2002 is the 50th anniversary of the death, in April 1952, of Samuel Marinus Zwemer. Though unknown outside specialist missionary circles, he was widely acknowledged in his lifetime as the world's foremost authority on all matters relating to Christian witness to Islam.
This reputation emerged from a 50-year career involving pioneer missionary work, literature propagation and advocacy work on behalf of mission to Muslims and finally a career in teaching and writing on missionary theology and practice.
Samuel Zwemer was born to Dutch immigrant parents in Vriesland, Michigan on April 12 1867. Samuel was the 13th of 15 children! The family's extremely strong Christian home environment was testimony to the French Huguenot extraction of their forebears who had settled in Holland.
