Missionary Martyr to the New Hebrides. John Williams 1796-1839 (Second Part) Historian Stephen Neill wrote “Few marvels in Christian history can equal the faithfulness of these men and women… many watered the seed with their own blood but the churches grew, and far more widely than if reliance had been placed first and foremost on the European missionary.” John’s furlough was very busy, much speaking, writing a book, raising much needed financial support and finally purchasing a much needed new ship. About that time, John wrote “A missionary was never designed by Jesus Christ to gather a congregation of 100 or 200 natives, and sit down at his ease, as contented as if every sinner was converted, while thousands around him are eating each other’s flesh and drinking each other’s blood, living and dying without the Gospel. For my own part, I cannot content myself with the narrow limits of a single reef; and if means are not afforded, a continent would, to me, be infinitely preferable: for there, if you cannot ride, you can walk, but to those islands, a ship must carry.” When he returned from England in 1938 with his new ship, he was determined to visit the islands with the most vicious reputation for savagery and cannibalism. When he landed on the island Erromanga the reception was savage and violent. He was clubbed to death and eaten by cannibals. He left behind scores of islands transformed by the scriptures he had translated, school he had established, churches founded, great social improvement and many thousands of islanders brought to salvation in Christ. John Williams truly found his life by losing it for Christ.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 21:18:13 +0000
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