I am off to Bulawayo (Zimbabwe's second largest city) tomorrow after a busy but successful week of work here in Harare. From there I go to Johannesburg where I will speak at Celebration Church in the morning and Hatfield North in Pretoria in the evening next Sunday. If you're in the area, I hope you can come out.
Last week, I wrote about the need to find out where you are supposed to do what you were created to do. That doesn't mean you have to venture very far away from home to find it, but it may. In this context, I was thinking of William Carey, a man who is called the father of modern missions. William Carey first found out where he was to be and from there found out what he was supposed to do. Let's look at his story.
OFF TO INDIA
William Carey was a shoemaker in England when he sensed God wanted him to go to India to preach the gospel. That doesn't sound so unusual today, but in the eighteenth century it was radical and unheard of. Carey persevered, however, and went to Serampore, India. The rest, as they say, is history.
When Carey got to India and saw the conditions there, this simple shoemaker came to life. He saw what needed to be done and he set about doing it. If you think all Carey did was preach while he was in India, you are wrong. Consider these roles that Carey played once he got to where he was supposed to be (I took these from the book The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture by Vishal and Ruth Mangalwadi):
1. Botanist. Carey often lectured on science. He brought flowers to India like the English daisy and introduced systems of gardening. He taught the Indians about nature, that insects weren't souls in bondage as they had been led to believe, but rather living organisms worthy of study and appreciation.
2. Industrialist. Carey introduced the steam engine to India.
3. Economist. He introduced the savings bank and worked to combat the evil of usury, charging high interest rates on loans.
4. Medical Humanitarian. Leprosy was common in India and Carey taught the people how to care for and not reject their lepers.
5. Media Pioneer. Carey built what was the largest printing press in India. His English-speaking journal, Friend of India, was the force that gave birth to the social reform movement in India.
6. Agriculturist. Appalled that so much land was unused while people starved, Carey founded India's Agri-Horticultural Society in 1820.
7. Astronomer. Knowing that the heavenly bodies weren't deities, he taught the Indians the scientific approach to the study of God's creation.
8. Translator and Educator. As would be expected, Carey translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit and numerous other dialects. What may surprise you is that he translated Indian works into English for the world to enjoy.
9. Library Pioneer. Carey started the first lending libraries in India.
The list continues with Carey's roles as forest conservationist, crusader for women's rights, public servant, moral reformer and cultural transformer. Carey didn't do too badly for a shoemaker!
GO WHERE YOU WILL BLOSSOM
Would William Carey have blossomed into the leader and pioneer that he was if he had stayed in England? Probably not. He allowed God to transplant him to India and there he blossomed into a magnificent man of purpose.
There is nothing wrong with making shoes, but Carey would have lived far beneath his potential if he hadn't stepped out of his comfort zone. The same is true for you. You won't know what you are capable of, with God's help, until you try or until you must. Thinking about your purpose won't do it, and putting it off won't get you where you need to be.
I recommend that you consider this week what you do when you are most effective. It may be with children, in prison work, with the mentally challenged or in the ministry. You may now know what you can do, however, but you may sense you know where it is that you will grow and blossom. It may be across the street from where you live now or 5,000 miles away. God determines the ground; you just have to allow Him to plant you so you can put down roots.
You may also want to spend some time this week reading or thinking about William Carey. You have the same potential he had, but only if you find your niche, your place, your ground. You aren't alone in this search for God is with you. Don't fret, but don't delay any longer. The world is waiting to see what you have, what you can do in the power of God and your purpose. Have a great week!
If you have anything of interest to add about William Carey, or to comment on this Memo, please feel free to write them on the site where this entry is posted.
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1. Here is my schedule for the rest of the year. Write me if you would like to schedule a one-on-one purpose session in one of these cities. I will also be speaking at both morning services (8 am and 10:30 am) at Celebration Church (formerly Hear the Word) on Sunday, December 17.
- December 7-10 -- Johannesburg, South Africa
- December 11-14 -- Lusaka, Zambia
- December 15-18 -- Harare, Zimbabwe
- December 19-23 -- Pittsburgh, PA USA
What's more, on Saturday, December 9 I am going to be with Glen McQuirk, author of the Map 4 Life purpose diary, and his purpose club in Pretoria. Please write for more information if you would like to attend that session.
2. Please remember PurposeQuest International in your year-end giving. If you are looking for good soil in which to sow your seed, I can think of none better than the purpose work I am doing in Africa and all over the world. You can give directly through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Gifts totaling $10,000 by year's end will enable me to publish my next book and revamp my website, which will in turn touch thousands of lives every day. Thank you for considering my request.
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