Here is a letter recorded in the 1857 SBC Annual, as the Choctaw brothers were pleading for help from the Baptists.

A short time since we received a petition, signed by five Choctaws, praying for more missionaries. We give it place here:

” D E A R B R E T H R E N — W e are praying to you like unto Macedonia to Paul, Acts16, 9, ‘ Come over and help us.’ W e would be truly happy to have some of your ministers sent to us to cooperate with us in our labors, as we have none that live among us. The members of the churches are very much discouraged, because, there is so much error flowing in on all sides. We see very plainly that the Baptists ought to send out two more strong ministers here for the Choctaw people— one for Arkansas and one for Red River. It is very much to be hoped that our humble prayer will be heard. We Baptists are too much beholden to pedo-baptists for books. They have translated the New Testament and Hymn Books into the Choctaw language, according to their peculiar views of Christian baptism. These are the books we are compelled to make use of. We think it is time for Baptists to do something among us, by way of translating the Testament and other books into the Choctaw language. They are much needed here. ” You will please write us an answer so soon as you receive these few lines from us, and let us know whether you can do anything for us or not.

” W e are yours, &c. , in Christ,

” P E T E R FOLSOM,

” W I L L I A M CASS,

” S I M O N H A N C O C K,

” S H O N U B B E E,

” L E W I S CASS.”

Drew Wales

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, a husband to Rachel, father to Harper, and a student at the Caskey School of Divinity at Louisiana College pursuing an M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies.

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  • Joshua

    Very good article. I loved it. I pray that the church receives increasing letters like this today and that we can submit to their hearts’ cry for God’s word, sound doctrine, and proper translation. This teaches me a few things: that if Native Americans can see the need in their pastors for doctrine and God-anointed wisdom of the languages, then we likewise should see the need in our pastors and yearn for it.