Gospel Trailblazer: An African-American Preacher's Historic Journey Across Racial Lines

© 2003  Howard O. Jones

Moody Publishers, Chicago — All Rights Reserved — Used by Permission

1. Jones, Howard O. 2. African American evangelists — biography. 3. African American women — biography.
LC Class: BV3785.J593A3 ~~ Dewey: 269.2092 ~~ OCLC: 51505784 ~~ LCCN 2003-000356 ~~ 220p.

Gospel Trailblazer is presently held by 52 libraries including Bethel Seminary and Wheaton College

This book is dedicated to the memory of my beloved wife, Wanda; our precious children and grandchildren; and to Reverend and Mrs. Charles Mayle and the members of the Oberlin Alliance Church

Table of Contents

Foreword by Billy Graham         9

Acknowledgments         10

Introduction        The Heart of an Evangelist         13

PART ONE — Beginnings

1.  The Start of Me         23

2.  All That Jazz         39

3.  Wanda         45

4.  Strong Prayers and Naysayers         55

PART TWO — The Education of a Preacher

5.  Go East, Young Man         69

6.  Ready, Set, Grow         81

7.  Free at Last         89

PART THREE — Harlem, Africa, and Beyond

8.  "Reverend Jones"         95

9.  Bigger Things         103

10.  "Welcome" to Africa         115

11.  The Letter         133

12.  New York, New York         139

PART FOUR  — Keeping Up with the Joneses

13.  Adventures with Billy         151

14.  Breaking Down More Barriers         161

PART FIVE — Looking Back – and Ahead

15.  Family Matters         179

16.  Losing Wanda         191

17.  Go Ye Therefore         205

    Billy Graham made a dramatic decision to go against the grain of the segregationist era in the church: he opened his ministry to people of all races. Dr. Howard O. Jones became Dr. Graham's first African-American colleague, thereby helping him integrate and broaden his ministry. Readers from all backgrounds will be inspired, informed, and challenged as they read Gospel Trailblazer. Even if Dr. Jones isn't a familiar name, in this autobiography Howard Jones helps readers more fully appreciate the triumphs and failures of the 20th Century evangelistic movement and his major contribution to the cause of Jesus Christ.

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Howard Jones is an unsung hero to the glory of God, not only in evangelism and world missions, but also in civil rights. Reading his story will have you laughing, crying, praying and shouting — and it will do you good. I have read hundreds of biographies and autobiographies, but few have moved me as deeply as this one.

WARREN W. WIERSBE, Author, Conference Speaker

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