William Carey was born in a small village in England and started his career working in a shoemaker’s shop. Even though he didn’t have much of a formal education, he had a strong faith in God and a great desire to learn. He borrowed a Greek grammar book to teach himself how to read the Greek New Testament!
Carey believed that the Great Commission— Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel— was meant for all Christians, at all times. He encouraged others not to ignore it and famously said, “Expect great things, attempt great things.”
In 1793, Carey set off on a mission to India with his wife and three children, with another baby on the way. They faced many challenges, including sickness. Carey himself got malaria, and sadly, his five-year-old son died from the disease. These hardships were very tough, and his wife even suffered a mental breakdown. Despite these struggles, Carey stayed dedicated to his mission and felt that God was with him.
In 1800, after seven years of hard work, Carey baptized his first convert in India. He continued to hope for and work towards even greater things. Over the next 28 years, he helped translate the entire Bible into many Indian languages and co-founded Serampore College in 1818. This college still exists today, offering a variety of educational programs to thousands of students.
William Carey spent 41 years in India without taking a break. His greatest achievement was inspiring a global missionary movement in the nineteenth century. Many other well-known missionaries looked up to him and followed his example.
