Faithful Witness: The Life and Mission of William Carrey

Timothy George is the Dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University; and has held this position since its inception in 1988. Before his position there, he received his associate and bachelor degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, followed by a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology from Harvard University. He is a Baptist historian who has written over twenty books; and regularly contributes to scholarly journals. An ordained minister, he has pastored congregations in Tennessee, Alabama, and Massachusetts. He is also a professor of church history and theology. Residing in Birmingham, Alabama, George is married to Denise and has two adult children.

Summary

George begins this work summarizing the life and works of William Carey and stating his purpose to memorialize Carey. This is followed by a brief description of Carey's humility in life and death, and his early years as a cobbler (shoe mender), his salvation, and transformation into a Baptist. From this, George then proceeds to detail Carey's final ten years in England from 1783 to 1793. During this time, Carey became a local pastor, was married, had children, and publicly preached a sermon-that became famous-to many messengers and pastors saying, "Expect great things. Attempt great things (31-32)." George then spends the rest of the book showing why he believed Carey lived up to this quote.

George argues that after Carey's sermon, and a proposed motion by Andrew Fuller for "propagating the Gospel before the heathen (33)," a society was eventually founded as a result that purposely sought to reach the heathen with the Gospel (35). George then shows those who came before Carey who helped to encourage him in his endeavor to reach the heathen. He mentions such men as the early church fathers, the Reformers, and several post-reformation missionaries.

Proceeding this section, George then details the awakening of the church through prayer and the transforming of the church's theology of missions, followed by Carey's plan of action. He then explains John Thomas' and Carey's election by the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen. George shows that Carey was willing to go, but his wife was not, though she was later convinced. He then details the various problems and triumphs Carey encountered in journeying to India.

Problems and trials faced Carey in India, George argues, for his missionary companion, John Thomas used all his money and Carey's money to live in luxury, though he continued to try and reach the heathen with Carey. Carey and his family were thus abandoned in a strange land with no finances (97). The hardships abounded as poverty, unemployment, and sickness plagued the Carey family. George shows that God however provided.

George then reveals how Carey's fervency and letters encouraged the missionary society to send more missionaries as Carey's assistants. Through watching Carey's example, within a year, these missionaries were able to witness to the heathen on their own (127). The printing press was used as well, as Carey sought to give out tracts of the Gospel of Matthew in the native language. George follows this showing that Carey baptized his first Hindu convert on December 28, 1800 (131). Though it took many years for this first convert, the missionaries as a whole baptized 1400 by 1821 (132).

George then details a letter Carey sent home in 1794 that spurred the founding of the London Missionary Society in 1795 (135). He then shows Carey's concern with translating and printing the New Testament in the native language. These missionaries with Carey viewed these copies of God's Word as missionaries themselves (139). Furthermore, Carey pursued translating the Scriptures, as well as, dictionaries in many local languages. He then established schools to educate the locals using the Scriptures (143). These missionaries by 1817 had opened 103 schools with over 6700 students (145). Furthermore, in 1818 Carey founded Serampore College to train pastors and ministers to reach India, for Carey knew English missionaries could not do it alone (148). Carey also appealed to the governing authorities to stop infanticide and the practice of sati, where widows allowed themselves or were forced to be burned with their dead husband's bodies as an act of holiness (151-152).

George concludes this book detailing how Carey finished his ministry well. He explains the circumstances surrounding Carey's three wives (two died) and briefly discusses his children. George then emphasizes Carey's doctrinal fortitude unto the end concerning the Gospel being the only Way of salvation for all humanity (162). Following this emphasis, George explains Carey's mission theology that motivated his missionary zeal, hoping that Christians will follow Carey's doctrines and thus, seek to reach the world as he did.

Critical Evaluation

George's purpose for writing this book is to celebrate William Carey's life and accomplishments; as well as, to help Christians adopt Carey's desire to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (xvii-xviii). Since this purpose is two-fold, in order to understand whether or not he fulfilled his intended purpose, each part must be singularly examined. George did succeed in celebrating Carey's life. He paints Carey in only a positive light nearly this entire book, save his discussion of Carey's pre-conversion lifestyle. So, this writer believes George succeeded in celebrating William Carey. Concerning whether or not he motivated other Christians to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel, this writer can only answer based on his own life. George has motivated this writer through his detailed description of the life and biblical theology of Carey; however, whether or not this writer will try to reach the heathen with the Gospel with Carey's fervor has yet to be seen.

The circles this writer grew up in always spoke positively of William Carey. The difference with George's writing and fundamentalism's detailing of Carey is that George emphasized Carey's theology, passion, and missionary methods. Fundamentalism however mainly emphasized Carey's passion and missionary methods. George believes that the passion of Carey is undergirded by his theology. This is proven through George's emphasis upon Carey's love for history; the way Carey examined previous theologians/missionaries to see their motivation, which was theological as well. Furthermore, George details the theology of Carey as motivating his zeal and methods. Thus, George's theme was convincing, and spot-on. Theology motivates salvation; therefore, one must assume it too will motivate missionary fervor.

Furthermore, George's arguments are logical, well supported, and convincing. How one can dislike William Carey after reading this book is hard to fathom. Christians have sung his praises since his life viewing Carey as "the father of modern missions" throughout all evangelical denominations. Even those who disagree with Carey's theology cannot help but follow his example of love for other people groups, his passion, and missionary methods. Secular Humanists can even pragmatically benefit from Carey's love for humanity, though they must disregard or ignore his theology that motivated his love.

In conclusion, though George is biased toward Carey and to Calvinism, one cannot help but benefit from the reading of this book. The light Carey is painted in, the humility in which he lived his life, and the poverty he chose to endure out of love for others, are largely foreign to western Christianity today; and are even foreign to Secular Humanism, Atheism, etc. Because of these truths, all individuals can benefit from this book in loving their neighbor; however, only Christians will benefit the greatest, for Christ alone motivated William Carey. Calvinists will especially benefit, for Carey's fervor is encouraging for those who are often accused of being non-evangelistic because of holding Carey's view of divine predestination. Furthermore, this writer hopes that George does motivate Christians to be like Carey, for the world is still unreached at this point; and based on Carey's accomplishments, it would probably take less than one thousand Christians as theologically sound and fervent as William Carey to reach the world with the Gospel.

Bibliographical Entry

George, Timothy. Faithful Witness: The Life and Mission of William Carey. [United States]:

Christian History Institute in association with Samford University, 1998.