ABSTRACT
Education is a major field of endeavour for missionaries. It is at the heart of their development work, flowing out of their firm conviction that every child of God is called to have life and to have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). Missionary educational initiatives are about actualizing this proffered gift. The ripple effects of these educational efforts on a poor country’s development are enormous. This chapter has two goals. First, it surveys the range of educational services provided by our sample of missionaries. What kind of services are being provided, who are being served, where are they located, and how are they provided? Second, this chapter assesses the socioeconomic significance of these educational services. The bases for such evaluation are the theories and findings from the economic literature on the role of education in development. To what degree does our sample of missionary educational initiatives measure up to the recommendations of development experts in education?
