VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 8/6/13)—In celebration of its 200thanniversary, American Baptist International Ministries (IM) has produced a new DVD that provides a vivid historical account of the drama of mission in Burma (now called Myanmar) through the life of Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson and his three wives, Ann, Sarah and Emily.
The DVD entitled Adoniram Judson: The Man and the Missionis a compilation of six informal sessions, plus a short overview and a personal reflection by Dr. Jerry Cain, chancellor of Judson University. The DVD also contains a comprehensive study guide prepared by Rev. Ron Schlosser, IM special assistant, and Dr. Reid Trulson, IM executive director. The DVD was produced by IM in collaboration with the America Baptist Historical Society and Judson University.
In July, every church who received the 2013 World Mission Offering materials also received one complementary DVD as part of their WMO packet. Additional DVDs are available to individuals and churches for $19.95 each, plus shipping and handling. Orders may be placed by calling 1-800-4JUDSON. (Item #i393)
Adoniram and Ann Judson left Salem, Massachusetts bound for India in 1812. A year later they settled in Burma where they began sharing their Christian faith.
Cain reflected on his passion for the study Judson’s ministry: “I grew up in a Baptist church that loved missions and taught about missionaries, including Adoniram Judson. He was a cultural hero as revered in my childhood as the Beatles, Willie Mays or John F. Kennedy.
“During my 14 years as president of Judson University, I often traced events in the life of this great missionary as inspirational or motivational messages to our students, faculty and outside constituents. His story is worth telling again 200 years after he sailed to Asia,” Cain continued.
The first segment reviews the political, theological and cultural scene at the beginning of the 19th century when Judson grew up. Sections two and three cover the birth of the modern mission movement from America and the early beginnings in Burma (1809-1821).
The struggles facing the Judsons in the 1820‘s are outlined in session four followed by a report of their eventual successes as reported in the fifth section covering up to 1847. The final segment (1847-1850) is an evaluation of the modern mission movement and the impact of the Judson influence.
The accompanying study guide provides practical discussion material and next-step ideas for use in local churches or home study groups.
The Judson story is presented in a popular fashion to a group of Judson University students and consists of vignettes and stories gleaned from four biographies written about Judson over the past 150 years.
“The ground-breaking work of Adoniram Judson in Burma during the first half of the 19th century set the standard for international and intercultural engagement for the modern mission movement,” Cain summarized. “After 200 years we can do little to improve on his academic depth, personal integrity, indigenous acumen and theological focus. The modern mission movement, with Adoniram Judson as one of its founders, is the most significant movement among Protestants since the Reformation.”
For more information, contact Catherine Nold: Catherine.nold@abc-usa.org. To order the DVD, call Judson Press at 1-800-4JUDSON, request item #i393.
American Baptist International Ministries was organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America. It began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.