biographer does not reveal the details.  Blom himself wrote:  “I drifted from God … and became embittered with myself, the world, and not the least with ministers who looked upon me with suspicion because I was a member of the Socialist Party.”

Some time later Blom resumed his walk with God and pastored a Swedish Congregational Church in Pennsylvania until 1921.  At that time he returned to Stockholm, Sweden and was active in ministry in the Swedish Covenant Church and the Swedish Baptist Church until his death six years later.

His well-known gospel song – popularised by George Beverly Shea some years ago – is:
          He the pearly gates will open so that I may enter in …     

One biographer tells us that it is generally believed Blom wrote this hymn either in prison or shortly after his release.  Verse two may well reflect his own spiritual pilgrimage –

          Like a sparrow, hunted, frightened, weak and helpless – so was I;
          Wounded, fallen, yet He healed me – He will heed the sinner’s cry.

Amen!