Apostle to the Pima Indians

by Minnie Cook

The century beginning with 1865 and ending with 1965 was a Golden Age of Missions. Hundreds of Christians had the urge to share precious truths with people who might not possess them. They took very seriously the command of "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." The missionaries had no way of knowing, before they embarked upon their journeys to people with foreign tongues, how these people would feel about their coming. They were therefore, they could not learn from the past generation. In the case of the Pima Indians, the chief asked for a teacher that his people might learn the ways of the white man. He did not ask for the white man's religion. However, Charles Cook felt that Christianity and education were linked together. Neither he nor the chief were cognizant of the fact that many whites which the western Indians encountered possessed a mediocre education, and that the white man;s religion was so adulterated that it was impossible for him to make a satisfying approach to the Almighty. They both learned these things the hard way.... This is the story of a man who accomplished much by attempting to minister to not one but many of the needs of his chosen people. He was interested not only in there education but in their economic, social, and most of all spiritual life. Like all humans he made many mistakes, but readers will become aware of his character growth as he struggled through great adversities. They will also see why he was able to help a proud and intelligent tribe of Indians to begin to attain their rightful place in a land which was theirs by birth. - excerpts from Preface

Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1976