Commissioning of Missionaries

William Carey, often called the father of modern missions, was born 250 years ago. He became a missionary from England to Serampore, India. His strong desire for people to hear and receive the gospel caused him to take his family and move far away from their culture to a different land populated by few Christians. William Carey was one of the founders of the Baptist Missionary Society. In November, William Carey University, The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Temple Baptist Church will join together to honor the memory of William Carey and to send out about 45 missionaries from the United States to various parts of our world. Our church will be the site of this life-changing event on Wednesday, November 16. This special service will include the opportunity to hear briefly from the missionaries and to hear a challenging message from our newly elected President of the International Board, Dr. Tom Eliff. In addition, the choir and orchestra will join students from the William Carey University Chorale to provide music that will stir our hearts. These missionaries will come to Hattiesburg from Richmond, Virginia after completing their orientation. Family, friends, and a large number of Southern Baptists will join these committed servants of Christ in our church to commission them to their respective fields of service. God still calls missionaries to join the ranks of the Apostle Paul and William Carey. The Great Commission is still our charge from the Master. Matthew 28:18-20, 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” William Carey said, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”