Reflecting on David Brainerd — E.A. Johnston

David Brainerd’s Life as a Challenge to Modern Ministry

In Bridge Street Cemetery, in the town of Northampton, Massachusetts, lies the grave of David Brainerd, who died at the age of 29, in the home of Jonathan Edwards. I don't believe many young preacher boys have studied the life of Brainerd, but they need to.

Rethinking Success in Ministry

Brainerd's life stands in direct contrast to how we view a successful ministry today. Many pastors view success in the size of their sanctuary, in the size of their congregation. Their success is judged by brick and mortar and numbers.

Well, I want to read you, friends, some of the diary entries of David Brainerd today, who was a missionary to the Indians. I believe it would be a fruitful experience if we all read or re-read Brainerd's diary.

Brainerd’s Humility Before God

Brainerd wrote, Went to the meeting house ashamed to see anyone come to hear such an unspeakable, worthless wretch. However, God enabled me to speak with clearness, power, and pungency. That reminds me of the story of the Scottish seminarian who was to preach his first public sermon, and he strutted to the platform with his shoulders thrown back like he was ready to tackle the devil.

His sermon fell flat, and he left the platform. With his head down, his shoulders slumped in humility. His tutor remarked to him, Aye, laddie, had you entered the pulpit like the way you came out of it, your sermon would have gone much better.

David Brainerd thought little of himself, but he knew he served a big God. He wrote, I live poorly with regard to the comforts of life. Most of my diet consists of boiled corn and hasty pudding. I lodge on a bundle of straw.

Faithfulness Amid Hardship and Apparent Failure

My labor is hard and extremely difficult, and I have little appearance of success to comfort me. Brainerd's words should encourage every God-called preacher who faithfully serves his God, but who has little appearance of success.

God keeps a ledger book in heaven, brother preacher, and he knows your sacrifices and your discouragements in ministry, and he sees the larger picture of your life and how it has influenced others for good and the sake of the gospel.

Brainerd’s Legacy Beyond Visible Results

David Brainerd had a handful of converts among the Indians, and by today's standards he would be viewed as a failure by some, but many missionaries went out on mission fields because of Brainerd's life, and his diary has inspired thousands who have read it for their benefit and for God's glory.

Andrew Bonar visited Brainerd's grave in the late 1800s and he wrote in his own diary about that experience. He said as he stood at Brainerd's grave and reflected on his life of usefulness, his heart was stirred within him.

A Prayer for Ministry and Mission

I want to end this reflection on David Brainerd with his own words as taken from his diary, and perhaps his words, friend, will stir your own heart within you to go out and do greater things for God and the gospel.

I set apart this day for fasting and prayer to God for his grace, especially to prepare me for the work of the ministry, to give me divine aid and direction in my preparations for that great work, and in his own time to send me into his harvest.

Accordingly, in the morning, I endeavored to plead for the divine presence for the day, and not without some life. In the forenoon, I felt the power of intercession for precious immortal souls, for the advancement of the kingdom of my dear Lord and Savior.

In the world, and with all a most sweet resignation, and even consolation and joy in the thoughts of suffering, hardships, distresses, and even death itself in the promotion of it, had special enlargement in pleading for the enlightening and conversion of the poor heathen.

Let us pray.