So, how does the world's largest religion look in this major continent? Christianity in Africa goes back to the earliest days of the church, when it spread along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlands of north and northeast Africa and their hinterlands. Christianity in Africa Today Why is the Charismatic Movement Thriving in Africa? He later named Samuel Ajayi CROWTHER, a former slave who had come to Freetown in 1822, as the first African bishop. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the southern hemisphere is taking the lead in growth figures for worshipers. Both men continued and reinforced a particularly African form of Christianity that blended indigenous and European religious traditions. (See also Copts; Education; Equiano, Olaudah; Ethiopian Orthodox Church; Islam in Africa; Kingsley, Mary; Missions and Missionaries; Prophetic Movements; Religion and Ritual; Tutu, Desmond Mpilo. Now, there are countless variations of the religion being practiced throughout the continent, ranging from newer African-Christian denominations which are popular in Nigeria to the more ancient forms of Oriental Orthodox Christianity which is still practiced throughout Ethiopia, Egypt, and Eritrea. With many Christians in this region being relatively young and with children, the The New Testament of the Bible mentions several events in which Africans were witnesses to the life of Christ and the ministry of the apostles. In the 1300s, the Nubians were conquered by Muslims from Egypt. Subsequently displaced by Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries, the ancient Coptic and Orthodox churches nevertheless remain active in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Eritrea today. This goal often involved enslaving and even killing local populations. These organizations aim to preach the gospel to every village they serve, using the provision of safe drinking water as a symbol of Godâs love. It is believed to have started in North Africa shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many have seen this as a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit. For these reasons, The Last Well is committed to bringing clean drinking water to the country of Liberia, and spreading Godâs word. This article about Christianity in South Africa today first appeared in the Fall 2016 issue of Providence‘s print edition. Saving China, Saving Ourselves: 1911–1965 History of Chinese Christianity in North America (2) Tseng continues his narrative by recounting how events in China, mingled with events in the United States, influenced the development and growth of the Chinese church in the US with a focus on social justice, public witness, and biblical kingdom values. The early church historian Eusebius wrote that the apostle Matthew also spread the new faith in Ethiopia. The result of Protestant and Catholic activity over the centuries has been the spread of Christianity throughout Africa. Africa is one of the largest and most populous continents in the world, as well as the birthplace of humanity. These numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, said Muriithi, because some African Christians are prosperity gospel believers who don't truly understand the Gospel. Christian religion is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades. The work of Crowther and others like him ensured that Africans, not Europeans, would now lead the missionary efforts in Africa. Schools set up by both Protestants and Catholics during this period educated many of the people who became leaders of postcolonial Africa. Although Christianity in Africa is widespread, the nations situated in the Southern, Southeast, and Central regions of the continent are particularly dominated by Christians. These teachings are bringing the people of Africa together as they share the good news of Jesus Christ. Many explanations have been given for the explosion of the Charismatic movement in Africa. Today, Christianity it is one of the most commonly practiced religions in the continent. Christianity took root in North Africa at a very early date. At first, the introduction of Christianity was limited to Africans in coastal areas. Most of them were had fought on the British side in the American War of Independence and had later been resettled in Nova Scotia, Canada. Few African languages had been written down before. As Europeans established outposts on the coast of Africa in the 1400s and 1500s, they brought along missionaries, who settled among indigenous populations. //]]>. Attempts to spread the faith by reaching out to ordinary Africans did not occur for many years. Today, Cairo houses the world’s second-oldest university, Al-Azhar, and the latter two are UNESCO World Heritage sites. A notable Berber Christian of Algeria was Saint Augustine (and his mother Saint Monica), important saints of Roman Catholicism.Christianity's influence declined during the chaotic period of the Vandal invasions but … A former Buganda chief, Kitigana converted to Christianity, gave up his title, wives, and possessions, and traveled through central Africa preaching. In the 4th century, the Aksumite empire in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia became one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as an official religion and the Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia followed two centuries later. An overview of Christianity in Africa from its origins to today. From this point on, black preachers played a leading role in spreading Christianity throughout the continent. In 1910 there were 2 million Christians in Africa. Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye. The Portuguese arrived in the kingdom of KONGO in 1483. Protestant missionaries, such as Scottish explorer David LIVINGSTONE, not only spread Christianity but also played a major role in mapping the land, documenting African social systems, and recording African languages. Now, there are countless variations of the religion being practiced throughout the continent, ranging from newer African-Christian denominations which are popular in Nigeria to the more ancient forms of Oriental Orthodox Christianity which is still practiced throughout Ethiopia, Egypt, and Eritrea. The Head of the South African bishops shared recently shared his visions with the London Telegraph. The African country of Liberia, a country located on the West coast of Africa, has a density of approximately 40 people per square kilometer. At the turn of the 20th century, Christianity was virtually nonexistent in many parts of Africa but is now the faith of the majority. The early 1900s produced a number of charismatic African religious leaders, including Yohana Kitigana and William Wade Harris. They are today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Protestant outcry against the SLAVE TRADE in the late 1700s and early 1800s marked a turning point for African Christianity. Significantly, the first Protestant missionaries to arrive in West Africa were former slaves who had supported the British in the American Revolutionary War. The future of Christianity is undeniable in Africa as the continent continues to see explosive growth. Once it was introduced to Africa, Christianity slowly spread from Alexandria to Ethiopia. By the end of the 2nd century it had reached the region around Carthage. Poverty, corruption, conflict, gender-based violence, climate change, and similar challenges have made it difficult for Africa to prosper. Harris was a Protestant teacher in LIBERIA who abandoned his Western style of life and traveled through western Africa baptizing tens of thousands of people. Africa is set to be the global center of Christianity for the next 50 years. According to historian Theodor Mommsen what is now Mediterranean Algeria was fully Christian by the fifth century. Until that happened, white missionaries were urged to adopt African dress, language, and customs. [CDATA[ Today, the Christian community in Latin America and Africa, alone, account for 1 billion people. African Christianity goes back to very early times, and the Christianity that developed in Africa influenced the religion's later growth in Europe. The Protestant evangelists who founded missionary movements in Africa around 1800 adopted a different course from the Catholics who came before them. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Christianity is a religion that originated peacefully. 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