David Brainerd was one of the most successful missionaries to the American Indians. He lived from 1718 to 1746. He was a contemporary of Jonathon Edwards who actually wrote Brainerd’s biography and compiled his memoirs. As a small child, Brainerd lost both of his parents. According to Tucker (2007), this caused Brainerd to be “deeply concerned with the condition of his soul” (p. 80). Brainerd’s life can be divided into two distinct phases: his schooling and his missionary work.
Brainerd became a student at Yale in 1739. Even as a student, Brainerd had an incredible understanding of human depravity. In 1742 Brainerd (2007) records, “I deserve hell every day for not loving my Lord more…Every time I am able to exercise any grace renewedly, I am renewedly indebted to the God of all grace for spiritual existence” (p. 75). In that he understood his debt to God which he was unable to pay, Brainerd had the theological backbone necessary for the future life of missionary work which lay before him.
In 1742, Brainerd received his license to preach (Brainerd, 2007). Consequently, he was also expelled from Yale later in this same year (Tucker, 2004). Brainerd shows great faith at this time when he (2007) records, “The disgrace I was laid under at college seemed to damp me…I had no refuge buy in God” (p. 77).
Following his expulsion, Brainerd began to pursue a career as a missionary to the American Indians. Brainerd received a position as a missionary to the Bay Colony from the Society in Scotland for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge (Tucker, 2004). Brainerd (2007) found his work here to be completely unfruitful. He did not speak the language and found himself to be completely inadequate. Brainerd records, “Appeared to myself to be completely ignorant, weak, helpless, unworthy, and altogether unequal to my work” (p. 119). Still, Brainerd made every effort to evangelize the Native Americans in this area, including moving closer to them. In spite of his lack of success, he was dedicated to his calling as a missionary so much that he turned down several offers to serve as a pastor (Tucker, 2004).
Brainerd moved to New Jersey in 1745 to minister to a new group of Indians who were more open to the Gospel message. Here he experienced a lot of grief over sin and as a result, was critical in many Indians coming to Christ. It seems that he learned a lot about missionary work here as he found the basics of the Christian faith to be the most effective messages. In his time here, Brainerd experienced many a salvation and baptism and even a revival of the faith among the American Indians.
Brainerd was a zealous man, eager to perform the work of the Lord. His life can be summed up by his (2007) own words, “Oh, that I might always be engaged in the service of God” (p. 164). Even though his life was short, he made a great impact on the American Indians and on Christianity as a whole.
References
Tucker, R.A. (2004). From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Brainerd, D. (2007). J. Edwards (Ed.) Life and diary of David Brainerd. New York, NY: Cosimo Inc.
The Missionary, David Brainerd
