A MISSIONARY LIFE

A Missionary Life:
Rev. J. Wesley Day
China, Malaysia, Indonesia

Chapter 1. The Call

I was born on a farm in Maryland August 24, 1910, but grew up in a suburban Methodist parsonage at Inwood, Long Island, New York, where my father Roby Franklin Day, pastored St. Paul's Church from 1910 till his retirement in 1945. My father was son and grandson of Methodist Protestant farmer-preachers in Maryland.

"Mendelssohn Manor", the Walker home place in Browningsville, Maryland, where Jackson Wesley Day was born to Roby Franklin and Rachel Vivia Cochel Walker Day

Baby picture

In our home we had family prayers, and Dad often prayed that at least one of his sons would be called to the ministry. His youngest, I never thought seriously of anything else. At the age of eight I went forward during Evangelistic services held at the Inwood Church. Shortly thereafter, on April 20, 1919, I was received into the membership of St. Paul's.

From 1925 to 1930 Dad was elected annually President of the Eastern Conference.

In college my life plan was clear. I would teach two years after graduation to pay off my college debts, then go to the seminary to prepare for the ministry. In college I went through the period of questioning and doubt not uncommon to college students. What is the meaning of life? What is my place? In private hill-top devotions in my Junior year I decided that Jesus' words were meant for me: (Mark 8:35) "For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." I decided that I would throw my life away for the people, and causes for which Jesus gave His life. I loved science and its experiments. I would make my life an experiment to see whether what Jesus said was true. (I am now 84 and can make my report: It is true!)

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