To God Be the Glory: Miracles from a Missionary’s Life (1983) is a collection of inspirational stories by Doris Hokett, missionary to Ghana and Nigeria since 1967. At the time the book was written, most of the Hoketts’ ministry took place in northern Ghana, in a West African context that was a mix of Christians, Muslims, and idol-worshipping pagans.

This little staple-bound book and its sequel (simply called To God Be the Glory, Volume 2) are made up of very short chapters of one or two pages each. They read like missionary newsletters, usually recounting answers to prayer that took place on the mission field: obstacles to ministry removed, idols overcome, provision in times of need. It is always worthwhile to record our answers to prayer and the works of the Lord in our lives, so that it can edify us and other believers.

Many of the answers to prayer involve overcoming the fear of idols. There was one young man who became Christian, but thought he would die if he removed his “juju” charm—he didn’t. There was another man who became Christian, but kept a juju charm hidden in his home for years, until it was struck by lightning!

The success of the Hoketts is part of a much larger success story of Christianity in Africa in the past 50 years. In Ghana, Christianity in general and Pentecostalism in particular have been booming since the time of the Hoketts’ arrival in the 1960s. Today, nearly a third (31%) of Ghana is now Pentecostal according to Wikipedia. This growth in Pentecostalism is apparently due to attrition of both mainline Protestantism and traditional religion (paganism) in Ghana. Christianity in Africa has exploded since 1900, especially among populations that previously practiced African traditional religions, such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Liberia. Uganda had been among the frontrunners, experiencing a Christian revival in the 1880s and 1890s.

Arthur Hokett passed to his reward in 2011, and Doris still does some ministry in Nigeria, though well into retirement age. Doris’ many books are available for order here. If you like short and inspirational stories, pick up a copy of To God Be the Glory.