Empowering Missionaries Like Carey: Sustainable Mission in a Modern World

by Dave Miller

In the rich tapestry of missionary history, the story of William Carey stands out like a beacon. Before he ever embarked on his journey to India, Carey poured his convictions into a work titled An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. In this lengthy but powerful treatise, Carey laid out a revolutionary vision: it was not enough for Christians to simply pray for the unreached—they must actively use practical means to reach them.

Supported by the newly formed Baptist Missionary Society and encouraged by men like Andrew Fuller and John Ryland, Carey set out with the understanding that they would “hold the ropes” as he descended into the mission field. The Society was, in many ways, pioneering a new model of support—envisioning a steady stream of resources and encouragement flowing from home to the field.

But when Carey arrived in India, the ground-level reality was far more challenging. Communication was slow. Funds were inconsistent. And the sheer distance created a gulf that no amount of good intentions could fully bridge. In the face of these hardships, Carey quickly realized he would need to become self-reliant. He turned to printing and teaching, establishing a means of supporting himself and his family while furthering his mission. In essence, he learned to make his own ropes out of necessity.

And this brings us to the heart of our reflection: instead of simply promising to hold the ropes for those we send, why not train and empower them to craft their own?

A Consideration 

Carey’s journey teaches us that sustainable mission work isn’t just about sending support—it’s about equipping each individual with the skills and means to stand on their own feet, to integrate their calling with real-world livelihoods, and to thrive as co-vocational leaders. Let’s be the ones who teach others not just to hold ropes, but to weave them—ensuring that wherever they go, they have the resilience and creativity to continue the work.

We find a beautiful biblical parallel in the story of Priscilla and Aquila. In the New Testament, this remarkable couple worked as tentmakers, using their trade not just to support themselves but to further the spread of the gospel. They traveled with Paul and on their own, established churches, and became a living example of a co-vocational model in the early church.

Just like Carey, Priscilla and Aquila didn’t rely solely on outside support. Instead, they wove their own ropes by integrating their everyday work with their ministry. They show us a biblical model of sustainability: living out the gospel through both their profession and their proclamation.

By adding their story to Carey’s, we see a clear, time-tested pattern: missions thrive when individuals are equipped not to depend on external support, but to build sustainable lives that fuel their calling. Like Priscilla and Aquila, modern-day rope-makers can find in their trades and skills the means to spread their faith, plant new communities, and carry the mission forward with resilience and joy.

In the end, the call is clear: let’s not just be rope-holders. Let’s be rope-makers—equipping others to weave their own paths as they go. Thanks to examples like Carey, Priscilla, and Aquila, we have a rich legacy to follow.

I also understand the tension this shift may create. For centuries, missions have largely operated on a model of sending funds and support from home to the field. And in today’s globalized world, it’s easier than ever to do just that. Many would argue that the challenges Carey faced were primarily logistical—and that today’s connectivity can solve much of what once hindered the work.

But the real question isn’t just about access to resources. It’s about formation.

Carey’s real breakthrough wasn’t logistical—it was spiritual and vocational. He had the character, conviction, and competence to take responsibility for what God had entrusted to him. Rather than shielding missionaries from the need to work, should we not be preparing them for it. Instead of trying to keep the metaphorical William Careys from laboring, we should be sending them out as rope-makers from the start.

Our role, then, becomes one of partner for those already equipped, rather than principal for those dependent.

Let’s honor Carey’s legacy not by replicating the intended model, but by reproducing the actual reality—training and sending out resilient, co-vocational leaders who can thrive in any context.