The Woman to Remember: Ann Hasseltine Judson

Judson annually gives the student body an opportunity to rethink the life of our great foremother, Ann Judson. This year, on February 27, Rosalie Hunt visited as the chapel speaker of the day. In her address to the student body, she recalled the works and life of Ann Judson.

Rosalie Hunt is also the author of the books “The Enchanting Story of Ann Hasseltine Judson: a Life Beyond Boundaries,”  “Bless God and Take Courage:: Judson History and Legacy,” “The Way: the Remarkable Story of Hephzibah Jenkins Townsend,” and “We’ve a Story to Tell: 125 Years of WMU.” She spent her early life in China with her missionary family. She also went to Myanmar and did research for her books. Even though Hunt’s speech has the same theme every year, she still offers new and interesting things that we never knew about Ann Judson. She reminded the audience of the worthiness of knowing more about Ann Judson, and she offered her books for sale after the service. Most importantly all proceeds from selling books go to missions and student scholarships.

Hunt’s visits inspired members of the Judson community to get involved in mission trips to Myanmar last summer. Lillie Hobson, a senior who went on the summer mission trip to Myanmar, related her trip experience,  stating “I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been for her to go without having the chance to email back home. When I was in Myanmar, I got to email home about four or five times, and I got to call twice. So, I can’t imagine going and never being able to communicate except through letters that only came every so often.”

The information that Hunt delivered in chapel has been a great window for freshman to see Ann Judson from a new perspective. While some freshwomen– or even some juniors and seniors–cannot give a quick answer to the question “In what form does Judson continue to keep the relation with Myanmar that Ann Judson made over 200 years ago?” as freshwoman Laura Grace Terry answered after chapel, “Kachin exchange students coming over and us going to their country and going over there and experiencing and helping to minister to those in Myanmar” are prime examples of how Ann Judson’s legacy lives on today.

Rosaline talking to the audiences.
Rosaline talking to the audiences.
Service Worship Song by Judson Choir group.
Service Worship Song by Judson Choir group.
For more articles like this, click below.

FaithThe Triangle