Modern Missionary Movement

     One might argue that the Moravians began the Modern Missionary Movement when they sold themselves into slavery in order to become soul-savers. Certainly David Brainerd paid the cost succumbing to illness as he was translating Scripture while working and witnessing with Native Americans, nevertheless, we suddenly have a host of heroes on the scene at the beginning of the 19th C. 

    Another forerunner was Thomas Bray, Priest and Missionary. In 1696 Thomas Bray, an English country parson, was commissioned to report on the condition of the Church in the colony of Maryland. He spent only ten weeks in the colony, but he radically re-organized and renewed the Church there, providing for the instruction of children and the systematic examination of candidates for pastoral positions. He founded thirty-nine lending libraries and numerous schools. Both in Maryland and upon his return to England, he wrote and preached in defense of the rights of enlaved Africans, and of Indians deprived of their land. Back in England, he worked for the reform of prison conditions, and for the establishment of preaching missions to prisoners. He persuaded General Oglethorpe to found a American colony (Georgia) for the settlement of debtors as an alternative to debtors' prison. He founded a missionary society, the Spg (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) and an educational and publishing society, the Spck (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge), both of which are still active today.  (this bio by James E. Kiefer)

     This page is devoted to some real heroes.