This missionary was sincerely the pioneer of his time.

My sons enjoyed it as well, even though I think the first few chapters bored them a bit. William shook the people up with a book he wrote, and to take it further, he decided to go and do mission work in India himself, being rebellious once again as he did not have the permission of the East India Company to do so. Because the disciples were the ones told to go out into all the world and preach the gospel, the 18th century believers felt they didn't need to do that anymore and just had to stay where they were and worry about their own country. In the late 1700s, the idea of missionaries was not one that was thought of at all. It was nice to learn of the convictions of Mr. I love that because I'm an Anabaptist (which Baptists stem from). When William does his apprenticeship, he becomes a Baptist, which at the time were dissidents. The first half of it talks about Williams time as a child being a weaving family's son and how his father was a huge part of the state run church in the town where he grew up.

This book was the last part of the study. It was perfect to read to my children who are nine and eleven years old. (1759-1833).I have been wanting to read about William Carey for years. His example continues to inspire others to use their gifts and influence to do good against the odds.

Together with a community of dynamic reformers, Wilberforce struggled to rid his nation of evil and to give dignity and freedom to all people-slave and slave trader, poor and powerful. Ending slavery in the mighty British Empire seemed like an impossible dream, but once William Wilberforce resolved to represent the abolitionists in Parliament, he would fight to the bitter end-for nearly half a century-to achieve that goal. This was a much bigger fight than he felt capable of taking on.įor two hundred years, British slave ships plied the Middle Passage, taking African men, women, and children to their doom. And a large number of bishops sat in the House of Lords. After all, King George III and the Church of England both had large amounts of money invested in trade with the West Indies. William wondered how anyone was supposed to battle slavery.

William Wilberforce by Janet Benge