Can We Even Relate?
Tony Cooke
What an honor it is to serve God. I’m privileged to travel and teach, but every believer can serve in various, meaningful ways through all aspects of their lives. When I read about trailblazing missionaries in the early years of the modern-missions movement, I wonder if we can relate to their depth of consecration and the intensity of their sacrifices. For example, when William Carey sailed from England to India, it was a five-month voyage by sea, and I’m sure the accommodations were far from luxurious.
We are not to compare ourselves with others, and few have callings as demanding as theirs. However, we should find inspiration from the price they were willing to pay and from their amazing lives of service to the Lord. Let’s look at three of the most amazing missionaries from the early days of modern missions and consider brief summations of (a) what they accomplished, and (b) what they persevered through in order to fulfill their respective assignments.
All of these were rugged pioneers. They did not build on the work of other missionaries who had gone before them. They walked into totally non-western, non-Christian cultures. Opposition to the gospel message was just one of many challenges they would face.
William Carey (1761-1834)
Accomplishments: Often referred to as the “Father of Modern Missions,” Carey sailed from England to India in 1793. He learned the languages and translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and Marathi. He also translated portions of Scripture into thirty-four other languages. Carey established Serampore College to train and educate ministers and built a flourishing printing operation to produce Christian and educational materials. Applying Christian values to social reform, Carey helped ban the practice of widow-burning and effectively opposed the practice of infanticide. At the time of his death, Carey’s efforts had resulted in the planting of dozens of churches, eighteen missionary posts, and more than 100 schools.
Challenges: Carey spent forty-one years in India without ever going back to his native England. He overcame several health challenges, and two of his wives and a son died on the mission field. Carey labored for seven years before he baptized his first convert. In 1812, their warehouse burnt to the ground. Though it contained priceless manuscripts including multi-language dictionaries and entire versions of Scripture, Carey stated, “There are grave difficulties on every hand, and more looming ahead, therefore, we must go forward.”
Quotes from William Carey:
“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”
“I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”
“I’m not afraid of failure; I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”
“You have been saying much about Dr. Carey and his work. When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey; speak about Dr. Carey’s Saviour.”
Adoniram Judson (1788-1850)
Accomplishments: In 1812, Adoniram and his wife left America to serve God in Burma (now Myanmar). He invested thirty-eight years of his life there. He translated the Bible and other helpful books into Burmese. In addition, he was a fruitful church planter, and at the time of his death, Burma had more than 100 churches and 8,000 baptized followers of Christ. Today, two U.S. colleges and 36 churches are named after him.
Challenges: Judson studied Burmese, often for twelve hours a day for three years to become proficient in the language. Six years of gospel work took place before Judson saw his first convert in Burma. Missiologist David Shibley wrote that while on the mission field, Judson “experienced the death of two wives and several children, battled frequent bouts of fever, and was brutally treated in prison for 17 months” (from Great for God).
Quotes from Adoniram Judson:
“I will not leave Burma until the cross is planted here forever.”
“There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed after.”
“It is true that we may desire much more. But let us use what we have, and God will give us more.”
“Blessed be God, that we live in these latter times – the latter times of the reign of darkness and deception. Great is our privilege, precious our opportunity, to cooperate with the Savior in the blessed work of enlarging and establishing his kingdom throughout the world.”
Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
Accomplishments: Hudson Taylor first journeyed to Shanghai in 1854 and later founded the China Inland Mission. Unlike other western missionaries, Taylor traveled to the interior of the country and adopted Chinese dress and customs. A powerful recruiter, by 1895 CIM had the largest group of missionaries in all of China. These individuals who established churches, hospitals, and schools throughout China. At the time of Taylor’s death, approximately 25,000 people had come to faith in Christ through his influence.
Challenges: Like so many in pioneering missions, Taylor had dear friends martyred and close loved ones die. He was frequently and harshly criticized for some of his unconventional methods and approaches to missions. Once their home was looted and burned, and Taylor also faced various health challenges throughout his life. As Taylor learned of the destruction of churches, along with the deaths of Christians and missionaries during China’s Boxer rebellion, he said, “I cannot read, I cannot pray, I can scarcely think…but I can trust.”
Quotes from Hudson Taylor:
“I would never have thought of going out to China had I not believed that the Chinese were lost and needed Christ.”
“All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.”
“There are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult, done.”
“But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.’
“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”
It should not surprise us that great challenges accompany great opportunities. Paul said, “a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor 16:9 NKJV). It takes both grace and grit to accomplish the will of God.
As I said earlier, we are not to compare ourselves with others, but I find tremendous inspiration and challenge in seeing how others trusted God and persevered in the face of monumental assignments and obstacles. The men we’ve described didn’t have access to modern means of travel, the instant communication means we have today, or access to many modern amenities, including certain levels of medical care. However, what they did have was a remarkable sense of consecration to doing God’s work.
Consecration can be seen both on a personal or relational level with God, and it can also be evidenced in being totally sold out to God’s plans and purposes ministry-wise. Perhaps D.L. Moody had both in mind in the following:
Moody once heard Henry Varley, a fellow evangelist, remark, “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”
Moody responded, “I will be that man. If God is looking for a man of integrity, a man of honor and courage and faithfulness, with God’s help I will be such a man.”
How about us? Can we relate to the consecration of these brothers and sisters in Christ from years-gone-by? Charles Spurgeon spoke wisely when he admonished: “Consecrate yourselves anew this day wholly to your Master’s service. You are not your own, but bought with a price, and if you would not be like thorn-choked seeds, live while you live, with all consuming zeal.”
Burn brightly for the Master, infused with the oil of the Holy Spirit!
