Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 2, no. 2

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: 1. Four Trailblazers of the Aladura Movement in Nigeria. 2. Moses Orimolade Tunolase. 3. Joseph Ayodele Babalola. 4. Josiah Olunowo Oshitelu. 5. Samuel Bilewu Oschoffa 6. Either Patronage or Partnership in Christian Mission 7. Recent Print and Digital Resources Related to Christianity in Africa

Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 3, no. 4

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: 1. Paul David Zakayo Kivuli. 2. Successors to the Aladura Trailblazers of Nigeria. 3. Christianah Abiodun Emmanuel Akinsowon. 4. Timothy Oluwole Obadare. 5. Emmanuel Adleke Adejobi. 6. Alexander Abiodun Bada. 7. Recent Print and Digital Resources Related to Christianity in Africa

Original biographies from the Dictionary of African Christian Biography

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. The editors are pleased to offer the first annual cumulative volume of the Journal of African Christian Biography, the monthly scholarly publication that was launched in June of 2016. Since then, the life stories of twelve individuals who played vital roles in and through their faith communities have been published online as free downloads. But it is important that a selection of DACB stories be more readily available to those without access to the internet. As I mentioned in the fall 2016 newsletter of the DACB, each issue of the journal is available in its e-journal, on-line version, where it is configured either as A4 or 8.5 x 11 format printable as booklets, ready for local printing and binding or stapling. Our intention is to make it easy for academics and church leaders in various parts of Africa to make print copies of the journal available to their students, colleagues or church members. And so it is with this cumulative volume.This issue focuses on: 1. "Walatta Petros and Hakalla Amale, Pious Women of Ethiopia," with commentary by Dr. Jonathan Bonk, Project Director. 2. Walatta Petros. 3. Hakalla Amale. 4. Bishop Josiah Kibira of Tanzania, Ecumenical Statesman. 5. Josiah Mutabuzi Isaya Kibira. 6. Josiah Kibira. 7. David Lonkibiri Windibiziri. 8. Abiodun Babatunde Lawrence. 9. Dominic Ignatius Ekandem. 10. William Wadé Harris, Prophet-Evangelist of West Africa: His Life, Message, Praxis, Heritage, and Legacy. 11. William Wadé Harris. 12. Michael Timneng and Jeremiah Chi Kangsen: Christianity Beyond the Missionary Presence in Cameroon. 13. Michael Timneng. 14. Jeremiah Chi Kangsen. 15. Rainisoalambo, Ravelonjanahary, and Volahavana Germaine (Nenilava): Revival Leaders of Madagascar. 16. Rainisoalambo. 17. Ravelonjanahary. 18. Volahavana Germaine (Nenilava). 19. Recent Print and Digital Resourcews Related to Christianity in Africa

Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 1, no. 2

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: 1. Bishop Josiah Kibira of Tanzania, Ecumenical Statesman. 2. Josiah Mutabuzi Isaya Kibira. 3. Josiah Kibira. 4. Recent Print and Digital Resources Related to Christianity in Africa

Our feet into the way of peace : holistic approaches to peace-building in the context of the pilgrimage of justice and peace

Within the framework of the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, this publication is a reflection on the lived experiences of the pilgrimage from the perspective of the people and churches from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Korean Peninsula, Palestine and Israel, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Colombia. It consists of an overview of the peace-building process in each country since the 10th Assembly and practical steps churches can take together toward the 12th Assembly

Christian religious leadership and the challenge of sustainable transformational development in post-military Nigeria: Towards a reappraisal

AbstractThis article seeks to make an initial contribution towards a reappraisal of how the Christian religious leadership in Nigeria is beginning to chart a new course in social transformation that has the potential to engender sustainable transformational development in the country. This aim is met by first providing the necessary contextual orientation of how the two broad areas of political governance and economic development present themselves as prevailing major social challenges in present-day post-military Nigeria. This is followed by a discussion of the role of leadership as a primary causal and redeeming factor in meeting the challenge of sustainable transformational development both in Nigeria and African society at large. The authors proceed then towards the main focus of the article, namely to move – on the basis of a literature and empirical exploration – towards a reappraisal of how the Christian religious leadership in present-day Nigeria is beginning to exert itself as an emerging movement for sustainable transformational development through particular institutional arrangements and modes of social engagement. This reappraisal leads the authors to end with a synthesising reflection on what they consider to be not only the most outstanding contribution to date by the Christian religious leadership in present-day Nigeria in advancing a sustainable transformational development agenda, but also the crucial challenges that this leadership still faces in meeting such an agenda. Titel: Christelike godsdienstige leierskap en die uitdaging van volhoubare transformasionele ontwikkeling in post-militêre Nigerië: Op weg na ‘n herwaardering OpsommingHierdie artikel poog om ‘n eerste bydrae te maak tot ‘n herwaardering van die wyse waarop die Christelike godsdienstige leierskap in Nigerië besig is om ‘n nuwe weg te baan in sosiale transformasie wat die potensiaal het om volhoubare transformasionele ontwikkeling in dié land te bewerkstellig. Hierdie doelwit word bereik deur eerstens ‘n kontekstuele oriëntering te bied van hoe die twee breë terreine van politieke staatsbestuur en ekonomiese ontwikkeling hulself as heersende sosiale uitdagings in hedendaagse post-militêre Nigerië aanbied. Dit word gevolg deur ‘n bespreking van leierskap as ‘n primêr oorsaaklike en bevrydende faktor in die realisering van volhoubare transformasionele ontwikkeling beide in Nigerië en die samelewing van Afrika in die breë. Hierna verskuif die bespreking na die sentrale fokus van die artikel, naamlik om op grond van ‘n literatuur- en empiriese ondersoek te beweeg na ‘n herwaardering van die Christelike godsdienstige leierskap as ‘n ontluikende beweging vir volhoubare transformasionele ontwikkeling in hedendaagse Nigerië by wyse van spesifieke institusionele inrigtings en modusse van sosiale betrokkenheid. Hierdie herwaardering lei die skrywers daartoe om af te sluit met ‘n samevattende refleksie nie slegs oor wat hul beskou as die mees uitstaande bydrae tot op hede deur die Christelike godsdienstige leierskap in hedendaagse Nigerië in die bevordering van ‘n volhoubare transformasionele ontwikkelingsagenda nie, maar ook as die kritieke uitdagings wat dié leierskap steeds in die gesig staar in die voltrekking van sodanige agenda. https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.80.1.221

