A Messenger of Hope
Henry Martyn was an Anglican priest and missionary who served in India and Persia (modern-day Iran). He was born on 18 February 1781 in Cornwall, England, and passed away on 16 October 1812 at the young age of 31.
After the death of his mother soon after his birth, Henry was raised by his father, John Martyn, who worked as a miner. During his childhood, Henry was known for his quick temper and aggressive nature. Once, in anger, he threw a knife at a friend and almost killed him.
However, after the death of his father, Henry’s heart completely changed. He joined St. John’s College, Cambridge, and became excellent in Mathematics. While at college, he came into contact with Charles Simeon, a godly and evangelical leader in the Church of England. Through this fellowship, Henry’s faith in Christ grew deeper.
He was inspired by the missionary stories of David Brainerd and William Carey, and he decided to give up his personal dreams of fame and become a missionary to the nations.
Ministry in India and Persia
In 1806, Henry accepted a position as a chaplain with the East India Company and sailed to India. He first reached Serampur and later moved to Dinapur. He quickly learned Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali, and began preaching the Gospel in those languages. With great passion, he started translating the Bible and the Anglican prayer book into Urdu, so that the message of Jesus could reach the local people, especially Muslims. He also started schools for the education of children.
In 1810, Henry traveled to Persia (Iran) to continue spreading the Gospel among the Muslim people. Even though he was weak and often sick, he translated the New Testament into Persian and Arabic.
In 1812, while traveling to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) with the hope of working among the Armenians, he fell gravely ill. After a long journey of more than 1300 miles, he passed away peacefully, trusting in the Lord till his last breath.
Henry Martyn was a man of prayer, completely devoted to God’s Word. His deep love for Jesus, his dedication to mission work, and his zeal for souls made him one of the most outstanding missionaries of his generation.