I first heard about this book from John Piper’s conference talk about John Paton. The talk was inspiring, but the book was even richer, of course.
In the second half of the 19th century, John Paton went from Scotland to the New Hebrides (modern-day Vanuatu) to serve as a Presbyterian missionary. Others had been killed and eaten by the cannibals there. In his early years, sometimes Paton had to run for his life. He endured tremendous heartbreak over deaths, setbacks, etc. But he persevered.
It becomes clear that the book is written partly for the purpose of raising interest and funds for the mission. Some other books feel cheap for doing so, but not this one.
It was interesting to learn that some of my Scottish ancestors in Nova Scotia might have supported Paton’s mission through the Presbyterian Sunday Schools. His mission ship, The Dayspring, was build in New Glasgow in this province.
Some of Paton’s approaches seem quite dated. E.g., he commands the converted natives to wear Scottish clothing. We are quick, today, to look condescendingly on missionary efforts of that time. However, as a whole, the book raised my sense of respect for those missionaries. In a sense, who cares about the details? He worked to bring the gospel to a people who were filled up with vengefulness and fear. He persevered, and he saw much glorious fruit.
There is an interesting chapter about an episode involving a British man-of-war (ship) which, the allegation goes, used gunfire to force the missionaries upon the natives. The details are quite different from the accusations. The episode raises interesting questions about whether missionaries or NGO workers today in foreign countries should be able to enjoy any kind of protection from foreign militaries. There are certainly specific times when yes, they should. And of course there are times when no, they shouldn’t.
There are also various episodes that show the non-believing white traders are a much more deadly presence than the missionaries. Original sin is present in all races.
But one of John Paton’s deeper purposes in writing the book is to show the grace that shines through in the converted life of a Melanesian native. He wants his readers back home to be impacted by that, as proof against those who say that true conversion is impossible. We need to see conversion in all cultures.
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