WILLIAM CAREY - "We can rebuild and replace what was lost"

On the evening of March 11, 1812, as William Ward sat at his desk completing the day’s work, smoke began to pour from the hall from the south side of the print shop. Quickly, Ward closed all the windows and doors, and he, Joshua Marshman, and the native workers poured water through the roof for four hours until the fire appeared to be out.

Tragically, as Ward and Marshman checked for damages, someone (who was never discovered) opened several windows in the print shop, and the fire blazed back to life, sweeping through every corner of the building.

In the devastating loss, the final draft of the universal dictionary, ten different versions of the Bible, several other manuscripts, and many hand-cut type fonts were completely destroyed. With tears streaming down his face, Carey walked among the ruins with Marshman and Ward.

“In one evening,” he said, “the labours of years are consumed. How unsearchable are the ways of God!”

William and Charlotte wept together in anguish over the loss of so many years of work.

Once again, Carey turned to his Savior and left the tragedy in God’s hands. He didn’t understand, but he trusted the God who was the Author and Finisher of his faith. Fortunately, five printing presses and much of the foundational type had survived. The next day, William gathered his heartbroken colleagues around him and said, “We must stay the course, trusting God, who has brought us safe thus far. We can rebuild and replace what was lost.”

To William’s astonishment, the Serampore disaster made his mission famous all over Europe and America. When the news of the fire reached Europe, churches throughout the continent prayed for the mission and sent ten thousand pounds to India to fund the replacement of what had been lost. Andrew Fuller had to circulate a letter asking people to stop sending money! Hearing of the mission’s success in the gospel, churches in England and the United States requested a portrait of William Carey to place in their halls in his honor.

And so, in His faithfulness, God used the fire disaster for the good. God doesn’t cause these things to happen, but He is faithful to make good come from there. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 nkjv).

Adapted from:

- God’s Generals ( The Missionaries )