John & Betty Stam
Vance Christie had the privilege of writing this little volume on the life and ministry of John and Betty Stam. This may be the most popular little book that I’ve written to this point. The Stams — Betty was born in 1906, John in 1907 and then they died in 1934. They were missionaries to the inland of China. That was during the period of the Communist rebellion, and they were actually beheaded by communist rebels as foreigners and as missionaries. While their lives were very brief, I think they have some very important things to teach us. One thing that I’ve always admired about them is that they put their personal desires, even their romantic relationship — they put that second in the place of serving Christ.
When Betty graduated from Moody Bible Institute and was ready to go to the mission field, John was intending to follow her to China a year later so they could have become engaged to be married, but they were not sure where they would end up at, in China. So they agreed that they would just wait and see where the Lord ended up leading both of them and then see if it would be appropriate for them to marry. So they placed service of Christ first and the Lord honoured that. And when they both ended up over in China, it worked out that within a reasonably brief time they were able to be married.
One thing that the author, Vance Christie, always appreciated about John Stam was that he had an extremely disciplined, personal devotional life, and the testimony of others who knew him was that his knowledge of the Word of God and his closeness to the Lord overflowed in his ministry. Out of the overflow of his personal relationship with the Lord and his knowledge of God’s Word, others were blessed as he shared what was in his own heart with them. Well, it seems such a tragedy that at ages 27 and 28 they were martyred when they were just at the beginning of their career. And yet the Lord used even that in powerful ways. When the news of their deaths and their martyrdom filtered back to Britain and to America, there were literally hundreds of Christian young people who ended up devoting their lives to vocational Christian ministry, saying that we will serve the Lord in the place of John and Betty, whose lives were taken.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
John 12:24-26
Hebrews 11:4b “.He being dead, yet speaketh.”
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
John & Betty Stam – Missionary Martyrs
“The fateful day began with deceptive normalcy at John and Betty Stam’s missionary residence in…
Adoniram Judson is known for enduring tremendous difficulties through his decades of service in Burma. He was married three times. His first two wives died at relatively young ages there in Burma. Some of their children died as well. He was ministering in a land that was said to have the bloodiest and most brutal laws known in the whole world at that time.
He saw some of the Christians, a number of the Christians, suffer persecution and had to flee from their homes because of their Christian faith. He himself spent over a year in a Burmese prison where the conditions were just unimaginably difficult. Almost unspeakable brutality that took place in that prison setting.
Adoniram Judson was used of the Lord to lead a number of Burmese to Christ. A Burmese congregation formed, and he ministered faithfully as the pastor of that congregation.
He always had a heart for evangelism. He was an extremely capable linguist, and he ended up translating the entire Bible into the Burmese language. He also produced an extensive Burmese English dictionary, which would profit other missionaries who were following in his trail. In his own words, “I have found that the greatest hindrance to the progress of the gospel among the Burmese is the want of a knowledge of the language.”
So while he wanted to be out actively serving as an evangelist, still he was very faithful to this other ability that God had given him. And he used it well and actively, and the Lord used it to bring about the production of the entire Bible for this nation.
“I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ.” – Adoniram Judson
He was used to the Lord to lead a number of Burmese to Christ. A Burmese congregation formed, and he ministered faithfully as the pastor of that congregation. He always had a heart for evangelism. He was an extremely capable linguist, and he ended up translating the entire Bible into the Burmese language. He also produced an extensive Burmese English dictionary, which would profit other missionaries who were following in his trail.
So while he wanted to be out actively serving as an evangelist, still he was very faithful to this other ability that God had given him. And he used it well and actively, and the Lord used it to bring about the production of the entire Bible for this nation.
Quotes:
“The future is as bright as the promises of God.”
“I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ.”
“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.”
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.”
“I am content to do God’s will, and let Him worry about the consequences.”
“I have found that the greatest hindrance to the progress of the gospel among the Burmese is the want of a knowledge of the language.”
“I would rather be a slave in a heathen land, knowing and worshiping the true God, than to reign as a king or an emperor over all the realms of the earth, and be without God and without hope in the world.”
Matthew 16:24-26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
David Brainerd
David Brainerd’s life and diary provide valuable lessons and insights for Christians today. Here are a few things we can learn from him:
The importance of prayer: Brainerd was a man of prayer and spent much time alone with God. His diary is full of examples of his deep and fervent prayer life, which inspired many others to seek God in the same way.
The power of perseverance: Brainerd faced many challenges in his ministry, including illness, rejection, and opposition. However, he remained steadfast in his faith and continued to serve God despite the difficulties.
The need for self-discipline: Brainerd was known for his strict self-discipline, which he practiced in order to keep his body under control and focus on his spiritual goals.
The importance of holiness: Brainerd was committed to living a holy life, and he sought to be conformed to the image of God. His example challenges us to pursue holiness in our own lives.
The value of missions: Brainerd’s life and work as a missionary among the Native Americans shows us the importance of reaching out to those who are different from us and sharing the love of Christ with them.
Overall, David Brainerd’s diary and his example as a Christian offer us a model of devotion, perseverance, and commitment to the cause of Christ.