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Returning home, Wilkinson in July attended the annual Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) convention, where the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association gave him the prestigious book of the year award (a second time) for Jabez. But Wilkinson's keynote address backfired. According to a Publisher's Weekly account, Wilkinson's "altar call" for ECPA publishers to re-commit themselves to the Great Commission prompted negative reactions. Some viewed it as "manipulative" and "offensive." PW quoted Doug Ross, ECPA president, saying, "That room was filled with people who are doing something around the world." Ross, commenting to CT in September, said the speech was a "helpful wakeup call" in retrospect. "Bruce is a powerhouse leader and we need more like him." Another CBA attender said there was "a fair amount of anger" the next day as book publishers and editors discussed the event.

Despite occasional bad reactions (and scathing book reviews) in the United States, Wilkinson encounters relatively little criticism among African evangelicals. Wilkinson told CT, "I'm not serving the Lord harder here than I would anywhere else in the world. I'm not here to earn more rewards. I'm [in Africa] because he asked me to come." Still, he seems disturbed by the people who remain skeptical about his achievements or allege that The Prayer of Jabez is about personal financial gain, not growing in ministry.

In the wake of Wilkinson's initial success in Africa, more questions are surfacing about his conservative teaching and his wealth. Marilyn Berto, an Atlanta lay leader who has traveled to Africa with Wilkinson, said "I've heard people say, 'He's in it for the money.' Bruce is probably making a lot of money. But I can tell you he's giving it away as fast as he makes it."

Journalist Bougas said, "Some pastors accused him of being racist [when] he spoke about idolatry in some African-based churches, where there are still things like ancestor worship. He was being straight, and it is a major problem."

This fall, Multnomah Publishers will release Wilkinson's latest book, The Dream Giver. A parable, it opens with the memorable line, "Not long ago and not far away, a Nobody named Ordinary lived in the Land of Familiar." Wilkinson assumes the persona of Dream Coach, assisting an individual's spiritual pilgrimage.

And what about pilgrim Wilkinson's own progress? He wrote to me by e-mail from Johannesburg in late August: "The needs of millions truly burden our hearts. It's difficult to sleep at times. The territory has expanded so much that I only focus on Put your hand upon me and Keep me from evil."

Looking at African history, it's easy to see that more Westerners are changed by Africa than change Africa. Wilkinson's staying power may determine whether he can build on his impressive start or becomes a missions history footnote.

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also posted today is "Never-Ending Gardens," about feeding Africa's poorest families.

The Prayer of Jabez can be purchased at Christianbook.com along with Secrets of the Vine and a Prayer of Jabez Bible Study.

Bruce Wilkinson's bio can be found at The Prayer of Jabez Web site.

Multnomah Publishers has information on The Prayer of Jabez and Secrets of the Vine, including reader reviews.

CT Managing Editor Mark Galli reviewedJabez and The Secrets of the Vine.

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November 2003, Vol. 47, No. 11