Holding the Ropes

I read an article in “The Word of Faith” magazine awhile back, and I thought it would be appropriate to share with you. The article was about how having a base of support is invaluable to any endeavor. No one can be successful in this life as a Lone Ranger. We need each other and the support that comes from strong relationships.

William Carey of England knew the value of strong relationships. He knew the importance of having friends who would support him in his endeavors.

Carey was ordained in August 1786. During a ministers meeting that year, Carey suggested that Jesus’ command to His disciples “to teach all nations” was still in effect. Mr. Ryland, the meeting chairman, rebuked him and accused of being an enthusiast! (And that’s bad? Hmmm).

Carey was quite embarrassed. His fellow ministers treated his ideas as impractical. But that same year he met Thomas Potts, who had been to America and seen the need for missionary work. Potts supported Carey in his vision.

Carey began to realize that his dreams would never be fulfilled if he worked on his own. In time, God brought other people across his path who encouraged and helped him. As a direct consequence of Carey’s work, the first Evangelical missions agency was created in 1792.

One day in 1793, Carey and some friends were discussing the need for foreign missions. Andrew Fuller, a fellow minister who was at that gathering, recalled, “We saw there was a gold mine in India, but it was as deep as the center of the Earth.” Fuller asked who would venture to explore that mine. Carey spoke up and addressed his friends: “I will venture to go down, but remember that you must hold the ropes.”

By “holding the ropes,” Carey meant consistently praying for him, financially supporting him, and regularly communicating on his behalf with the churches in England. His friends agreed.

Carey went to India and made possible the translation of the Bible into numerous languages. Many have called Carey the father of modern missions, but he saw his relationship with his supporters in England as a brotherhood. He traveled to India, but he knew he was only able to accomplish what he did because his partners back in England were “holding the ropes.”

My friends, there are many ministries who are in need of your help in “holding the ropes;” to coming alongside of them and supporting them financially and prayerfully.

In October I will be taking a trip to Bangladesh along with a dear friend of mine and we need your support. We fully understand the burdens many of us are experiencing, but it is through your faithful and continual support that we we are able to continue our outreach and ministry.

First, please be faithful in supporting your own local church or fellowship. It is an unfortunate reality that every ministry has expenses to pay and it is the faithful support of the members that allow the ministry to function.

We value those who partner with us in the work of Ministry. It is through your continual support that we are able to accomplish His Great commission. We do not want to be a burden to any of the local ministries with our visit, so we need to raise the funds for travel and housing for the two weeks we will be visiting.

We recognize that for some of us, the gifts are indeed sacrifices and we treasure what you are able to give. Can we suggest you commit to a small monthly gift for the next six months? We thank you deeply for whatever support you are able to provide.

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