To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Man
Review: Courtney Anderson has done an incredible job compiling journals, articles and history to recreate the story of this amazing man. The details of Judson's private life and family life are vividly recorded. Through reading the details of his childhood, we can see all the events that God orchestrated to bring about his conversion and shortly after, his ambitious heart for global missions. The haystack prayer meeting, his rejection of congregationalism on the ship to India, his time spent with William Carey, and the account of his first Burmese convert, are just a few of the famous stories in the world of missions that are intimately tied into the biography. Your heart will break as Judson experiences the death of some of his closest friends early in his missionary career. You will cry as he loses wife after wife to the hardships of missionary life.

The book is very provocative, in the sense of drawing your emotions into the adventures of frontier missions. So it makes for great material to fuel the fires of your heart, for those on the field and for those supporting missionaries. But for anyone who is in a stage of your life where you are considering missions, reading this book will only make you want to get on the plane sooner, possibly clouding your rational decision making.

Rating:
Summary: The First Missionary
Review: My my my. What a book! The story of the first missionary from North America, Adoniram Judson did not disappoint this reader! Although it did start a bit slow at first, it ended up being quite inspriational for me. This story is a good illustration how God shows His sovereignty, especially to those who are willing to take a leap of faith and put their whole lives in His hands. If you were ever thinking about being a missionary or if you already are, this book is a must read. If you are questioning God's providence in people's lives, this is a must read for you, too. But be fair warned; be prepared to be emotionaly envolved in this book.

Rating:
Summary: The First Missionary
Review: My my my. What a book! The story of the first missionary from North America, Adoniram Judson did not disappoint this reader! Although it did start a bit slow at first, it ended up being quite inspriational for me. This story is a good illustration how God shows His sovereignty, especially to those who are willing to take a leap of faith and put their whole lives in His hands. If you were ever thinking about being a missionary or if you already are, this book is a must read. If you are questioning God's providence in people's lives, this is a must read for you, too. But be fair warned; be prepared to be emotionaly envolved in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Most Careful Biography of Adoniram Judson
Review: This book is mandatory reading for those who are interested in the life of Judson or the history of Christian missions. Anderson writes the story of Adoniram Judson in a clear and compelling style. The spirit and sacrafice of Judson stand outs clearly in this moving work. The life of Judson has propelled many Christians to a more devoted Christian commitment. Anderson demonstrates her scholarly research in a format that is very accessible. The one weakness seems to be her misunderstanding of Adoniram Judson's father's theological viewpoint. However, this is very minor and does not significantly impact the power or value of this work.

Rating:
Summary: Life Changing Book
Review: This was the best biography that I have ever read. The testimony of salvation of both Adonirom and Nancy are given in great detail. The book also gives some great details of Adonirom's methodology for starting a mission. After reading about the tremendous trials he went through, you will find it difficult to ever complain again about your lot in life. In addition to the great spiritual benefits the book affords, it is a very enjoyable book to read. The author does a great job of keeping the interest level - it is a hard book to put down.

Rating:
Summary: Life Changing Book
Review: This was the best biography that I have ever read. The testimony of salvation of both Adonirom and Nancy are given in great detail. The book also gives some great details of Adonirom's methodology for starting a mission. After reading about the tremendous trials he went through, you will find it difficult to ever complain again about your lot in life. In addition to the great spiritual benefits the book affords, it is a very enjoyable book to read. The author does a great job of keeping the interest level - it is a hard book to put down.