Missionaries have been making an impact since Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission after his resurrection. There are numerous examples of missionaries throughout the centuries, and their stories can encourage us as we see the Gospel being spread in the world.
What are some examples of missionaries? Five missionaries you should know are David Brainerd, David Livingstone, James Hudson Taylor, Brother Andrew, and Mother Teresa. Each one of them surrendered their own comfort to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever they went in the world.
I hope a look into these five missionaries’ lives will encourage you, starting with the missionary David Brainerd.
David Brainerd
David Brainerd was among the first missionaries to attempt to bring the Gospel to Native Americans in their own language. He was appointed to be a missionary to New Jersey in 1743.
During this period he lived among the Housatonic Indians near Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He preached with a translator, started a school for the children, and strived to learn the language. His aim was to translate some of the Bible. He did not see people come to the know the Gospel during this time.
In 1745, he was relocated to New Jersey. He saw spiritual growth with these Indians. Over 100 people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. He recounts tribes weeping and repenting as he preached. God was moving among the Indian people in a powerful way.
He was only a missionary for four years before he died, but he had a lasting impact on the Indian people during those years. Those who gave their lives to Christ now have eternal life, and many of them may never have heard the Gospel and surrendered their life to Jesus if it weren’t for David Brainerd.
His last diary entry, written seven days before his death in October 1747 reads:
My soul was this day, at turns, sweetly set on God: I longed to be with him, that I might behold his glory. I felt sweetly disposed to commit all to him, even my dearest friends, my dearest flock, my absent brother, and all my concerns for time and eternity. Oh that his kingdom might come in the world; that they might all love and glorify him, for what he is in himself; and that the blessed Redeemer might see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied! Oh come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Amen.
David Brainerd
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a pioneering missionary to Africa who not only mapped vast regions of the continent but also challenged prevailing stereotypes by demonstrating that Africans are not inferior, but deserving of the same dignity and respect as all people created by God.
During the 1840s, he set out on his first missionary journey to Cape Town, South Africa. His heart was to see an end to slavery amongst Africans, but he did not see how this could be possible when there were no maps of the continent. His goal in creating these maps was to expose slave trade routes, and to open up legitimate trade opportunities for African nations.
During the 1880s, he made it his mission to walk the width of Africa. While he was on this journey, he saw slavery up-close. Trained as a doctor, he preached and treated people’s medical needs along the way.
He traveled for three years, walking over 2,00 miles. He returned home after 16 years of living and traveling in Africa.
The English people were stunned by his bravery and he received many awards and honors. When he went back to Africa in 1858, he wrote letters to the British about the slave trade.
Livingstone was one of the most influential people to advocate the abolishment of slavery in Africa. He had a deep love for the people in Africa and shared the gospel with them. Even when trials came his way, he still praised the name of Jesus and brought others to Salvation. Because of him, people around the world became aware of the brutal slavery that was taking place in Africa.
“I place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ. If anything will advance the interests of the kingdom, it shall be given away or kept, only as by giving or keeping it I shall promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time and eternity.”
David Livingstone
James Hudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor served as a missionary in China for over 51 years. His dedication to reaching people with the Gospel is admirable.
While training at London Hospital in 1853, James Hudson Taylor heard news of the Taiping Rebellion. The chaos and instability this brought to the region gave Taylor a new sense of urgency, causing him to abruptly leave his studies and set out for China. His heart was stirred to share the Gospel with the Chinese. He arrived in Shanghai, China in March and lived as the only missionary in this part of the country.
Taylor worked hard to learn the language along with passages of Scripture. He chose to adapt to their culture and way of dressing. He did not live in a fancy house, as did other missionaries during that time, but lived humbly among those he wished to serve. He became like one of the Chinese.
In 1856, he moved to Ningbo where he met his wife. Due to illness, he returned to England. While there, he prayed that God would bring him twenty-four workers to go back to China with him. He felt led to found the China Inland Mission (CIM), the purpose of which would be to bring missionaries to China. By the end of the year, God had miraculously provided these twenty-four volunteers to spread the Gospel.
