Plodding Along

William Carey is called the Father of Modern Day Missions. He was one of the founders of the Baptist Mission Society. They were a group of pastors and theology students who committed to work together. They committed to collect funds together to send missionaries. John Thomas and William Carey were elected to go to India.

While there, William Carey suffered extreme hardships. There were fires that destroyed his translation, his wife lost her mind, he buried children, and he was kicked out of English controlled area forcing him into the Dutch controlled Serampore. To make things more plain concerning his hardships, it was over seven years before he baptized his first convert!

Can you imagine, working for seven years without anything to show? Let’s be clear, getting conversions is not the goal of missions – the glory of God is the goal. God is glorified if people are converted or not. But let’s also be clear – God is glorified when men who are dead are made alive, when spiritually blind men are given sight.

Carey received much fame for his work in Serampore. Even today his story inspires others to follow his famous saying, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” Don’t be fooled, Carey did amazing things. He was an absolute trailblazer. When he was reflecting on his life, he knew someone would one day write a biography about him. He told his nephew, “Eustace, if after my removal any one should think it worth his while to write my Life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he give me credit for being a plodder he will describe me justly. Anything beyond this will be too much. I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.” What was the mark of Carey’s life? He persevered. Regardless of what difficulty came his way, he plodded through.

How could Carey plod through such difficulty? How could Carey keep his faith through trial after trial? Did he have amazing gifts? Maybe, but most linguists say he was not that gifted as a linguist. Was he a super duper Christian? Maybe, but the Holy Spirit living in him is the same in me and you. What was it?

In order for us to know the power behind Carey, we need to go look at the beginning of his mission work. Right after the forming of the Baptist Missionary Society, Carey went to each man involved and got them to commit to the work. Andrew Fuller remembers the moment this way,

“Our undertaking to India really appeared to me, on its commencement, to be somewhat like a few men, who were deliberating about the importance of penetrating into a deep mine, which had never before been explored. We had no one to guide us; and, while we were thus deliberating, Carey, as it were, said, ‘Well, I will go down if you will hold the rope.’ But, before he went down, he, as it seemed to me, took an oath from each of us at the mouth of the pit to this effect, that while we lived we should never let go the rope. You understand me. There was great responsibility attached to us who began the business.”

The strength to plodding hard ground is not in the exceptional qualities of the individual but on those petitioning God on behalf of the individual. Missions is never dependent on us. Missions is God’s work.

So seek Him. Hold the rope. If you are one of our “rope holders” thank you. If you want to become a rope holder, email us at kerrfamily@reachingandteaching.org

Greetings!

I hope everyone is doing well. We had a very busy January and we have been very busy so far this February.

We began the New Year by traveling to Panama City Beach, FL where I preached at a youth camp. The camp was a great time to preach to teenagers from the book of Philippians. After the camp, we spent several days with Katie’s family. We were blessed to celebrate Hannah’s first birthday with her family.

The next week I went to Louisville, KY for class and Katie remained in Mobile, AL with her family. I was challenged and encouraged by my classes on the history and theology of missions. The big take away from class is the term missio Dei, the mission of God. Missions is not man’s idea. In fact, before we ever thought of missions, God was already on mission (missio Dei) to redeem mankind for Himself. Being involved in missions is joining in the grand plan of God! What an encouragement!

As soon as class let out, I was on the road to Mobile, AL. I slept several hours before driving Katie and Hannah to Grand Isle, LA. I preached twice Sunday morning, once at First Baptist Grand Isle and then forty five minutes north at a Crosspoint Church. We really enjoyed our time on the Bayou. The people there may be difficult to understand as they mix English and Cajun but what is clear is the love they have for one another. Their love was evident to us as we were able to eat meals with them (genuine Cajun gumbo, it was absolutely delicious) and the support for those we were privileged to see several baptized at Crosspoint Church.

As a quick aside, let me say thank you for the encouragement we received in Louisiana. It is always encouraging to see people joining with God in the missio Dei. The great folks of FBC Grande Isle have a missional mindset and have helped to support the new church Crosspoint Church. God is working through the people of Crosspoint as they begin to share their faith with others on the Bayou!

After worshiping with both churches on Sunday, we got much needed sleep before heading back to Alabama. On the way, I was able to speak to several pastors at the Bayou Baptist Association. We shared about Reaching and Teaching and Ecuador. We are thankful for the opportunity to speak to them and look forward to working with several of the churches in the association. The pastors really have a heart to reach the Bayou for Jesus.

So our January ended with traveling over 3,000 miles, 6 sermons, 2 doctoral seminars, Hannah’s first birthday, and some really good gumbo! Speaking of Hannah, while we were gone, she began nodding her head “yes” and “no,” as well as signing “please” and “thank you.” She is a joy to watch grow up. I have hesitated sending this update letter out because she is just so close to walking! As I type this, she is using a walker and coming to me. And now… she is doing laps around the house!

February has been a great month meeting with several churches and people. We are well on our way to being fully funded. We are at this moment, a little over 60% funded for our monthly support! We are so thankful for everyone’s support.

If you would like to partner with us financially, all gifts are tax deductible. You can visit www.reachingandteaching.org/give and follow the prompts, just make sure you put “James and Erica Kerr” in the drop down menu (Erica is Katie’s legal name).

Here is a picture of Hannah is watching the monkey exhibit at the zoo. I would try to share a picture of her and the walker but she is going too fast!

I am a lifelong Patriots fan but we do have a sense of humor, Hannah is pictured with her very own air pump to make sure the footballs are just right :)