Student Mission History!!! part 2

The second part of our History weekend involved traveling to a little town nestled in the hills of Massachusetts called Williamstown. This quaint little town is home to Williams College. This little school is the site where the very very very first Americans decided to give their lives to foreign missions. This happened at what is called the Haystack Prayer Meeting.

The year was 1806 and the country was is a state of some serious revival and awakening. A small prayer meeting was the tool in revealing God's heart to a group of five men on a hot Saturday afternoon. These five men, Samuel J. Mills, James Richards, Francis L. Robbins, Harvey Loomis, and Byram Green, gathered to read scripture, pray, and discuss a missionary text written by William Carey. As they had their group meeting an ominous thunderstorm approached and threatened their discussion. Even so, the men continued to discuss missions and the vast amount of unreached people in the world. 

Soon, the storm came upon the men ferociously. Lightning surrounded them, deafening thunder roared about them, and torrential rain poured out from the skies. The men were forced to find the closest shelter they could. A haystack. The men huddled beneath the haystack but still continued to pray and discuss the task that was reaching the world with the gospel of Jesus. As the storm built around them and their discussion became more fervent, Samuel Mills exclaimed "We can do this, if we will!" The other men were moved by this passion and their hearts were broken for the unreached. At this time all five devoted their lives to seeing the Great Commission realized. The first American missions agencies were created from these five men, and from passing on their global passion, the first American foreign missionaries were sent out from the U.S. 

Needless to say, visiting this site was moving. It was challenging. It was one of the highlights of the project. Seeing where American missions began, where guys just like me were challenged to devote their lives to greater things was inspiring. I just pray that God would do this same thing today, with people all over the U.S. Woo!