The young missionary had been preaching long enough to know that what was happening all around him among his Native American listeners was not normal. Reflecting on the events of the day in his journal, twenty-seven-year old David Brainerd wrote:
It seemed to me there was now an exact fulfillment of that prophecy, Zechariah 12:10, 11, 12; for there was now “a great mourning, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon”; and each seemed to “mourn apart.” Me thought this had a near resemblance to the day of God’s power, mentioned in Joshua 10:14. I must say I never saw any day like it in all respects. Brainerd concluded: “It was a day wherein I am persuaded the Lord did much to destroy the kingdom of darkness among this people today.”
Brainerd’s Background
David Brainerd, born in the town of Haddam, Connecticut, was the third of five sons in a family of nine children. For many years his grandfather had pastored the village church, so it wasn’t surprising that four of the five Brainerd boys trained for ministry. Only the oldest followed in his father’s career as a Justice of the Peace and political leader in the community. The idea of finding a career in ministry was so natural in the Brainerd home that David was already engaged in theological studies before coming to the personal assur- ance of his own salvation on July 12, 1739.
Brainerd was expelled from school for behavior the college administration felt inappropriate for a student training for ministry, but he didn’t allow the experience to
prevent him from pursuing his studies privately. He went to live with a pastor and completed his training while assisting that pastor and three other area pastors in their ministry. On July 29, 1742, the young man was examined by the Association of Ministers of the Eastern District of Fairfield County, Connecticut, and licensed to preach the gospel.
While Brainerd performed some ministry among his own people, his real burden was for the Native Americans scattered throughout the forests of New England. Over the years, he’d often fasted and prayed that “God would bring in great numbers of them to Jesus Christ.” Because he longed so much to be involved in reaching them, an invitation to be interviewed for ministry among them was quickly accepted.
Mission to Native Americans
Only a few months after his ordination, Brainerd was appointed a missionary to the Native Americans living at the forks of the Delaware River and along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. Because winter had already set in, it was April 1, 1743, before he actually made the journey to his field of service.
Brainerd faithfully preached the gospel to all with whom he came in contact, both native and settler. Some were responsive to the message of the gospel and were converted to Christ, but there was no great turning to Christ as he had hoped. Still, he remained faithful to his calling, traveling often to preach to only a handful of interested people. Whenever he heard of another tribe, he made an effort to find them and share his message of hope. It was this zeal for the lost that led him to the small settlements of Native Americans in Crossweeksung, New Jersey.
When Brainerd arrived, he discovered that the natives were widely scattered. His first meeting in June included only a few women and children. They seemed interested in his message and invited friends in a ten-to-fifteen mile radius to come hear him, but it was August 3 before he could return to the settlement.
As Brainerd preached among them daily, a growing interest in his message quickly became evident. Then, on the afternoon of August 8, something happened. According to Brainerd, “There was much visible concern among them while I was discoursing publicly; but afterwards when I spoke to one and another more particularly, whom I perceived under much concern, the power of God seemed to descend upon the assembly like a rushing mighty wind, and with an astonishing energy bore down all before it.”
The young missionary stood amazed at what he was seeing. While he had longed for a significant work of God among the people with whom he worked, he hadn’t expected what he was seeing all about him. The Holy Spirit had come like a mighty flowing river, sweeping away all in its path.
Throughout the meeting place and the surrounding grounds, people were bowed down in prayer crying out to God, “Guttummaukalummeh wechaumeh kmeleh Ndah!” Their prayer was simple and direct: “Have mercy on me, and help me to give you my heart.”
Their concern was so great that they confessed their sins aloud, apparently unaware of others praying beside them. There was no other way to explain what was happening: God was at work among them.
The revival among the Native Americans at Crossweeksung, New Jersey, had a profound influence on the community. In his own evaluation of the movement, Brainerd noted strengthened families and the absence of drunkenness among those touched by the revival as the most obvious results. Their lives now seemed to be governed by a profound concern for honesty and justice, with many of them paying long-forgotten debts. Their deep sorrow in conviction was replaced with the fullness of joy as they walked with God in the days following.