“Character is actively
taught and modeled
on solid Biblical values, forming a strong foundation
that will prepare your
child for life.”
Culture
School House - Carey
As a boy, his favourite game was climbing trees with his friends, often higher than was safe. After one such climbing adventure when he was seriously injured following a fall, he recovered and returned to successfully climb the same tree. This determination of character would be seen throughout his life as a missionary.
He had a gift for languages, studying among other things Greek, Latin, French and many of the Indian dialects.
William trained as a shoemaker and later took up a post as a schoolmaster to further his opportunity for studying. He received an unusual missionary call. It came when he was reading "The Last Voyage of Captain Cook." He developed a missionary map on the wall of his schoolroom where every nation in the known world was marked with its population, religion and anything else he could discover.
William Carey is known as the 'Father of Modern Missions'. He arrived in India in 1793 as a missionary to that country, staying there without a furlough until his death in 1834. When arriving in India, the whole first year's allowance was spent in the first ten weeks. With little more than a spade by way of tools, he worked hard to make a clearing in the jungle and began on the little house of bamboo, grass mats and thatch that would be his family's home. The natives began returning to the district they had left earlier from fear of tigers because they heard an Englishman with a gun was now living there.
In order to finance the missionary work in India, William Carey ran an indigo factory. He also opened and ran both fee paying and free Christian schools, as well as a Christian college (1821).
Whilst in India, he succeeded in circulating about 200 000 Bibles, or portions of the Bible, in about 40 languages or dialects, besides many tracts and Christian books. The Mission's first convert was Krishna Pal late in 1800, some seven years after leaving England for India. Other conversions followed despite severe persecution, some even losing their life for the sake of Christ.
William successfully campaigned for the abolition of "Sati", the ritual of burning a dead man's widow on the funeral pyre of her husband.
Throughout his life William maintained his childhood passion for plants and flowers. He would often sit in his five acres of garden and appreciate afresh the Bible verse "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
Jesus said: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). He also said "And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God" (Luke 13:29). It was in those promises that William Carey put his trust as he attempted great things for God.
Quotes:
"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life."
"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God."
"If anyone should think it worth his while to write my life, if he give me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. I can plod... to this I owe everything."
