Alumnus James Austin releases first book

Waxahachie, Texas — February 15, 2013 — Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) alumnus James Austin released his first book titled "The Tower of Babel in Genesis" on Nov. 11, 2012.

Austin's book analyzes the events of the Tower of Babel and discusses themes and ideas that resonate throughout Genesis, the Bible, and into modern history. The book demonstrates the importance that the narrative had on the human race.

Austin said, "I have always been a lover of Old Testament theology, and this book is a collection of about 20 years of my research"

He noticed a direct correlation between known structures like The Great Ziggurat of Babylon and The Tower of Babel. He said, "They were separated from the tower, but the tower-building mentality was not separated from them."

While the biblical story is only nine verses, Austin's book provides context by taking the reader from Noah's time to Abraham's and explains how so many different languages formed over such a short time span.

Austin proves that despite God changing the people's language and scattering them to different parts of the world, their mentality of building a physical structure tall enough to bring God down from the heavens was still the same.

Click here to order his book.

Austin grew up in Logansport, Indiana. In 1992, Austin graduated with bachelor’s degrees in missions and Bible from Central Bible College (CBC). While at CBC, Austin met and married his wife Karma. After graduation, the couple served a two-year missionary assignment in Guam and neighboring Rota Island, where they worked with Yigo Assembly of God and its accompanying Bible school.

At the conclusion of their assignment, the Austins returned to the United States. They settled in the Kansas City, Missouri area, where they served as the children’s pastors at Karma’s home church, Raytown First Assembly of God, for nine years. In 2004, Austin became the senior pastor at Bourbon First Assembly of God in Bourbon, Missouri.

After four years of pastoring, Austin sensed that God wanted him to further his education in preparation of a particular ministry. He enrolled in the SAGU graduate program and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2011. Austin now serves as a chaplain resident for Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

During his coursework at SAGU, Austin submitted a master's thesis researching the influence of the Tower of Babel narrative on the theology of the book of Genesis. This book is a product of his research. He explains how the Tower of Babel did not only effect the book of Genesis, but the whole beginning of society.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The University was established in 1927, and now offers more than 60 associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.