10 People who died at the age of 61

I do this sort of thing at this time of the year just to remind myself that being a live is a privilege not to be taken for granted.

1. Gregory of Nazianzus  church father 390
2. Thomas Gainsborough artist 1788
3. Andrew Fuller 1815
4. Sir Walter Scott novelist 1832
5. Adoniram Judson missionary 1850
6. George Eliot novelist 1880
7. Gregor Mendel monk and scientist 1884
8. Benito Mussolini dictator 1945
9. Ernest Hemingway writer 1961
10. Alan Ball footballer 2007

Grace Baptist Assembly 2015 Final Day

I have been a little constrained in my reporting the GBA as I forgot to take the computer lead with me. I am back home now and can report that our final morning was very good. Hugh Collier spoke on Adoniram Judson, a great hero, especially of we Baptists. He judged it very well for what to include and what to leave out. It was very good to hear the story again and areal challenge. Carl Muller preached from Romans 8:28 for the finale session and sent us home on the right note.

Having missed last year's assembly I particularly appreciated being there this year. It is good to be with these people. We share so much in common and there is great sympathy one for the other. May such fellowship long continue.

CYSK 14 Adoniram Judson

https://www.frontlinemissionsa.org/missions/adoniram-and-ann-judson

Adoniram Judson, Jr. (1788–1850) was an American Baptist (formerly Congregationalist) missionary, who served in Burma for almost forty years. At the age of 25, Judson became the first Protestant missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma. His mission and work with Luther Rice led to the formation of the first Baptist association in America to support missionaries. At times mistakenly referred to as the first missionary to Burma, he was in fact preceded by James Chater and Richard Mardon (both arrived in 1807) as well as by Felix Carey. However, since none of them remained long, and Judson also translated the Bible into Burmese, as well as establishing a number of Baptist churches in Burma, Judson is remembered as the first significant missionary in Burma, as well as one of the very first missionaries from America to travel overseas. When he died, he left the Bible (his translation remains popular), 100 churches, and over 8,000 believers. In large part due to his influence, Myanmar has the third largest number of Baptists worldwide (behind the USA and India). The majority of adherents are Karen and Kachin. Each July, Baptist churches in Myanmar celebrate "Judson Day". Judson compiled the first ever Burmese-English dictionary. The English-Burmese half was interrupted by his death and completed by missionary E A Steven. Every dictionary and grammar written in Burma in the last two centuries has been based on ones originally created by Judson.

Carey 2010 9

The final session featured Conrad Mbewe on Adoniram Judson. This timeline, adapted from Wikipedia reminds us of the shape of Judson's life.
* 1788 — Born Malden, Massachusetts, August 9
* 1804 — Entered Brown University one year in advance, August 17
* 1807 — Received degree of BA, September 2
* 1808 — Completed English Grammar, and "Young Ladies' Arithmetic" (quite deistic)
* Converted and then entered Andover Theological Seminary, October 12
* 1809 — United with Third Congregational Church of Plymouth, May 28
* 1810 — Resolved with others to be a missionary, February
* 1811 — Sent to London to confer with London Missionary Society, January 11 to August 7
* Appointed missionary to the East, September 19
* 1812 — Married to Ann Hasseltine, February 5
* Ordained at Salem, Massachusetts, February 6
* Sailed from Salem, February 12
* En route to India becomes a Baptist. Baptised Calcutta, September 6 (Conrad commented that it takes a certain kind of man to, as it were, cut the umbilical cord while still in the womb!)
* 1813 — Unable to work in India, eventually arrived in Rangoon, July 13 (a baby died en route)
* 1819 — Began public worship in Burmese, April 4
* Baptised Maung Naw, first Burman convert (probably Mon ethnic he became a fiery evangelist), June 27
* 1823 — Completed New Testament in Burmese, July 12
* 1824 — Anglo-American War starts Arrived in Ava, January 23
* In fetters and prison as spy, June 8-December 30, 1825 (few survived as long in that place)
* 1825 — Mary Elizabeth born, January 26
* 1826 — Arrived at Rangoon, March 21
* Arrived at Amherst, July 2
* Heard of Mrs A Judson's death (October 24) on November 24 (each child she bore had died)
* 1827 — Heard of his father's death (November 25, 1826) July 11
* Arrived in Moulmein, November 14
* 1834 — Married widow Mrs Sarah Boardman, April 10 (5 of 8 children survived him)
* 1835 — Completed Old Testament translation, December 29
* 1844 — Edward Judson, son, born at Moulmein, Burma
* 1845 — Mrs S Judson died while on way to America, September 1
* Arrived in Boston, October 15
* 1846 — Married Emily Chubbuck, June 2
* Sailed for Moulmein, July 11
* 1849 — Completed English-Burmese dictionary, January 24 (though Conrad suggested he never quite did finish it himself)
* 1850 — Died at sea April 12
It's been a great conference.