This was not the last time Taylor would ask God to send workers to China. Years later, he prayed asking God to send eighteen workers to minister to nine unreached provinces. In 1885, they had 225 missionaries through CIM.
It was not always easy for Taylor. His compound was attacked and burned down. He admitted at one time that he was depressed and having suicidal thoughts, going so far as to say that his wife was the only thing keeping him from committing suicide. He had a realization: he could no longer strive for Christ. Taylor realized that he could rest in the Lord. He was done relying on his own strength, but would learn to rely on the strength of God.
Taylor’s impact on China was profound. The China Inland Mission he started went on to send over 700 workers to China. His legacy lives on through OMF International, formerly known as China Inland Mission. The goal of OMF International is to spread the Gospel in Asia. Taylor’s impact on China is still going over 160 years later. The Gospel is still being spread!
In April 1874, Taylor wrote to a friend saying:
We have $0.87 and all the promises of God.
James Hudson Taylor
Brother Andrew
Andy van der Bijl, known as Brother Andrew, was a missionary who risked his life to share the Gospel. He lived his life bringing Bibles to people who were persecuted. He started the Open Doors ministry, which is a ministry dedicated to serving persecuted Christians.
In his early life, he was in the army. His time in the army came to an abrupt end when he took a bullet to the ankle.
In 1953, he began studies at WEC Glasgow Bible College. He studied for two years there. A trip to Poland opened his eyes to missions. This stirred his heart for missions and people who needed the Gospel around the world.
He felt a call to bring Bibles to people living in communism. He brought Bibles to people living in the Iron Curtain border. He was banned once the communists found out that he was smuggling Bibles in.
Today, his ministry Open Doors is still bringing Bibles to people in different nations. They reach over 60 persecuted nations with the message of Christ and with his Word. They broadcast secretly over the radio with messages of the Gospel to Christians in North Korea and provide food for countries living in droughts. The impact Brother Andrew had on persecuted Christian’s lives on.
Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to your children. When you were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.
Brother Andrew
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa is one of the most well-known missionaries today. She is known for her work in India and love for people. She did not just say she loved people, but showed them by her actions. She loved the unloved. She lived out the Gospel in her own life.
At the age of 18, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu went to Ireland to become a Nun. She changed her name to Teresa in honor of her favorite saint, Saint Teresa of Lisieux.
In 1931, she was assigned to Calcutta, to serve as a teacher at St. Mary’s high school. She did well in this assignment, learning both Bengali and Hindi fluently and eventually earning a promotion to school principal. Even then, her heart was touched by the slums surrounding this beautiful school.
After years in this position, she felt God calling her to leave St. Mary’s in order to work in the slums. However, as she taken a vow of obedience she could not leave without official permission.
Pope XII allowed her to serve the poor and leave her order in 1948. After medical training, she went and back to the slums with the simple goal to love the unloved.
She opened a school, an orphanage, a nursing home, and a family clinic for the people in the slums. Her actions showed how deeply she cared for the people within the slums. She did not care what they looked like, she loved and served them regardless.
She created the Missionaries of Charity two years later. It established homes all over for people who were sick and dying. Their mission was, “the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.” Missionaries of Charity wanted to spread love to people who were pushed away by society and show them the love of Jesus.
Her mission work was noticed all around the world. She received many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. People saw the love Mother Teresa had for the people of India.
Her impact continues today. The Missionaries of Charity she pioneered now has over 4,000 nuns serving all over the world. Mother Teresa saw the beauty inside of people who were sick and in poverty. She showed them the love of Jesus by providing them with medical care.
If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa
Each one of these missionaries lived out the Great Commission. These missionaries sacrificed everything to spread the Gospel, leaving their comfortable homes to ensure everyone knows the salvation of Jesus Christ.
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!
Psalm 96:3
