Vision in Progress: Framing the Portrait of Indian Baptists in South Africa

by J. Jayakiran Sebastian; Rodney Ragwan

Publisher:

Resource Publications

, 2011

Overview

The work of American Baptist missionaries among the Telugu people in India in the nineteenth century came to fruition in 1897, when Telugus established their own indigenous missionary organization, the Telugu Home Missionary Society. Six years later, in 1903, the society took the highly ambitious step of sending one of its own, John Rangiah, to South Africa as a missionary to work among Telugus who’d gone to that country as indentured laborers. Vision in Progress tells the story of Indian Baptists’ work in South Africa, work mitigated by the negatives influences of colonialism and racism, manifested by the openly racist South African doctrine of apartheid. It examines the values, missions philosophy, and struggles of John Rangiah and of others--men and women--who have shaped the history of Indian Baptists in South Africa up to this day. In telling this story, the author provides a thorough history of the organization Indian Baptists formed--the Baptist Association of South Africa--and its friction-filled efforts to work alongside other Baptist groups. Informational and inspirational, Vision in Progress serves ultimately as a testimony of people of great faith who were up against tremendous odds.

Praise for Vision in Progress

”Vision in Progress: Framing the Portrait of Indian Baptists in South Africa fills a gap in Asian and African Church History and Missions studies. While selected indigenous African and Asian Baptist individuals have often been celebrated in biographies, their social and political impact have not been adequately studied or shared. We are indebted to Rodney Ragwan for this informative, inspirational resource which does this for both scholars and pastors."
- Horace O. Russell
Emeritus Professor of HistoricalTheology and Dean of Chapel, Palmer Theological Seminary

“In this important text Rodney Ragwan offers a biographical portrait of the first Indian-born missionary to South Africa, Reverend John Rangiah, who was also one of the few Asian representatives at the 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference. Ragwan’s research brings to light an early example of what missiologists today call ‘South to South’ mission. Utilizing insights from post-colonial theory, this book also tells the larger story of Indian Baptist work in South Africa of the contemporary period. This work fills gaps in our knowledge of the history of Christianity in South Africa for which historians of Christian mission and church leaders in South Africa and elsewhere will be most grateful."
-Ben Hartley
Associate Professor of Christian Mission, Palmer Theological Seminary

"Rodney Ragwan’s Vision in Progress delves into the important, but too often little known history of the American Baptist missionary movement among the Telugu people of India. It is a story of resolve and determination among the indigenous missionaries and the subsequent formation of the Baptist Association of South Africa. Dr. Ragwan is to be commended for a thoughtfully researched, scholarly, but thoroughly readable work."
-Wallace Charles Smith
Dean, Smith School of Christian Ministries, Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, and Senior Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, DC

"Rodney Ragwan’s Vision in Progress retells the history of American Baptist and Telegu Indian Baptist missionary endeavors in South Africa, bringing to the fore the ‘unsung voices’ ignored thus far. The book reminds us that ‘history’ is never neutral, nor its task ever complete. Ragwan’s narrative challenges us to ask: whose voices have yet to be unearthed? Whose stories must be heard? This book is an important addition to the study of global missions.
-Loida I. Martell-Otero
Professor of Constructive Theology, Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University

Product Details

• Title : Vision in Progress: Framing the Portrait of Indian Baptists in South Africa
• Authors:
  • Ragwan, Rodney
  • Sebastian, J. Jayakiran
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Publication Date: 2011
• ISBN: 9781621890843

About the Authors

Rodney Ragwan is a native of South Africa. He serves as the Associate Director of Eastern's School of Christian Ministry (ESCM) at Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He is also the former president of the Baptist Association of South Africa and is the author of In His Service (2003).