Divided into four major sections, this textbook provides an in-depth exploration of the biblical, philosophical, cultural, and practical concerns facing African Christians as they proclaim and defend the gospel in Africa. Written by a diverse group of pastors and scholars, it provides a much needed interdisciplinary and contextualized approach to apologetics. It also seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and ministry practice, touching on such topics as hermeneutics, biblical criticism, church history, the nature of evil, religious inclusivism, Muslim-Christian engagement, eldership rites, domestic violence, cults, and the digital age. Biblically robust, contextually relevant, ministry-oriented, and accessible, this is a remarkable resource for enriching the life and ministry of Christians in Africa and beyond.

Making African Christianity argues that Africans successfully naturalized Christianity. It examines the long history of the faith among colonial Zulu Christians (known as amaKholwa) in what would become South Africa. As it has become clear that Africans are not discarding Christianity, a number of scholars have taken up the challenge of understanding why this is the case and how we got to this point. While functionalist arguments have their place, this book argues that we need to understand what is imbedded within the faith that many find so appealing. Houle argues that other aspects of the faith also needed to be 'translated,'particularly the theology of Christianity. For Zulu, the religion would never be a good fit unless converts could fill critical gaps such as how Christianity could account for the active and everyday presence of the amadhlozi ancestral spirits - a problem that was true for African converts across the continent in slightly different ways. Accomplishing this translation took years and a number of false-starts. Coming to this understanding is one of the particularly important contributions of this work, for like Benedict Anderson's 'Imagined Communities,' the early African Christian communities were entirely constructed ones. Here was a group struggling to understand what it meant to be both African and Christian. For much of their history this dual identity was difficult to reconcile, but through constant struggle to do so they transformed both themselves and their adopted faith. This manuscript goes far in filling a critical gap in how we have gotten to this point and will be welcomed by African historians, those interested in the history of colonialism, missions, southern African, and in particular Christianity.

Africa needs leaders and Christians from every walk of life to rediscover their identity and purpose in all spheres of society. African Public Theology sounds a clarion call to accomplish this vital task. God created all humans equally, intending for us to live in community and take responsibility for the world around us – a mandate we need to act on. Through faithful application of Scripture to contexts common in the continent today, contributors from across Africa join as one to present a vision for the Africa that God intended. No simplistic solutions are offered – instead African Public Theology challenges every reader to think through the application of biblical principles in their own community, place of work and sphere of influence. If we heed the principles and lessons that God’s word has for society, culture and public life, then countries across Africa can have hope of a future that is free from corruption and self-promotion and is instead characterized by collective stewardship and servant-hearted leadership.

For the church, there can be no more significant question than Christ’s Who do you say that I am? It is the cornerstone upon which all of Christian faith and praxis must stand. In this volume, the sixth from the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology, contributors explore the question of Christ’s identity – and its implications for the global church – from a distinctly African perspective. Engaging biblical studies, church history, and applications for missions, discipleship, and inter-religious dialogue, these essays utilize African hermeneutics and rich cultural perspectives to shed light on Christ’s contextual relevance for Africa and for the world. The final section is dedicated to the memory of John S. Mbiti, the father of modern African theology, who passed away in 2019.

What makes African Christianity Christian?, what is the mission of the African church?, What is the theology of the African church? and, What is the future of the Church in Africa or more precisely of African Christianity? Professor Galgalo gives a critical analysis of Christianity in Africa from historical, theological and sociological perspectives.

"Jesus and the Gospel in Africa collects writings by Kwame Bediako and is the best source for his insights into the Christ of present-day African history and the Jesus of African faith. Bediako shows how intimately bound together are such elements as the message of Jesus and the struggle to give birth to African democracy." --Book Jacket.