Our friend, Jim, wrote this past week, “Here are two quotes from the Father of Modern Missions, William Carey (1761–1834). He developed remarkable linguistic gifts. He became the first missionary to India.” Jim wanted to remind us that that William Carey’s motto was, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” He added that, on his deathbed, Carey said to a friend, “When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey; speak about Dr. Carey’s Saviour.” (Thanks Jim!) So what’s YOUR favorite missionary quote and missionary? Just click and comment please.
6) What’s Your Favorite Missionary Quote?
Some like to live within the sound of church and chapel bell,
But I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.
C.T. Studd
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot
“It’s amazing what can be accomplished if you don’t worry about who gets the credit.” – Clarence W. Jones
“Let my heart be broken with the things that break God’s heart” – Bob Pierce, World Vision founder
“It is not striving to be faithful but resting in the Faithful One.” Hudson Taylor
The most definitive book of mission quotes, “Expect Great Things: Mission Quotes That Inform and Inspire,” contains all the quotes mentioned so far plus over 700 more! The book is published by William Carey Library.
“I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.” – Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf
Why is it said that Carey is the father of “modern missions”. I guess in a sense he is, in that he had to go and beg his denominational leaders to reluctantly let him go and do what Zinzendorf encouraged and in some cases commanded his followers to do. The reluctance of American Evangelical denominational leaders to participate in a significant way in completing the task of the great commission has always hindered the folks who actively go. Carey knew about the Moravians and Zinzendorf he was following them. I suppose you could say Carey is the father of “Modern Dysfunctional Missions”. When a church hinders its Apostles (missionaries) and or they don’t lead the church, you have a Carey, when a church follows its Apostles and they lead the church a Zinzendorf. The biggest problem of modern missions is that the tail wags the dog.
I like the insight.
“We should work as if everything depended upon our efforts, and pray as if everything depended upon God” (attributed to Augustine of Hippo).
“I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages, where no missionary has ever been.” (Robert Moffat 1838).
“The light that shines farthest, shines brightest at home”. C T Studd