John Calvin and Missions
Mr. Shawn Wright helps us consider a few truths often forgotten from church history:
‘Even though the Protestant reformers of the sixteenth century were regularly fighting for their survival because of Catholic assaults, and even though they had few resources and were land-locked, they believed in and practiced missions. We see this in the ministry of John Calvin (1509–1564)….’
Taking the Gospel to the Nations
‘Calvin argued that God “means that the work of this deliverance will be so excellent that it ought to be proclaimed, not in one corner only, but throughout the whole world….”’
Three Key Missions-Focused Events in Calvin’s Ministry
‘These missional ideas were lived out through Calvin’s ministry. Three events prove this to be the case. In 1544 Calvin had a hand in sending the first Protestant missionary, Pierre Brully, to the Catholic region of the Netherlands….’
‘Calvin’s heart for missions, as well as his aggressive record of church planting, is on display in his beloved country of France….’
The Results
‘The results of these efforts were awesome, as Pierre Courthial recounts: “In 1555 there were five organized Reformed [i.e., Protestant] churches in France; in 1559, the year the first national synod assembled in Paris, there were nearly 100; and by 1562 they numbered 2,150” (in W. S. Reid, ed., John Calvin, 77)….’
‘Calvin also showed his heart for missions when, in 1556, he was asked to send pastors to Brazil….’
-Shawn Wright, “John Calvin and Missions: That God Gather Churches from All Parts of the Earth.”
Read complete article here.
(Resources in Vietnamese and English at GSiV:
Who are the Reformers?
This year, 2017, is the 500th year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, starting officially with Martin Luther (1517). Celebrate by learning about your Protestant history.
Here are just a few of the Reformers:
(GSiV {Tiếng Việt và Tiếng Anh}: Luther, Calvin, Farel, Reformation & Chỉ Duy Nhất 5 ‘Onlys,’ 5 ‘Solas’)
Does Calvinism Kill Missions?
- ‘John Calvin: Calvin sent missionaries from Geneva into France and as far away as Brazil. Most of these young men sent to France died a martyr’s death, but the church of Geneva continued to send them.
- ‘John Eliot: A missionary sent to the American Indians in the 1600′s. He is believed to be the first missionary among this people group. As many have said, if William Carey is the father of the modern mission’s movement, then John Eliot is its grandfather.
- ‘David Brainerd: A missionary to the American Indians in the 1700′s. Many historians believe that he has sent more individuals into the mission field than any other person in the history of the church via his diary, An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend David Brainerd.
- ‘Theodorus Frelinghuysen: The great evangelist and preacher, who set the stage for the First Great Awakening in the middle colonies.
- ‘Jonathan Edwards: The great theologian, writer, and preacher of the First Great Awakening. He was also a missionary to the Indians.
- ‘George Whitfield: The great voice and preacher of the First Great Awakening. He journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean thirteen times and scholars believe he preached over 18,000 sermons….’ Continue reading.
(GSiV: Missions and Evangelism,









