In the late 18th century, William Carey, a humble shoemaker turned missionary, penned a revolutionary work that would forever change the landscape of Christian missions.
His book An Enquiry Into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens challenged the church to take active steps in spreading the gospel. Carey’s vision was not just about sending missionaries; it was a call for the entire body of Christ to engage in the Great Commission with zeal and practical effort. His strategic approach, comparing missionary work to that of a well-organized trading company, underscored the need for dedicated planning, collaboration, and perseverance.
Today, many question why missions is necessary when our own nation seems to be unraveling. Carey’s challenge to his peers is a poignant reminder not to be indifferent. He reminds us that the obligation to send and fund missionaries belongs to local churches, and those churches must intentionally partner in voluntary association with one another for the gospel’s advance. Consider this excerpt to see this missionary statesman’s original vision for how those churches could partner to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. We now look back on this having enjoyed roughly 200 years of the modern missions movement, but we must recall our roots and plow a path forward.
An Excerpt From An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens [1]
We must not be contented, however, with praying without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for. Were the children of light, but as wise in their generation as the children of this world, they would stretch every nerve to gain so glorious a prize, nor ever imagine that it was to be obtained in any other way.
When a trading company have obtained their charter they usually go to its utmost limits; and their stocks, their ships, their officers, and men are so chosen, and regulated, as to be likely to answer their purpose; but they do not stop here, for encouraged by the prospect of success, they use every effort, cast their bread upon the waters, cultivate friendship with everyone from whose information they expect the least advantage. They cross the widest and most tempestuous seas, and encounter the most unfavorable climates; they introduce themselves into the most barbarous nations, and sometimes undergo the most affecting hardships; their minds continue in a state of anxiety, and suspense, and a longer delay than usual in the arrival of their vessels agitates them with a thousand changeful thoughts, and foreboding apprehensions, which continue till the rich returns are safe arrived in port. But why these fears? Whence all these disquietudes, and this labor? Is it not because their souls enter into the spirit of the project, and their happiness in a manner depends on its success?
We must not be contented, however, with praying without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for.
We must not be contented, however, with praying without exerting ourselves in the use of means for the obtaining of those things we pray for.
Christians are a body whose truest interest lies in the exaltation of the Messiah’s kingdom. Their charter is very extensive, their encouragements exceeding great, and the returns promised infinitely superior to all the gains of the most lucrative fellowship. Let then everyone in his station consider himself as bound to act with all his might and in every possible way for God.
A Vision for Missions Organizations
Suppose a company of serious Christians, ministers, and private persons were to form themselves into a society and make a number of rules respecting the regulation of the plan and the persons who are to be employed as missionaries, the means of defraying the expense, etc. This society must consist of persons whose hearts are in the work, men of serious religion, and possessing a spirit of perseverance; there must be a determination not to admit any person who is not of this description or to retain him longer than he answers to it.
[A missionary] society must consist of persons whose hearts are in the work, men of serious religion, and possessing a spirit of perseverance[.]
From such a society a committee might be appointed, whose business it should be to procure all the information they could upon the subject, to receive contributions, to enquire into the characters, tempers, abilities and religious views of the missionaries, and also to provide them with necessaries for their undertakings.
They must also pay a great attention to the views of those who undertake this work; for want of this the missions to the Spice Islands, sent by the Dutch East-India Company, were soon corrupted, many going more for the sake of settling in a place where temporal gain invited them, than of preaching to the poor Indians. This soon introduced a number of indolent, or profligate persons, whose lives were a scandal to the doctrines which they preached: and by means of whom the gospel was ejected from Ternate[2], in 1694, and Christianity fell into great disrepute in other places. . . .
[T]here would not only be enough [provision] to support the ministry of the gospel at home . . . but to defray the expenses of carrying the gospel into the heathen world.
In respect to contributions for defraying the expenses, money will doubtless be wanting; and suppose the rich were to embark a portion of that wealth over which God has made them stewards, in this important undertaking, perhaps there are few ways that would turn to a better account at last. Nor ought it to be confined to the rich; if persons in more moderate circumstances were to devote a portion, suppose a tenth, of their annual increase to the Lord, it would not only correspond with the practice of the Israelites, who lived under the Mosaic economy[3], but of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, before that dispensation commenced. Many of our most eminent forefathers amongst the Puritans, followed that practice; and if that were but attended to now, there would not only be enough to support the ministry of the gospel at home, and to encourage village preaching in our respective neighborhoods, but to defray the expenses of carrying the gospel into the heathen world.
If congregations were to open subscriptions of one penny, or more per week, according to their circumstances, and deposit it as a fund for the propagation of the gospel, much might be raised in this way. By such simple means, they might soon have it in their power to introduce the preaching of the gospel into most of the villages in England, where, though men are placed whose business it should be to give light to those who sit in darkness, it is well known that they have it not. Where there was no person to open his house for the reception of the gospel, some other building might be procured for a small sum, and even then, something considerable might be spared for the Baptist, or other committees, for propagating the gospel amongst the heathen. . . .
Surely it is worthwhile to lay ourselves out with all our might in promoting the cause and the kingdom of Christ.
We are exhorted to lay up treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal. It is also declared that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. These Scriptures teach us that the enjoyments of the life to come, bear a near relation to that which now is; a relation similar to that of the harvest, and the seed. It is true all the reward is of mere grace, but it is nevertheless encouraging; what a treasure, what a harvest must await such characters as the Apostle Paul, John Elliot, and David Brainerd, and others, who have given themselves wholly to the work of the Lord. What a heaven will it be to see the many myriads of poor heathens, of Britons amongst the rest, who by their labors have been brought to the knowledge of God. Surely a crown of rejoicing like this is worth aspiring to. Surely it is worthwhile to lay ourselves out with all our might in promoting the cause and the kingdom of Christ.
A Call to Unite and Act With Purpose
As we reflect on Carey’s timeless challenge, let us heed his call to unite and act with purpose. ABWE’s 2025 Easter Offering is a tangible way for churches to come together and support the cause of Christ’s mission.
This offering supports all 1,000 ABWE missionaries proclaiming Christ in more than 80 nations. The funds raised provide the necessary training, accountability, resources, and logistical support for these missionaries to carry out their ministries effectively —not only preaching the gospel but also planting churches, providing medical care, translating Scripture, and training local leaders.
ABWE, founded nearly a century ago, is a family of over 450 missionary-sending churches and thousands of financially supporting churches. We exist for the church and are formed by local churches to advance the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches.
By contributing to the 2025 Easter Offering, your church can play a vital role in this global mission. The funds raised will ensure that missionaries have the support they need to continue spreading the gospel and meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the lost and least reached across the globe. We invite you to join us. Together, our churches can reach the lost and disciple the nations as Carey envisioned.
[1] Spellings, punctuations, and some phrasings have been updated for modern audiences. Subheadings have also been added to this excerpt to assist contemporary readers. This excerpt is taken from Section 5: “An Enquiry into the Duty of Christians in general, and what Means ought to be used, in order to promote this Work.”
[2] An island in Indonesia.
[3] That is, the Mosaic covenant administration.
