Following “The Great Commission”, William Carey would leave behind the comfortable ministry that he had grown accustomed too and head to India with one goal: “go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost.”
“The Great Commission” as recorded by Matthew in his account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ states:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”- (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
Taking this command very seriously, William set out to sojourn in a new land; not knowing that it would be several years before he would get his first convert. Not knowing that he would spend the rest of his life in India; or that he would become known as the “father of modern missions”.
Father of modern missions
His name was William Carey, he was born on August 17th, 1761. William believed wholeheartedly that the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be spread all over the world and he set out to do just that!
With very little funding from his organization, William, his family and another member from his society would set sail to India. Before departing, William asked one thing of his organization; “ I will go down, but remember, that you must hold the rope.” 1 A commitment that his peers would take stating: “ This we solemnly engage to do, pledging ourselves never to desert him as long as we live.” 1
With this commitment from his brethren, William took up his cross and set out to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”- (Matthew 16:24 KJV)
Arriving in India
William would arrive in India, in April of 1793; he was thirty two years old.
Upon arrival, William would see first hand the burden that was placed upon him. From false gods to the most unbelievable ritualistic suffering being counted as gain. The demonic rituals were so ingrained into those living among him, that some would lay on beds of spikes, some would swing from hooks and widows would be burned!
Can you imagine trying to gain converts in this type of environment?
The Great Commission
It would be several years before William would win his first soul for Christ. During his time in India, William would tackle the task of translating the Bible, winning lost souls for Christ and helping lead the effort that would end in the eradication of the ritualistic practice of “widow burning”.
While William was busy working in India; the rest of the world was catching up! Following Williams’ example, missionaries were popping up all over the world. Winning souls for Christ is what William set out to do; he had no idea that his example would lay the foundation that future missionaries would follow!
Finished his course
After forty years, William’s journey through this life was coming to an end. Having benefited from the blessing of having superb health the majority of his life; William spent his last days barely able to move. After fighting the good fight; William had finished his course and on June 9th, 1834 he would step into his eternal home.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” - (2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV)
Those who turned the world upside down
William Carey, set out with one mission: follow “The Great Commission”. William’s goal was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all of the world! Though William would spend the rest of his life spreading the Gospel in India; his example was setting a fire in young missionaries all over the world!
Someone had to go first; and that someone was William Carey. He set out with a fire in his heart and he would soon set the world on fire for Christ! William Carey, one of those precious saints who turned the world upside down.
1 Quotes taken from THE FIRE THAT ONCE WAS by Frank “JJ” DI Pietro
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If you have not read about that precious saint, William Borden you can find a link to his story here https://atabran.com/apart-from-faith-in-jesus-christ/
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