William Carey was born in a small thatched cottage in Paulerspury, England - the son of a poor weaver. From an early age, William had an inquisitive mind and wanted to learn more about the Lord. His quest for truth eventually took him to the town of Hackleton where he apprenticed to a shoemaker, met and married a local girl, and began attending a Congregationalist Church. Later, he began attending a Baptist church in Olney where he was saved and baptized. Within two years, his love for the Lord and His work for the kingdom gained the attention of his Baptist brethren and he was offered the pastorate of a church in Moulton.
While serving in the church at Moulton and working as a cobbler, William read a book detailing the voyages of Captain Cook. Others found it a great adventure story, but as he read, God began to speak to William’s heart concerning the many people in foreign lands who did not know Christ. At a time when there were not yet any missionary societies, William felt a burden to go and share Christ in foreign lands. He began studying the languages and the cultures of the world and made a globe of leather which he used to help him pray for the lost in many lands.
One day in the quietness of the cobbler shop the Lord spoke clearly to William Carey saying: "If it be the duty of all men to believe the Gospel ... then it be the duty of those who are entrusted with the Gospel to endeavor to make it known among all nations." In response Carey sobbed out, "Here am I; send me!"
William felt his call to missions was clear, but when he spoke of it to other ministers they were less than enthusiastic. At one ministers’ conference when William stood and expressed his intent to share the Gospel in foreign lands, a fellow minister stood and said, "Young man, sit down: when God pleases to covert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine." Many felt that foreign missions would be far too expensive and far too inconvenient; a waste of time and resources that could be better spent at home.
In spite of great opposition, William remained determined to obey the call of God. He persisted in sharing his vision for missions, adopting the slogan, “Expect great things from God; Dare great things for God.” Eventually, after years of prayer and preparation, William’s prayers were answered and he became the first Baptist missionary. For the first seven years he labored among the lost of India without a single convert, all the while enduring the scorn of nay-sayers back home.
But William continued to “expect great things from God, and dare great things for God,” and the day finally came when God opened up the windows of heaven and poured out his Spirit upon the land. He eventually saw many thousands come to Christ. At the end of his life of fruitful service to the Lord, William spoke to a friend saying, “When I am gone say nothing about Dr. Carey – speak about Dr. Carey’s God.”
Missions is always costly in terms of time, effort and resources, but the potential losses if we fail in this important work are incalculable. God does not call every person to the same mission field, nor does he challenge each church to reach the same groups of people; but, let us all determine that we will go wherever the Lord sends us and do whatever he calls us to do regardless of the inconvenience or the cost. Let us continue to “Expect GREAT things from God, and dare GREAT things for God!”
Let us continue to say with one voice,
“Lord, here we are, send us!”
