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Early Life and Preparation #

William Carey was born on 17 August 1761 in Paulerspury, a small village in Northamptonshire, England. His father was a parish clerk and schoolmaster who provided a modest but disciplined upbringing. At sixteen, Carey was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Hackleton. Though the trade was humble, he never despised it. He once remarked that a shoemaker who preaches the gospel is nobler than a preacher who makes shoes for men.

While working with leather and mending soles, Carey was also mending his mind. He studied the Scriptures intensely and developed a passion for languages. By the age of thirty, he could read Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Dutch, French, and English. His pursuit of knowledge was not for pride but for the sake of Christ and the spread of His Word. On 5 October 1783, he was baptised by Dr Ryland and joined the Baptists. Though already preaching, his baptism deepened his resolve. A vision began to form within him: the gospel must reach the nations.

The Call to Missions #

In his shoemaker’s workshop, Carey hung a simple hand-drawn map of the world. As he repaired shoes, he prayed over distant lands he had never visited. The journals of Captain James Cook stirred him to see the millions who lived without the gospel. This was not curiosity but conviction. He came to believe that every Christian shared responsibility for world evangelisation. His conviction was captured in his famous motto: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

In 1792, while preaching from Isaiah 54:2–3, he urged ministers to enlarge their vision beyond local concerns and consider the nations. That same year, the Baptist Missionary Society was formed. Carey offered himself as its first missionary, showing that vision must be joined with obedience.

Arrival in India #

On 13 June 1793, Carey sailed for India with his wife Dorothy, their children, and his sister-in-law. They landed in Calcutta on 11 November, arriving with little support or resources. Life was difficult. To provide for his family, Carey worked in an indigo factory in Malda. Even while labouring for wages, he continued to evangelise villages, showing that mission is not limited to pulpits but happens in daily life. In 1797, he witnessed his first convert, a Portuguese man who became a faithful believer until his death.

In 1799, Carey moved to Serampore and joined Joshua Marshman and William Ward. Together, they became known as the Serampore Trio. It was here that Carey baptised Krishna Pal, the first Hindu convert, who went on to testify boldly for Christ. Carey’s conviction was now bearing fruit in Indian soil.

The Work of Translation and Reform #

Carey’s greatest contribution was Bible translation. From the Serampore Press, he oversaw the printing of more than 213,000 copies of Scripture in forty languages. In 1801, he was appointed professor of Sanskrit, Bengali, and Marathi at Fort William College in Calcutta. By 1809, he had completed the full Bengali Bible in five volumes. His work included dictionaries and grammars, shaping modern Indian languages and ensuring the Scriptures could be understood by millions.

But Carey did not confine his mission to language. He stood firmly against the practice of sati, where widows were burned with their deceased husbands. He campaigned for education, especially for girls, and pressed for healthcare reforms. His mission was holistic: preaching the gospel, teaching languages, and addressing social evils with Christ-centred compassion.

Legacy and Perseverance #

Carey’s life was marked by loss, sickness, and opposition. His wife, Dorothy, never adjusted to India and suffered from mental illness. He buried children in Indian soil and lived with hardship for decades. Yet his response to his achievements was not pride but humility. He said simply, “I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”

On 9 June 1834, after more than forty years in India, William Carey died in Serampore. At his death, the mission had thirty missionaries, forty native teachers, forty-five stations, and more than six hundred church members. His quiet perseverance had helped lay the foundation for modern missions, not through brilliance or strategy alone, but through faithful endurance in Christ.

Fruit of Carey’s Labour #

Timeline of William Carey’s Life #

What We Can Learn From His Life #

Carey’s story still speaks to us today. First, his ordinary beginnings remind us that God delights in using humble vessels. A shoemaker became the father of modern missions because Christ lived in him. Second, vision sustained him through sickness, loss, and trials. He did not endure by sheer willpower but by seeing the kingdom of Christ as greater than his suffering. Third, he held Scripture at the centre of his mission. His translations opened God’s Word to millions, showing that the Bible belongs to every culture and tongue. Fourth, he demonstrated that missions is more than preaching. Education, social reform, and training leaders were all part of the gospel’s outworking. Fifth, his famous motto continues to challenge us: faith expects much from God and attempts much for God, not by human strength but by reliance on Christ within.

