12/08/2025
Yesterday was the commissioning service of The Zachary and Emily White Family. They have finished their training and deputation and will be going to Romania shortly.
As we think of the responsibility of the church to send out chief and chosen men we are reminded of Adoniram Judson’s (missionary to Burm in 1819) advice to new missionaries.
First, don’t be surprised by initial discouragements. Adoniram cautioned that “you will be met with disappointments and discouragements . . . which will lead you, at first, almost to regret that you have embarked in the cause. . . . Beware, therefore, of the reaction you will experience from a combination of all these causes, lest you become disheartened at commencing your work.”
Second, don’t let fatigue lead you into temptation. Adoniram warned of a pull toward ease “after you have acquired the language and become fatigued and worn out with preaching the gospel to a disobedient and gainsaying people.” He explained that fatigue often causes the missionary to want to seek another, more comfortable, pursuit, and Satan will likely comply to tempt with such an opportunity.
Third, don’t let secret pride take root. He admonished future missionaries to guard their spiritual health and to “beware of pride; not the pride of proud men, but the pride of humble men — the secret pride which is apt to grow out of the consciousness that we are esteemed by the great and good.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/six-years-no-converts
