Eric Lund: Apostle to the Philippines

Abstract

William Carey, Adoniram Judson and Eric Lund stand out as the premier pioneer Baptist missionaries of the Nineteenth Century. They had much in common. They were the first to be appointed by their national denominations to overseas service, Carey by the British Baptist Mission Society, Judson by the American Baptist Missionary Union and Lund by the Swedish Baptist Union.

All these were highly gifted in the learning and use of languages other than their own. All translated the Bible into the language of the place to which they went, Carey into Bengali, Judson into Burmese and Lund into Panayan. All were instrumental in establishing an educational channel which ultimately resulted in three universities, Serampore University in India, Judson College, affiliated with the University of Rangoon and Central Philippine University in Panay. They all secured printing presses and established publishing houses. Each faced great danger in the areas to which they were sent. Carey was not allowed to settle in India by the East India Company but was forced to begin his mission in the tiny Danish enclave of Serampore. Judson was imprisoned under intolerable conditions for a long period of time. Lund was arrested and jailed in Spain where he first went and in constant danger in the Philippines from civil war and from attacks by those who opposed Protestant missions.