An Examination of the Politics of Schism and Secession amongst Indigenous Pentecostal Groups in Nigeria: Trends and Prognosis in Church Literature

Violence, hatred, oppression, tussle for leadership power and divisions have characterized the indigenous pentecostal churches in Nigeria particularly in the last two decades of the twentieth century. Historically, the schisms, rifts, divisions and secessions could be traced to doctrinal practices, leadership problems, different interpretations and manipulations of prophetic gifts and sundries. Today, some church pioneers have been alleged of fake prophecies and revelations. These attitudes have negative implications on church growth and on church membership. There have been cases of people who are victims of false prophecies thereby resulting in family problems and divisions in homes. Schism and secession has resulted in church members backsliding because of lack of trust amongst church leaders. In addition, it has led to the emergence of corrupt leaders whose aims and visions are to embezzle at the expense of the poor and less privileged in the society. This paper attempts to provide solutions to the predicaments ravaging these groups otherwise known as body of Christ. Keywords: Schism, Politics, Seccession, Pentecostalism Church Literature etc

Church and transformational development: the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its missiological orientation in democractic Nigeria

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria is very particular in its missionary focus; it strives towards preparing people for the Second Advent of Christ through preaching its unique set of doctrines. The denomination as an organization and its people believe that this task must be done with a sense of urgency. To this end, apart from having a network of congregations and places of worship, it has set up schools (from primary to tertiary levels), medical care facilities and a relief agency, and it gets involved in various forms of community services. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a world-wide Christian organization whose missionary orientation necessitated its establishment in Nigeria. Nigeria, as a country, is a British colonial arrangement established through Lord Frederick Lugard’s amalgamation of different regions in 1914. The country has continued ever since to struggle with the issue of identity, political leadership and development. Although its people struggled and got independence on October 1, 1960, the different ethnic groups’ perception of the political leadership and resource control ever since is that of injustice and marginalization. This perception has led to many coup d’états and even a civil war. Bad leadership, corruption, maladministration, election rigging and other forms of immoral behaviours have continued to hamper the movement towards prosperity and peace. In what appears to be a cycle of underdevelopment and political injustice has led to chronic bad governance, which has precipitated ethnic and religious violence. Such a series of events have consequentially neutralized all opportunities necessary for growth and development. Corruption and other unethical practices are the bane of development and prosperity. This is the milieu in which the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria carries out its missionary activities. Incidentally, the denomination’s first missionary, Elder David C. Babcock, arrived in Nigeria the same year as the country’s amalgamation (1914). The Seventh-day Adventist Church has therefore continued to grow within the context of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political turmoil. The issue of development and national prosperity has always been central to successive administrations in Nigeria. To this end, various developmental policies were put in place. This thesis examines these policies and reflects on the levels of their successes and failures. Most of the time, the nagging issues of corruption and lack of discipline are seen to have constituted major obstacles toward achieving their set objectives. This study therefore proposes a different outlook and approach to the issue of national development. Its thesis is that the traditional micro-economic approach, which measures national development only by indices such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per capita income and other physical indicators, would always leave the developmental aspirations frustrated, if not unmet. This study therefore proceeds to propose the transformational development approach, which underscores the critical roles that faith-based organizations (FBOs) need to play to support sustainable development. This thesis challenges the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria to see itself as a critical agency for transformational development of the country. This should be a major part of its missionary activities. This study examined literatures that have demonstrated how theological discourse can be redirected toward broader social concerns, such as transforming a community. Furthermore, an empirical exploration of the Seventh-day Adventist community that formed part of the study showed that its members are focused and consistent in their understanding of the denomination’s task of preparing the world for the Second Advent. But these SDA members also want the denomination to be more socially engaged. They want their church to make more comments on issues of development and governance. This thesis concludes that the Seventh-day Adventist Church could use its influence to promote good governance, advocacy and social justice. It urges the denomination to expand the applications of its unique doctrines to include pragmatic transformational development concerns. Accordingly it is argued that the Seventh-day Adventist Church could collaborate with other denominations and religions, solely for the purpose of transformational development and without compromising its own beliefs. Hence, it is postulated that this church would still be loyal and true to its mission by recognizing that making a structural difference in the lives of Nigerians is an authentic and integral part of the restoration of the image of God (imago Dei) in people.Christian Spirituality, Church History and MissiologyD. Th. (Missiology with specialization in Urban Ministry

The History and Philosophies of Asafo, The Akan (FANTES) Perspective

This is one of the on-going discussions of the Asafo, companies found amongst the Fantes in Ghana. It is an episode that is targeted in bringing out holistic understanding of the philosophy of the Asafo Company. This study employed the descriptive method through which enquiry-discovery and unstructured oral interview techniques was used to unveil some historical beliefs and the way they perceive and do things on their own in the Asafo groups. The study also elaborates on some of the sacrifices done on their instruments of which the members of the Asafo groups do not just see it as instruments but gods that guide them in their various manoeuvres amidst their songs. Most of the philosophies are orally transmitted from one generation to another, making them loose most vital information’s as its been transmitted. It has therefore become important to document for future referencing