SAMSON OCCUM: Indian Evangelist

In 1743, a descendant of the great Mohegan chief Uncas, surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and would become one of the first Indian evangelists in Colonial New England.

Samson Occum was the first American Indian to publish treatises in the English language. Word of his work impressed American religious leaders and he was ordained to go as a missionary to his own people. In 1765, despite poverty and continual bad health, he set sail for England to raise money for an Indian school.

His tour was a success. However, Occum was betrayed and the money was used to begin a new school for white students that would eventually become Dartmouth College. Despite this devastation, he continued to work tirelessly to present Christ to his Indian brethren.

In Mark 5: 19 Jesus healed a man and said, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you,"

The calling of every Christian is not only to be a gospel light to those who are closest to him.

Samson Occum’s lifelong mission was to the Indian nation that he was ethnically and culturally suited to reach. In the same way, what makes us unique as individuals can also be our unique equipping to reach others for Christ.