Commentary: The global influence of the church in Africa

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From the beginning, God has worked through the church in Africa for theological development, mission growth and global influence. The church in Africa always has been integral to the global identity of the church and the global mission of God.

Both the Old and the New Testament incorporate Africa into its story. The church in Africa played an indispensable role in the development of the Bible, Christian identity and mission.

However, our understanding of Africa’s contribution to the Bible, Christian faith and Christian mission often has been underdeveloped, underappreciated and unarticulated.

God is at work in and through the church in Africa historically and today.

Africa in the Old Testament

Here are just a few highlights of Africa’s place in Scripture.

• Egypt is mentioned in the Old Testament 679 times in 602 different verses.

• The earliest definite mention of Africa is Genesis 10:6-7 as part of the sons of Noah via Ham.

• Hagar in the story of Abraham is African.

• Moses was trained and developed his leadership skills in Egypt.


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• One of Moses’ wives was from Africa (Numbers 12:1).

• Queen of Sheba was possibly from Axum in northern Ethiopia (1 Kings 10).

• At various stages, people of Africa emerge as great warriors (2 Samuel 18:21, 2 Chronicles 12:3-4, 2 Chronicles 14:8-9, Jeremiah 49:9).

• Jeremiah the prophet was saved from death by an African who had migrated to Israel (Jeremiah 38:6-13).

• There are numerous prophecies about Africa, including Isaiah 18:1-2, Psalm 68:31, Psalm 87:4 and Zephaniah 3:10.

Africa in the Gospels

• Africa provided refuge for Joseph, Mary and Jesus for several years when they fled as refugees (Matthew 2).

• Simon of Cyrene—modern-day Libya—carried the cross for Jesus on the way to crucifixion (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26).

Jesus’ life is literally bracketed by the continent of Africa. It was Africa that welcomed Jesus as a baby and refugee. It was Africa that helped carry the cross. It was Africans present at those critical moments.

Africans ministered to Jesus at moments of his greatest need. Africans ministered when Jesus had been rejected by everyone else. The global church owes thanks to the African church for the way it served Jesus. And for the way it continues to serve Jesus today. Praise God for the African Church!

Africa in Acts

• Africans were present at Pentecost (Acts 2).

• One of the first recorded Gentile converts was from Africa (Acts 8).

• The first recorded missionaries—individuals who carried the gospel to Antioch, planted the first church and were among those first called Christians—included Africans (Acts 11:20).

Acts 13:1-3 reads: “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Africans were key teachers and leaders in the church in Antioch. Did you notice the order of the names? First, is Barnabas. Second, is Simeon called Niger. Niger is a Greek term literally meaning “dark in color” and referred to individuals from Africa.

Acts 13 is clear that African leadership was essential to the church where people were first called Christians and the church that became the first great sender of missionaries.

The third is Lucius of Cyrene. Not much is known about Lucius but as the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary notes: “An African was one of the first Christian evangelists and had an important part in the early days of the church of Antioch and in beginning the Christian world missions movement” (p. 1056).

Multicultural diversity is healthy. It is biblical. Two of the five leaders of this incredible church were from Africa. What does it mean to affirm that the first church where followers were called Christian was led by African believers?

Would you picture that moment? They were gathered in a room worshiping and praying. Paul and Barnabas kneel as the other three leaders put their hands on them. Two of the three who commissioned these first missionaries were African. Two of the three who remained as leaders and teachers of this great church where the term Christian first was used were African believers.

To the African church, thank you. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for commissioning these first missionaries.

I am grateful for African leadership who commissioned missionaries to carry the gospel to Europe. Thank you, to the church in Syria and to the church in Africa to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. God’s global mission calls for God’s global church.

Africa in the early church

The early churches in North Africa continued to play an important role in the early church. Just a few examples from the earliest years of the church after the New Testament include:

• Africans demonstrated faith in the face of persecution and death. It was Tertullian, an African, who first said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” He also coined and defined the term “Trinity.”

• Africa produced influential theologians Origen, Athanasius, Tertullian and Augustine. In Origen, Africa produced the first systematic theology.

• Africa birthed the earliest forms of monasticism.

• The order of the New Testament as it is in our Bible was suggested in a letter by Athanasius, who was called “the Black Monk” because he was from Africa. An African suggested the order of the New Testament as it appears today.

• The Council of Carthage—modern day Tunisia—confirmed the order of the New Testament and closed the biblical canon. The African church was essential to the establishment of the Bible as the Bible.

• Augustine, an African, wrote the first spiritual autobiography; developed the doctrines of individual salvation, predestination, original sin, and separation of church and state; and was used by the Reformers to embrace and emphasize justification by faith.

The African Church is integral to the development of Christian theology, identity and mission. God’s global mission always has called for God’s global church.

Celebrating the church in Africa

2024 BWA annual gathering in Lagos Nigeria: Local Arrangements Committee Chair Ayoola Badejo, Nigerian Baptist Convention Executive Director and All Africa Baptist Fellowship President Rev. Israel Akanji, BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown, BWA President Tomás Mackey (BWA Photo)

Baptist World Alliance commits to continue to celebrate the life and influence of the church in Africa and, with thanksgiving, to emphasize directly the role and influence of Africa in the shaping of Christian identity, theology, mission and leadership in our teaching.

BWA commits to continue to learn from and stand with the Baptist church in Africa today.

BWA commits to continue to be a family that celebrates, embraces and prioritizes that God’s global mission always has called for a global church praying, learning and in leadership together.

Elijah Brown is general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. This article is adapted from his opening remarks at the 2024 BWA annual gathering in Lagos, Nigeria.


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