The Great Century By Howard Norrish 16 The Great Century By Howard Norrish

The Roots of the Great Century “Effective mission is birthed out of revival and good theology” JohnElliot – apostle to the American Indians David Brainerd – influenced many future missionaries his diary led to the “haystack prayer meeting” – the birth of American foreign missions Also influenced William Carey (India) and Robert Morrison (China)

The Great Evangelical Awakening Began in Germany among the Moravians (1727) Spread throughout the English-speaking world Focus on individual heart change, not intellectual assent Evangelism was innovative – preaching in fields and anyplace a crowd could be gathered Founding preachers: Whitefield, Wesley, Jonathan Edwards among many others

Early Missionary Pioneers Brief Biographical Sketches Early Missionary Pioneers

William Carey (1761-1834) “Pioneer to Hindu Peoples” He was a cobbler by trade, self-taught in Greek, fascinated by the journals of Captain Cook about his travels in the South Seas He pastored a small church and continued to study languages: Hebrew, Greek, French, Italian, and Dutch…and mastered them all

William Carey – Missionary Was appointed the first missionary of the Baptist Missionary Society Moved to Bengal in India; never returned to England Greatest passion – translation and distribution of the Bible Teamed with William Ward (printer and educator) and Joshua Marshman The three are known as the “Serampore Trio”

William Carey – his values The Bible as the foundation of the church and key to the transformation of India Radical discipleship Biblical worldview A personal, rational Creator Bi-vocational ministry Advance through spiritual warfare

Henry Martyn (1781-1812) “Pioneer to the Muslim peoples” Brilliant mathematician and linguist Mastered 17 languages Radically converted at death of father Chaplain to British troops in India Studied with William Carey Moved to Patna in Bihar and began to learn the Muslim culture and tried to serve them

Martyn’s Life-work Started schools for Indian children Studied Islam to gain an understanding of their worldview and life ways Completed and excellent Urdu translation of the New Testament – still used today Contracted tuberculosis which slowly weakened him Moved to Shiraz in the Persian Empire. Completed an excellent, idiomatic translation of the New Testament into Farsi. Died soon after as he tried to return to England

William Burns (1815-1868) “Pioneer to the Chinese people” Saved in 1832, studied for the ministry, tried to go to India as a missionary…rejected Gifted preacher and a prayer warrior Ordained in 1847 and left for China In Hong Kong – moved to Chinese quarter to learn the language 1849 crossed into mainland China and began a traveling preaching ministry

Burns – Impact 1854 he began to see conversions in Amoy, left two disciples to pastor the church and moved to Shanghai When Hudson Taylor arrived, he took him on preaching tours; both dressed and lived as Chinese Planted many house churches, though the converts were frequently persecuted He died in China as he continued his work

The Ebb and Flow of the Great Century The first wave (1790-1859) A European era marked by good missiology Missionaries were frequently “tent-makers” A time when the coastlands of the world were reached The tide recedes (1790-1860) The gospel mingled with “civilization” Colonialism compromises missions The second wave Second Evangelical Awakening – revivals from 1830’s through 1860’s in the US Americans become more involved in missions

Second-era Pioneers James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) Born in England, trained in medicine, arrived 1854 1866, founded a faith mission society (CIM) Noteworthy: Strategy was rapid evangelization. Settled preaching teams in government center cities; eventually had 260 teams deployed Made use of single women missionaries to reach women Lost 91 adults in the boxer rebellion Saw mass movement to Christianity afterwards

Other Pioneers Mary Slessor (1848-1915) – Nigeria Went as a single woman to places no one else could Greatly respected as peacemaker by tribal people Died after 40 years of ministry. Fruit was about 10,000 converts from Okoyong and Ibo people Samuel Zwemer (1867-1952) – SVMM Evangelized in Bahrain for 9 years Know more for raising awareness of the need for Muslim evangelism

Conclusion Lessons Missions has ebbs and flows Spiritual decline in churches leads to spiritual decline in missions The Word of God is central in effective missions, so good translation work is fundamental Telling the story of God at work in the world stirs people in the churches to embrace missions