George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, challenged Belmont students to become more missionary-minded during a Wednesday morning chapel in the Neely Dining Hall.
Carey shared stories of his evangelical work in Susan, Nigeria and other countries. Christians in Western countries rarely have their faith challenged, are persecuted for attending church or have their home burned down as with believers in developing countries, he said. Missionary work would facilitate growth in Jesus Christ.
“The work of the church is to establish the kingdom of God in the hearts and minds of men and women, boys and girls. The challenge is to put backbone into our Christian lives and to have it pulsate in every aspect of our lives,” Carey said. “Children are our church of today and leaders of tomorrow.”
Following his lecture on World Christianity, Carey signed copies of his book, The Church in the Modest Place.
Queen Elizabeth II appointed Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1991. He promoted a “decade of evangelism” that coincided with the explosive growth of the Anglican Church in Africa and throughout the developing world. Upon his retirement in 2002, he was made a life peer and member of the House of Lords. He is the recipient of 12 honorary doctorates, author of 14 books, chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire and president of the London School of Theology.
