Excerpt from The Journal and Selected Letters of William Carey
compiled by Terry G. Carter

The History of Christian missions is the story of God employing individual believers or groups of believers to spread the Gospel message around the world. A few of those believers distinguished themselves for their courage, ingenuity, and commitment to God and the task. In some ways all missionaries are "mission trailblazers," since they carry out their mission in their own way and in a specific setting. Each missionary is in reality, as every minister (lay or professional), unique. No one does missions exactly like David Brainerd, David Livingstone, or Albert Schweitzer. They each exhibited unique methods, styles, and gifts.

However, some missionaries make their reputation by setting the stage, opening new doors, trying untried strategies and methods, and exemplifying the boldness and devotion that becomes a model for those who follow. William Carey earned that sort of distinction and the title "Father of the Modern Mission Movement." His vision for the world, and particularly India and its neighboring nations, became the standard for missionaries for two centuries. Several of his methods for example, bivocationalism, education, translation and publication, and missions support have been copied by succeeding generations.

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