William Carey
William Carey (1761–1834) is often called the “Father of Modern Missions,” and for good reason. Born in a small village in Northamptonshire, England, Carey grew up the son of a weaver. He had little formal education, but he was naturally curious and loved learning. As a teenager, he apprenticed as a shoemaker. While working in a cobbler’s shop, he taught himself Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and later several modern languages. His friends thought him eccentric, but Carey believed that learning would help him serve God’s purposes in the world.
As a young man, Carey became a Baptist minister. At that time, few Christians in England thought much about foreign missions. When Carey began speaking about the need to take the gospel to other lands, he was told, “Young man, sit down; when God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your help or mine.” Carey, however, was not discouraged.
In 1792 he published a fiery pamphlet, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. In it, he argued that Christians had a duty to spread the gospel across the globe. This short book lit a spark that would change church history. That same year, Carey helped found the Baptist Missionary Society.
In 1793, Carey and his family sailed for India. The beginning was almost disastrous. They faced poverty, disease, and discouragement. Carey’s wife, Dorothy, struggled with mental illness, worsened by the harsh conditions, and his early years in India seemed full of failure. Yet Carey persevered. He taught himself Bengali and began translating the Bible. Over time, his steady work bore fruit.
One of Carey’s greatest contributions was in Bible translation. With the help of Indian scholars, he translated the Scriptures into Bengali, Sanskrit, and several other languages, opening the way for millions to read the Bible in their own tongue. His printing press in Serampore became a center for distributing Christian literature across India. Carey also had a heart for education. He founded schools for boys and girls—revolutionary in a society that often neglected education for women and the poor. He helped establish Serampore College, which trained both Indian and European students.
Carey was not only a missionary and scholar; he was also a social reformer. He campaigned against practices he saw as harmful, such as sati (the burning of widows on their husbands’ funeral pyres). His tireless advocacy, alongside Indian reformers, helped lead to the eventual banning of this practice.
By the time of his death in 1834, Carey had spent over 40 years in India without ever returning to England. He had seen the Bible translated into dozens of languages and dialects, schools established, churches planted, and a new missionary movement launched that would spread across the globe.
William Carey’s legacy is simple but powerful: expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God. His life proved that one ordinary man, armed with faith, perseverance, and vision, could change the course of history.