History Of The Church In Africa

Bengt Sundkler's long-awaited book on African Christian churches will become the standard reference for the subject.

Professor Hastings also compares the relation of Christian history to the comparable development of Islam in Africa.

The Africa Study Bible brings together 350 contributors from over 50 countries, providing a unique African perspective. It's an all-in-one course in biblical content, theology, history, and culture, with special attention to the African context. Each feature was planned by African leaders to help readers grow strong in Jesus Christ by providing understanding and instruction on how to live a good and righteous life--Publisher.

Christianity in Eurafrica is an impressive book, meticulously researched and well written by a professional scholar. The first chapter includes some valuable historiographical guidelines for writing and understanding the History of the Church. In its first part, the book traces the history of the Church in the Middle East and Europe, explaining the roots of theological diversity to this day. In the second part, the author narrates how the Faith moved south, took root in African soil and grew independently. Many pictures and illustrations serve to further enliven the account. Steven Paas, taught Theology in Malawi for many years. He writes from a deep knowledge of and love for the Lord’s Church, especially in Africa and Europe. This textbook on the history of Christianity in two continents fits with the curricula of institutions of theological training in Africa and the West. The content is especially aimed at students who prepare for the ministry and for Christian education. The book is, however, also invaluable for all scholars of the History of Christianity.

Some scholars classify the Last Church of God and His Christ under the ecclesiastical-cultural bloc known as African Indigenous Churches (AICs). David Barret has divided the worlds Christians into seven major ecclesiastical blocs. However, there are many large churches and denominations which do not define themselves under any of these three terms, and often reject all three. As far back as 1549 (Japan) and 1741 (USA), new types of Christianity have emerged that do not fit readily into any of these preceding six major blocs. These consist of denominations, churches and movements that have been initiated, founded and spread by black, Non-White or non-European peoples without European assistance, mainly in the Global South, but also among Black and Non-White minorities in the Western World. The African Indigenous Churches fall under this category. The aim of the book, is to examine the history of the Last Church of God and His Christ International in Malawi from its beginning (1916) through the years and to portray a picture of its current existence in its various branches: What developments and changes have taken place over the years? What has been the relationship of the church to African culture? How has the church grown or expanded? Has the church been able to maintain its unity? And what has been the relationship of the church with other churches?

A History of the Church in Africa: A Survey from a Pentecostal Perspective highlights the background, beginning, and development of the church of Jesus Christ in Africa from a pentecostal perspective. The course demonstrates how African Christianity is vital to the larger picture of Christian history. The author uses the analogy of a river to illustrate the plan of God. He also explores the concept of the kingdom of God and discusses how the African church witnessed to God's mission (missio Dei) by expanding to North Africa along the Nile corridor and to other locations below the Sahara desert. The course also examines the reasons why the church collapsed for the most part in North Africa and Nubia but survived in Ethiopia. The author believes that lessons must also be learned about medieval African Christianity. In addition, this course examines the reasons for the European settlement in Africa and the impact this had on the spread of Christianity. Special attention is given to the history of the Pentecostal movement. Questions addressed include the following: What is the relationship of past, present, and future events in the African church? What are the long-term effects resulting from seeing the African church as a missionary church? What is the strategic place of the African church in the end-times?

From Calvinist to Catholic, from Charismatic to AmaZioni, the Rainbow Nation has one of the most colourful, variegated, and bewildering array of Christian churches in the world. Where on earth did they all come from? How did they develop? What do they believe? How are they related to one another? In this clear and readable history of Christianity in South Africa, Kevin Roy answers these questions with comprehensive, succinct and rigorous historical analysis with sympathy and honesty. Dr Roy does not shy away from the failures and sins of the participants in this story that intertwines with the history of the peoples and tribes in South Africa. This book is a testimony of divine love and patience in the midst of human folly and frailty, of successes and faithful service to God.