“Missionary Mondays” is a weekly resource for parents. Each week will feature a missionary story that is designed to be read to young children. Also included is a prayer and corresponding activity. Enjoy!
David Brainerd
God’s plan for rescuing His people from sin has always been a plan full of surprises. No one would have ever dreamed that the mighty King of the universe would have become a poor, homeless man who sacrificed Himself for the very people who rejected Him. No one would would have ever dreamed that getting to Heaven was gained by trading in your sin for Jesus’ righteousness and not gained by doing anything good. No one would have ever dreamed that He would have used a group of sinful, clumsy men to be the first ones to spread the good news of the gospel.
And no one would have ever dreamed that God would have chosen a man like David Brainerd to bring the love and truth of Jesus to a scary and unknown group of people – the American Indians.
David Brainerd was born a long time ago – in 1718 – before the United States was even it’s own country. His mother and father were both Puritans – people who had sailed to America from England so that they could worship God without fear of being punished.
Even though David grew up going to church and knowing all the stories of the Bible, it wasn’t until he was 21 years old that he fell in love with Jesus and became one of His followers. For so long, David had thought that he could be a good person and earn his way to Heaven. Because of that wrong way of thinking, he developed a very haughty attitude. He would consider himself to be more holy than anyone else around him, and he was very judgmental about the way other people lived. He probably had a difficult time keeping close friends!
But despite the high wall of good deeds that David had built around himself, God still snuck into David’s life and brought those walls crashing down to the ground. God, in a very mighty way, revealed to David that all of his good works were good for nothing, and that the only thing that mattered about a person was whether they loved God or not.
So right then and there, David started over. He began hearing and reading God’s Word like it was the first time! He was so excited and in love with the truth that Jesus had set him free from the law and sin and death! David knew that he must devote his life to spreading the same good news to others.
And he didn’t want to do it from the comforts of his hometown.
David Brainerd wanted to take the good news of the gospel way out into the wilderness. Where the American Indians lived.
This decision shocked many people.
“Go live out in the wilderness? With the Indians??” the people exclaimed. “Think of the dangers! There are no doctors; there are wild animals; and worst of all, the Indians – the same people you are trying to save – will probably kill you! You are a fool if you go, David Brainerd!”
Do you think that stopped David, or even scared him? Absolutely not. For you see, ever since David had become a follower of Jesus, he had been practicing his secret weapon. This secret weapon was so powerful that David had no fear about going to live in the dangerous forests. This secret weapon gave him so much courage that he knew he would be well-taken-care-of.
Do you want to know what David Brainerd’s secret weapon was?
It wasn’t a sword, or a gun, or any kind of weapon like that.
David Brainerd was armed with the power of constantly and fervently praying.
His life was one that was filled with prayer. David knew that prayer was one of the ways that God changed the world, so he prayed as often and as intensely as possible. There were many days throughout the week that David would pray from morning until evening. He truly loved being in God’s presence, begging Him to save the souls of the Indians and to protect him in the process.
And did God ever honor David’s faithful praying!
Awesome and miraculous things would happen because of the the prayers of David Brainerd.
One night, soon after arriving deep in the forests, David was on his knees praying.
“Oh Father! If you would just give me a way into the village of these Indian people. Change the chief’s heart, that he may welcome me in and hear the message of Your Truth. Whatever it takes, Father, to spread the good news of Your Gospel, I am willing to do it!”
David didn’t know it, but as he was kneeling on the ground praying those words, the very group of Indians that he wanted to meet were hiding in the bushes, watching him. They had planned to attack and kill him, for he was a stranger, but before they attacked, something incredible happened that changed their mind.
David was on his knees with his eyes closed, so he didn’t see the rattlesnake that was slithering up to him, but the Indians saw it. They also saw the rattlesnake lift up its head close to David’s head, ready to bite and surely kill him. The Indians continued to watch, assuming that their enemy was about to be killed by this poisonous snake. But suddenly, without any reason, the snake closed its mouth, sunk back to the ground, and slithered off!
The Indians were astonished! What could have protected this man from the bite of a deadly rattlesnake other than the God that he was praying to!
The Indians not only introduced themselves to David, but welcomed them into their village as well! God had used that snake to make a way for David to become a part of the Indian village. It wasn’t long before David had been given an opportunity to share about the God that protected him.
The weeks and months that followed were filled with difficulty, hunger, sickness, but most of all – joy. Even though it was a very challenging way to live – all the way out in the wilderness without a dry home or good food – the Lord used David in wonderful and mighty ways.
The very first Indian who gave His life to Jesus was 100 years old, with hair as white as snow. What a day that must have been for David! And there were many others who followed the old man.
For 4 years David served, loved, and lived with the Indians. He moved around several times to different villages, all of them eventually accepting and befriending him. He started schools and shared about the love of Jesus. So many Indians came to know Jesus through the work and obedience of David!
And throughout his adventures with the Indians, David prayed. He prayed and he prayed and he prayed. He never tired of it or forgot the importance of it. Talking to his King was his lifeline…it was more important to him than eating, breathing, or even living. He knew that nothing would be accomplished without spending precious time in prayer.
And so, after 4 fruitful and busy years, God called David home. He allowed David to get sick and die in a dear friend’s bed.
Now David is in Heaven with all of the Indian brothers and sisters that he led to Jesus hundreds of years ago.
David’s life wasn’t long, and it wasn’t easy or perfect, but it was precious to the Lord. David was so faithful in prayer and in sharing the truth…what glory he brought to God! And now he is enjoying his eternal reward at home with his Heavenly Father.
You may not be old enough to travel across the world or go live in the wilderness, but you can pray. Praying is often what someone does first before something big and marvelous happens. You are never too young to pray! And your prayers are never too big or too adventurous!
Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, You delight in the prayers of your people. I ask that I would be a person who sees prayer as more important that eating or even breathing. Remind me everyday to come to you in prayer, for the big and the little things! Show me how to pray for things that I think are impossible, and remind me to pray for the things that I think are small enough for me to handle. You are in control of them all, Father. Thank you for being a King who loves His people and cares for them. You have given me so much, Lord. I love You forever! Amen.
Activity: Make An Indian Headdress!
Supplies:
- Tape, scissors
- Craft feathers
- Multi-colored construction paper
- Markers
Directions:
- Cut a black strip of construction paper to fit around your child’s head. Cut out a white strip that is just a little bit shorter and skinnier than the black one. Tape it, centered, to the black piece and write out the verse, “Cast all your anxieties upon Him, for He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 Decorate around the verse with markers.
- Have your children tape on feathers and construction-paper leaves to the back of the brown strip.
- They have an Indian headdress that reminds them of David’s faithfulness to pray for the lost Indian people!
Check out previous “Missionary Mondays” stories!
George Mueller
William Wilberforce
Mary Slessor
Hudson Taylor
Amy Carmichael
William Borden
