The most thrilling story

When famed missionary Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) came home to New England in 1845-46 after many years spent in pioneer labors Burma, he found to his surprise that he was a celebrity in American Christian circles with numerous invitations to speak and preach. His audiences, however, were often disappointed in Judson. They wanted to hear exotic tales from the strange land of the East, but Judson generally preached the same gospel messages he proclaimed in Burma.

On the way home after one such engagement, Judson’s third wife, Emily, gently tried to explain to her husband what his American audiences wanted:

“But they wanted something different—a story.”

“Well, I am sure I gave them a story—the most thrilling one that can be conceived of.”

“But they had heard it before. They wanted something new of a man who had just come from the antipodes.”

“Then I am glad they have it to say, that a man coming from the antipodes had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus’ dying love.”

JTR