“…I wanted to wear out my life in his service and for his glory”
From the privileged position of hindsight David Brainerd can easily be called the father of modern missionary work. However if we had lived at the same time as him, how many of us would have given him that label? He had many things that seemed to disqualify him from the work of missions, but one thing he did have, and that was an unquenchable zeal for the work God. We in the 21st Century have much to learn from this man who God chose to use so mightily!
A bad start
David Brainerd was born in Haddam, Connecticut, USA, on April the 20th, 1718. He was the sixth of nine children. In his early life he lost both his mother and then his father. These tragedies, that no child should have to experience, left Brainerd with a melancholic outlook. This often led to times of depression.
Another experience that caused Brainerd great heartache was when in February 1742 He was expelled from Yale University.
An unquenchable desire for God
In spite all of this heartache Brainerd became an avid student of the word of God, spending whole days in prayer, fasting and study of the word of God. On the 20th April 1742 Brainerd wrote in his journal “… I hardly ever so longed to live to God and to be altogether devoted to Him; I wanted to wear out my life in his service and for his glory”. However Brainerd needed a direction, a call from the Lord. On 19th of November 1742 Brainerd received a letter from Pemberton of New York to discuss the possibility of ministry amongst the Indians. At the time Brainerd didn’t realise, but this was the door of destiny creaking open.
From the privileged position of hindsight David Brainerd can easily be called the father of modern missionary work. However if we had lived at the same time as him, how many of us would have given him that label? He had many things that seemed to disqualify him from the work of missions, but one thing he did have, and that was an unquenchable zeal for the work God. We in the 21st Century have much to learn from this man who God chose to use so mightily!
A bad start
David Brainerd was born in Haddam, Connecticut, USA, on April the 20th, 1718. He was the sixth of nine children. In his early life he lost both his mother and then his father. These tragedies, that no child should have to experience, left Brainerd with a melancholic outlook. This often led to times of depression.
Another experience that caused Brainerd great heartache was when in February 1742 He was expelled from Yale University.
An unquenchable desire for God
In spite all of this heartache Brainerd became an avid student of the word of God, spending whole days in prayer, fasting and study of the word of God. On the 20th April 1742 Brainerd wrote in his journal “… I hardly ever so longed to live to God and to be altogether devoted to Him; I wanted to wear out my life in his service and for his glory”. However Brainerd needed a direction, a call from the Lord. On 19th of November 1742 Brainerd received a letter from Pemberton of New York to discuss the possibility of ministry amongst the Indians. At the time Brainerd didn’t realise, but this was the door of destiny creaking open.
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