ABSTRACT
John Wesley Gilbert was born in Hephzibaha, Georgia, and was educated in the public schools of Augusta, the Atlanta Baptist Seminary (Theological Department of Morehouse College), Paine College, and Brown University. While at Brown, Gilbert was awarded a special scholarship for excellence in Greek, which enabled him to attend the American School of Classics in Athens. He travelled extensively in Europe and in Africa. Later he was sent to Africa and together with Bishop Walter Russell Lambuth of the Southern Methodist Church he founded the mission of Wembo-Nyama in the Republic of the Congo, the same mission which gave Patrice Lumumba his early education. This establishment represents the first missionary work of Southern Methodism in Africa.
