6j: How to Use External Source Excerpts with Footnotes and Endnotes

A footnote is the source note placed at the bottom of the same page. In the book, one clear example appears where the text discusses the Pentecostal movement and then gives the note: “The shifting landscape of African-Pentecostalism in Kenya. Julius M. Gathogo. Published: 13 January 2022.” Another appears with the explanation of “Full Gospel,” followed by the note: “Full Gospel – Wikipedia.” These notes sit quietly beneath the text, allowing the main narrative to continue while still acknowledging where the information came from.

An endnote works in much the same way, except that instead of placing the source at the bottom of the page, the source is gathered at the end of the chapter or at the back of the book. Jesus Killed My Business includes a References section near the end, listing sources such as Julius M. Gathogo’s work on African Pentecostalism, the Wikipedia entry on Full Gospel, and other outside materials used in the book. That means the book does not only acknowledge sources on the page; it also gathers them at the back for fuller reference. This is a useful reminder that writers can combine readable storytelling with proper documentation.

Let us make this more practical. Suppose you are writing an article on surrendering control to God, and you want to borrow a line from Jesus Killed My Business. You might write: In Jesus Killed My Business, Dr. Muthoni Omukhango reflects that many believers struggle because they want more control over their lives. That borrowed idea becomes your excerpt. If you use a footnote system, you place a small note number after that sentence and give the source at the bottom of the page. If you use an endnote system, you place the same number in the text, but the source appears at the back instead. The purpose is the same in both cases: the reader can see that the idea came from a source and was not simply lifted without acknowledgement. The book itself says, “We want more control over our lives,” which makes it a strong and concise example of a quotable excerpt.

What makes this especially important for African writers is that many of us write from rich personal history, family memory, oral culture, ministry experience, and community life. These are strengths, not weaknesses. Yet once we begin to draw from published material outside ourselves, we must show where it came from. That practice does not reduce creativity. It strengthens trust. It tells the reader that we are not only gifted storytellers or thoughtful teachers, but also careful stewards of truth.

There is, however, an important caution. A footnote is not a hiding place for over-copying. You cannot borrow large blocks of someone else’s writing and imagine that a little number at the bottom of the page has solved the problem. A mature writer quotes lightly, acknowledges clearly, and returns quickly to their own voice. The reader should always know who is leading the conversation.

That is one of the useful lessons from Jesus Killed My Business. The book remains personal, devotional, and reflective, yet it still makes room for external sources where they genuinely add value. It uses notes not to impress, but to support. It uses references not to show off, but to strengthen credibility. In doing so, it offers African writers a quiet but powerful model: you can write from the heart and still document responsibly.

So, if you are working on a memoir, a Christian living book, a ministry reflection, or a book that mixes testimony with teaching, do not fear footnotes and endnotes. Use excerpts with wisdom. Use notes with integrity. Then return to your own voice and write with conviction.

That is not only good writing. It is good stewardship.

Conclusion
Are you writing a memoir, Christian non-fiction book, or reflective manuscript? Learn to use excerpts, footnotes, and endnotes in a way that strengthens your message without silencing your voice.