Book Description

The book is an historical work that reflects on the good, the bad and the ugly experiences of a Southern Baptist missionary, T. J. Bowen and the relevant applications for African missions and contemporary missionaries. The significance of the study lies on the ability to pioneer missions among the people of strange culture, language, colour and values successfully. This book researches into problems observable in the life and works of Bowen that need clarification. They are problem of contextualizing mission, developing means and strategy for language barriers, mission funding and support, neglecting education as mission tool and ill-health challenges of missionaries which usually truncate dreams. This book, however, interacts with Nigerian Baptist Mission under GMB and her relationship with local churches on how to strengthen missionaries with SWOT Analysis. This book recommends suggested ways for African mission boards and agencies to be pragmatic in strategic making, be aware of the psychological welfare of her missionaries and provide a health insurance scheme for serving missionaries. When Mission Board and local churches hold hands together, missionaries will strive better on the field. Mission is still young in Africa dark soil, we only need men, methods and materials to grow gospel as God increases the open-doors for mission.