Mission as Human Flourishing: Sam Higginbottom’s Holistic Theology in Colonial India

This article examines the theological foundations of Sam Higginbottom’s mission in colonial India, arguing that his work represents an early articulation of mission as human flourishing. Drawing on Higginbottom’s writings, institutional practice at the Allahabad Agricultural Institute, and archival correspondence, the study situates his theology within Reformed traditions, the Social Gospel movement, and the socio-economic realities of rural North India. Unlike mission models that prioritized conversion alone, Higginbottom integrated evangelism, agricultural science, education, and social responsibility as expressions of Christian witness. The article employs historical-theological and contextual analysis to demonstrate how themes of stewardship, dignity of labour, and the Kingdom of God shaped his holistic praxis. It further evaluates the strengths and limitations of Higginbottom’s approach in light of colonial political economy and religious pluralism. The study concludes that Higginbottom anticipated later frameworks of integral mission and public theology by grounding mission in concrete practices that sought the material and moral well-being of rural communities. His work offers enduring insights for contemporary discussions on holistic mission, development ethics, and faith-based social engagement.