A Civil Engineer to India

In 1864 during a crisis at the Telegu Mission in India, John E. Clough offered to go to the “Lone Star” field. But what did the American Baptist Missionary Union want a civil engineer for in South India? Despite mission board misgivings, his zeal paid off and he was on his way.

Thirteen years later, it became apparent why God has called this non-seminary-trained man in India. During the great famine of 1876–77, it was his civil engineering degree that won him the appointment to supervise the digging of the unfinished Buckingham Canal, enabling him to hire thousands of starving natives, and so securing them wages and means to buy food.

And because of such sympathetic contacts with the Telegus, Clough was able to give them the Scriptures and preach to them about Christ.