David Brainerd, Man of Prayer
Sunday, January 29th, 2012David Brainerd, one of the first America missionaries to the Native Americans on the eastern seaboard, did his greatest work through prayer. Often in the depths of the forests alone, unable to speak the language of the Indians, he spent whole days in prayer. Brainerd prayed that the power of the Holy Spirit would come upon him so greatly that the Indians would not be able to refuse the Gospel message. Once he preached through a drunken interpreter, a man so intoxicated that he could hardly stand up. Yet scores were converted through that sermon. Plagued by ill health and hardships of primitive living, Brainerd died at the early age of 29. After Brainerd’s death, William Carey read his diary and went to India. Robert McCheyne read it and went to the Jews. Henry Martyn read it and went to India. Though it was not written for publication, the David Brainerd biography influenced many to desire a deeper prayer life, and also moved many others to devote their lives to missionary work.