Tuesday, May 12, 2026

It is the 12th of May 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

One of the most intriguing stories in modern church history is the story of the great migration of the church in the last century- from Europe and the West to Africa and the Far East. The Protestant missions movement was the impetus for this- and we can tie that impetus back to a pamphlet, an obscure Baptist pamphlet from England, and an unknown and (formally) uneducated missionary named William Carey. He went prematurely bald in his twenties and stood at about 5’3”- but his pamphlet, published on this the 12th of May in 1792, would become the spark for the modern missions movement that changed the world.

 

The full title is a mouthful- it is: An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens; in which the Religious State of the Different Nations of the World, the Success of Former Undertakings, and the Practicability of Further Undertakings, are Considered.

 

A very long title for a booklet that comes in at only 89 pages. Carey’s initial audience was his own dissenting group of English Particular Baptists (this puts them in the camp of the Reformed Calvinists)- his attempt was to prove that the Great Commission was for all, for now, and especially for those who didn’t yet have the opportunity to hear the gospel in their own tongue.

 

The objection was that the Great Commission was given to the disciples, and while they were called to the ends of the earth, that was for them, not for us. You might be surprised (especially in a modern evangelical context) how many have read Matthew 28 as a historically contingent command to a particular people. Carey argued that if the command was to teach and baptize, and we still baptize, we must still be called to go to the ends of the earth.

 

To the second objection- that one should concentrate locally instead of internationally, Carey explains that the modern pagan, in his case, in England, has made the conscious decision not to avail themselves of the church that already exists. But what about those who have never had the opportunity? What of those for whom the Bible has never been translated? Carey himself would translate the Bible into 6 languages from his outpost in India and help with portions of the Bible in 29 other languages.

 

In 1792, the Bible had been translated into dozens of languages. From the time of Carey to today, the Bible has been translated into over 4,000 languages. Carey’s tract and then his story- 41 years of service without a furlough- revolutionized English-speaking Protestant missions such that by the end of the last century, an estimated 4 out of 5 missionaries were English-speaking Protestants.

 

The tract continues on with a history of missions- Carey explains that the church has always evangelized, but has too often done so with empires and swords- he was opposed to forced baptisms and the imposition of a Western culture in place of an indigenous one. He also includes very rudimentary data, well ahead of his time, on the various cultures and their native religions (he’s got a note that there are 9 million pagans in a place called “California”…

 

His final chapter emphasizes that missionary work is for everyone- and this could include a regular financial tithe towards missions and the building of institutions to continue the work. He himself would help found the Serampore College, which has become one of the largest granters of theological degrees in India. The school was formed as “A College for the instruction of Asiatic Christian and other Youth in Eastern Literature and European Science.” There were no theological or denominational requirements for attending- an early example of a school by Christians, but for all people.

 

The school, the movement, and the man would become the stuff of missionary lore- and it began with a simple pamphlet- known colloquially as “the Enquiry” published on this, the 12th of May in 1792.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and 1 Peter, quoting Psalm 34:

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
 and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
 and their lips from deceitful speech.

11 They must turn from evil and do good;
 they must seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
 and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 12th of May 2026, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man, don’t be fooled by camera tricks- also bald and 5’3”- he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man, not going to make the lazy joke about particular Baptists…. Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.