Luther Rice
Born in Northborough, MA, in 1783, Luther Rice was a leader of "The Brethren" at Williams College and served alongside Adoniram Judson as a missionary to Burma in 1812.
After studying the Greek New Testament, he was convinced of that the Bible teaches baptism by immersion and became a Baptist. In 1815 Rice dreamed of what Southern Baptists now call The Cooperative Program (pooling resources for the cause of missions) over 100 years before it actually came into existence.
A passionate advocate for missions, Rice traveled across America by horseback to raise awareness and support of missions. He successfully planted the seeds of denominational mission support at a time when Baptists were suspicious of any attempt at larger organization. Rice was also a founder of Columbian College, now George Washington University.
“Yet in any area of life, someone first must dare to dream. If that dream is born in purpose of God, it will surely come to pass even though the dreamer dies and the vision seems to fade. History reflects these fulfillments.”
Support Rice’s legacy
Your donation to the Baptist Foundation of New England’s Rice memorial fund will support upkeep of the Luther Rice homestead so it can continue to support Gospel ministry for years to come.