John Williams

JOHN WILLIAMS

1796-1839

Missionary to Polynesian Islands

John Williams was a young man when he listened to Reverend Wilks talk about the London Missionary Society sending the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands twenty years earlier.  He was amazed with the idols Rev. Wilks had which once belonged to King Pomare II of Tahiti who had given his heart to Christ.  John began praying for Tahiti and God began showing him that he was to take the gospel to the islands.  

John and Mary set sail soon afterwards for Tahiti.  On the voyage, John, a blacksmith, studied how the ship was made while Mary got her sea legs.  Once they landed at Moorea, John set about building a ship and learning the language from the men who helped him.  He had a vision to reach all of the islands in his lifetime with the gospel and he would need a ship to do that. Upon learning the missionaries had a ship, the London Missionary Society instructed them to sell it.  John longed for the board to understand they needed a ship to get to the other islands.  He would make three ships (and sell two per instructions) before the board understood their need.  

What John discovered on the other islands were cannibals and chaos.  Many ships would land on these islands and cut trees for their countries in exchange for alcohol.  There was no rule of order on most islands.  John made friends with the chiefs and led many to Christ.  Then he taught them the Word and order began to come to the islands.  He published the first Bible in the Rarotongan language.  

John also had vision for the Polynesians to become missionaries to the other islands.  His plan was very successful and many missionaries were sent out. He and another missionary even created a school to train the new missionaries.  He found that it was much easier for the natives to reach the people than it was for a European to reach them.  

John traveled between the islands to encourage the missionaries and correct misunderstandings or wrong teachings. He never lost vision to reach all of the islands.  He landed at a new island,Futuna of New Hebrides, and was attacked and martyred by the men there.  Later, it was said they’d eaten him.  John’s son, John Jr., spent the rest of his life in the South Pacific finishing the work his father started.  His son, Samuel, became a Congregational minister in England and his youngest son, Billy, set up a publishing business there.