Closing Reflection #

On this day, 17 August, we remember William Carey’s birth. His words echo through time: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” His life reminds us that ordinary benches, whether shoemakers’ shops or classrooms, can become platforms for eternal impact when surrendered to Christ. Carey’s faith was not passive but persevering. His vision was not a grand ambition but obedience to God’s Word. His legacy was not personal fame but Christ’s kingdom expanding through sacrifice and service. May we also yield our lives, however ordinary, so that Christ may live His mission through us.

In Christ,
Godwin.

Early Life and Preparation #

William Carey was born in the small village of Paulerspury, Northamptonshire, England, on August 17, 1761. His father, a weaver turned parish clerk and schoolmaster, gave him a humble yet disciplined upbringing.

At sixteen, Carey was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Hackleton. He took up the trade himself but never despised it. He once said:

“A shoemaker who preaches the gospel is far nobler than a preacher who makes shoes of men.”

While mending shoes, Carey was also mending his mind. Before reaching thirty-one, he was able to read the Bible in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Dutch, French, and English. His hunger for knowledge was matched only by his growing love for Christ.

On October 5, 1783, he was baptised by Dr. Ryland and formally united with the Baptists. Even before this, he was preaching—but now his heart burned with a new vision: the nations needed Christ.

The Call to Missions #

In his shoemaker’s shop, Carey hung a homemade world map. As he repaired soles, he prayed for the souls of men in distant lands. Inspired by the journals of Captain James Cook, he was stirred by the reality that millions lived without the gospel.

From this conviction came his famous motto:

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

In 1792, while preaching from Isaiah 54:2–3, Carey urged fellow ministers to enlarge their tents and reach the nations. That same year, the Baptist Missionary Society was formed. Carey offered himself as its first missionary.

Arrival in India #

On June 13, 1793, Carey set sail with his reluctant wife Dorothy, their children, and his sister-in-law. They arrived in Calcutta on November 11 with very little support.

To sustain his family, Carey worked in an indigo factory in Malda while evangelising in villages. In 1797, he saw his first convert—a Portuguese man who served faithfully until his death.

In 1799, Carey moved to Serampore and joined Marshman and Ward. Together they became the “Serampore Trio.” There, Carey baptised Krishna Pal, the first Hindu convert, who became a bold witness for Christ.

The Work of Translation and Reform #

Carey’s greatest contribution was Bible translation. From the Serampore Press, he supervised the printing of more than 213,000 copies of Scripture in 40 different languages.

• In 1801, he became professor of Sanskrit, Bengali, and Marathi at Fort William College, Calcutta.
• In 1809, he completed the full Bengali Bible in five volumes.
• He also produced dictionaries and grammars that helped shape modern Indian languages.

But Carey’s mission extended beyond words. He stood against social evils like sati (the burning of widows) and advocated for education, healthcare, and compassion-driven reforms.

His mission included:

• Translating the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and other Indian languages.
• Establishing schools, including the first for girls in India.
• Campaigning against social evils such as sati (the burning of widows).
• Training Indian pastors and leaders to shepherd their own communities.

Legacy and Perseverance #

Carey did not boast about his achievements. When asked about his success, he simply said:

“I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”

On June 9, 1834, after more than forty years in India, William Carey went to be with the Lord. At his death, the mission he founded had:

He is rightly remembered as “The Father of Modern Missions.”

Timeline of William Carey’s Life #

Here is a simple timeline you can reflect on (formatted for Gutenberg):

What We Can Take From His Life #

William Carey’s story is not just history—it is a living testimony. Here are some key points we can reflect on and receive:

1. Ordinary beginnings do not limit God #

Carey was a shoemaker. Nothing in his background suggested greatness. Yet when Christ is in us, the Spirit can use even the smallest vessel for His global purpose.

2. Vision sustains perseverance #

He endured sickness, family loss, and constant opposition. But the vision of Christ’s kingdom among the nations kept him steady.

3. Scripture is central #

Carey’s translations opened the Bible to millions. He shows us that God’s Word is not bound by culture or language—it is for all.

4. Missions is more than preaching #

He engaged with education, social reform, and justice. Missions is about the whole transformation of lives and societies in Christ.

5. “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God” #

This famous line from Carey still challenges us today. Faith is not passive. It takes bold steps, rooted in God’s promises.

Closing Word #

On this day, August 17, as we remember William Carey’s birth, his words still ring true:

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

May we, too, look at our own “shoemaker’s bench” in life. Let us embrace wherever God has placed us. Allow Him to turn ordinary work into eternal impact.

In Christ,
GSS.