About the Book
For six decades, North American Mennonites have walked alongside African Independent Churches (AICs) as they have navigated their faith journey between the ancient traditions of the ancestors and the newer claims of Christ upon their lives. The story of these relationships is a fascinating pilgrimage in partnership, offering hope for a mutuality that slips the knots of colonialism and testifies to the unifying power of the Holy Spirit.
Beginning with a historical overview by missiologist Wilbert R. Shenk, this volume contains the reflections of over fifty AIC and Mennonite colleagues concerning the significance and impact of this long-standing partnership. Their stories illustrate the disparate threads of a sixty-year experiment in shared endeavor, while offering insight into the history of the church and missions in Africa. This book is a powerful account of mutual learning, forgiveness, and growth. It is an excellent resource for lovers of story, students of post-colonialism and indigenous Christianity, and all those concerned with building relationships across cultural and racial divides.
About the Author :
THOMAS A. ODURO is an associate professor of Christian History, Systematic Theology, and African Christianity at Good News Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana. He has a PhD in Christian History from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and has served in church ministry and leadership for over thirty years, currently in a pastoral role with Christ Holy Church International. JONATHAN P. LARSON is a Mennonite minister, writer, and teacher whose adult life has been spent in ministry in the USA and Central and Southern Africa. His many roles included programme director for Mennonite Central Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he worked as a leadership trainer with African indigenous churches for over a decade. JAMES R. KRABILL served with the Mennonite Board of Missions and Mennonite Mission Network for over forty years, first as a missionary in Europe and Africa, then as director for West Africa, vice president of mission advocacy and communication, and senior executive for global ministries. He has a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the Centre for West African Studies, University of Birmingham, UK, and has written extensively on missions, music, arts, and worship.
Review :
The story of Christian Africa has often been told to fit the Western colonial enterprise, erroneously suggesting that Africa's version was simply the other side of the colonial political coin. In this volume, we have a refreshingly readable account - one that makes good use of oral theologizing - to illustrate how African initiated churches worked with a foreign mission, that is, the Mennonites from North America, as an example of what World Christianity must look like, especially when it comes to theological education as a grassroots collaborative venture. This is a volume that must be on the reading lists of theological institutions that seek to teach mission from a World Church perspective, but with Africa, as one of Christianity's new heartlands in view.
J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, PhD, FGA
President & Ba�ta-Grau Professor of African Christianity and Pentecostalism,
Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana
This wonderful volume hosts a chorus of Mennonite and African Initiated Church voices that witness together to a rare encounter in mission history; a foreign missionary community and an indigenous faith community coming together for mutual edification in Bible study, worship, and friendship. Characterized by humility, honesty, and humor, these reflections suggest new possibilities for cross-cultural mission.
Thomas Hastings, PhD
Executive Director,
Overseas Ministries Study Center, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
In this partnership and over many years, Mennonites have remained humble, focused, resolute, authentic, determined, committed, and generous. In our collaboration together, there is no question of who is superior or inferior - resources have been shared and learning has been two-way. There is openness on both sides and there is sincerity of purpose.
The Most Rev. Daniel Okoh
General Superintendent,
Christ Holy Church International, Nigeria
International Chairman,
Organization of African Instituted Churches, Nairobi, Kenya
The long relationship between AICs and Mennonites is one of the greatest stories of Christian mission in the twentieth century.
Dana L. Robert, PhD
Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission
Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission,
Boston University School of Theology, Massachusetts, USA
This book gives insight into a significant chapter of modern church history. [It] deserves a warm welcome and careful attention.
Andrew F. Walls, PhD
Historian of Missions and World Christianity,
University of Edinburgh, Liverpool Hope University, UK
Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana
