“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

(Mark 8:35 ESV)

Adoniram Judson planned to move to Burma (east of India) around 1810, and live there as a missionary, in a place where there was no Christian or Scriptures in their language. He wished to marry Ann Hasseltine, but wanted to be clear to her parents that allowing her to marry him would mean that she would move away and very likely never see her again. 

He wrote a letter, asking their permission to marry her and take her with him to serve Christ. Here’s an excerpt from the letter he wrote:

“I must ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death.

“Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair.”

Ann Hasseltine’s parents said the decision was hers. After praying and thinking for a couple of months, she said “yes.” 

Adoniram and Ann Judson were married in February of 1812, and set sail for Burma to preach the Gospel. Ann died of disease just 14 years later. Adoniram had a goal of planting 1 church and having 100 members before he died. Adoniram labored on, served 40 years in Burma, and upon his death, left 100 churches and 8,000 Christians. (Source: Discipleship Sermon Illustrations)

Darrell Stetler is a pastor of a church in Oklahoma City, and the creator of the Family Devotions Resource Notebook.