The New Hebrides Islands were discovered in 1606. These islands stretched from Hawaii to Australia through the Pacific Ocean, and were full of indigenous people who were cannibals. From the time missionaries started to show up on their shores many were killed by the people they had come to help.
John Gibson Paton was born in Scotland in May 1824. It was only 15 years after his birth that the first known missionaries were sent to the New Hebrides Islands and were killed the same year. The islands were filled with the blood of sinners needing a Savior, and now was added the blood of martyrs bringing the message of salvation.
When John told others of his call, He heard, "You will be eaten by cannibals!" John knew the stories. He had heard them often. But, John accepted the criticism. He had made up his mind that he was going to do what the Lord wanted from him no matter what others had to say about it.
When he and his wife, Mary, arrived at the islands in 1858 they both understood the fate that could await them. Not five months after landing there, Mary and her infant son, Peter, died from a sickness. John spent four years trying to reach the inhabitants alone until he was driven from the island.
What would cause a man to continue in these conditions? Most people would have looked at his life and said that he had done all that he could. They wouldn't have blamed him for giving up. But, he didn't. John had heeded the call. He knew what the Lord wanted from his life and he was going to do it.
John remarried a woman named Margaret in 1864 and together they went back to the islands and served together for 41 years. John admitted that sometimes he thought his labor was in vain; it seemed that the people would never be able to turn their backs on their dark traditions to the light of the Savior. Sickness often attacked them as they endeavored to serve the Lord on this small island. Hurricanes and shipwreck took the life of his next son in 1873. Was it worth it?
John heard about the success of John Geddie on another of the New Hebrides islands and took heart. Yes, it was worth it. Though the cost was great, he had already decided to pay it. The price steep, but John knew it would eventually be worth it.
He decided to build orphanages to raise up a generation who weren't steeped in tradition. He learned their language and composed a written form of it. He and Margaret saw a great revival in the people of his little island. God also sent him a companion, Abraham, a converted cannibal from Geddie's ministry, came to help in their labors.
He published a New Testament in their language and translated many hymns. He kept journals during his time there from which he wrote his autobiography John G. Paton- a three part series of his faith through blessing and loss. In the end, John had reaped the reward!
Margaret died in 1905, and John followed two years later. His life had been encouraged by the Scripture, LO, I am with you alway, and now he was with the One whom he had faithfully served all these years.
