William Carey’s
strong theme was “Expect great things for God; attempt great things for God.”
Carey went to India as a missionary and I would like to share some of the stories
that might inspires us and to be more thankful for what we have today.
Carey and his
family and Dr. Thomas arrived at Calcutta, India in 1793 of November and discovered
that the money brought with them was gone. One trusted with the money for the
company of missionaries did not spend it wisely. During the first year in
Calcutta, the missionaries sought ways to support themselves and a place to
establish their mission.
Carey wrote in his
journal, “I have God, and His word is sure.” In spite of it all, Carey managed
to learn Bengali with the help of a pundit. The word, pundit means a Hindu
scholar of any learned man. In a few weeks Carey began translating the Bible
into Bengali and preaching to small gatherings.
A friend of Thomas
owned two indigo factories and needed managers, so Carey moved with his family
north to Midnapore. The word indigo means “a blue dye from indigo plants.” Also
indigo means a deep reddish blue. During
the six years that Carey managed the indigo factory, he completed the first
revision of his Bengali New Testament in print. His son Peter died of
dysentery, which along with other causes of stress, his wife suffered a nervous
breakdown from which she never recovered. Later, she died and Carey remarried.
Soon after more
missionaries came to teach school, and a printer to help Carey with his work. The
East India Company did not want missionaries around in Midnapore so they moved
in the Danish colony at Serampore during the year of 1800. After seven years in
India, Carey baptized the first Hindu convert, who lived to preach for twenty
years afterwards. Carey stopped the Hindu’s practice in sacrificing babies and
burning widows alive along with their dead husbands. Carey established schools
for children. Carey started a college and Danish King granted charter for
college at Serampore.
Carey depended the
wonderful work by the Mission Press. They printed 212,000 copies of Scriptures
in forty different languages and distributed among three hundred millions of
people in India. After 41 years of labor as missionary, professor, and translator,
he fell asleep in Jesus in 1834. What impressed me about the story of Carey
from the Google?
In India, Carey
had learned 44 languages to reach all Indian people of their languages so Carey
could spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now compare this: in America, we have
one common language which is English in 50 states. We have a Bible, King James
Version in old English. Many other modern translations are still in English.
Truly Carey’s faith fit this: “Expect great things from God; attempt great
things for God.”
God used Carey’s
talent for India. What is your talent that the Lord could use to help with His kingdom
on earth? My talent is writing Manna and here’s my word of encouragement:
“Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him
faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you”
I Samuel 12:24 NIV.
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