This undergraduate course at Missional University explores African Christology from an evangelical perspective, examining how the person and work of Jesus Christ intersect with African cultural, social, and religious contexts. Grounded in Scripture, the course draws distinctions between biblical truth and syncretism with indigenous traditions, ensuring fidelity to evangelical doctrine while appreciating African hermeneutics for cultural contextualization. Students will discover how Christological themes align with the Missio Dei—the mission of God—to proclaim the gospel holistically across Africa, fostering personal salvation as the foundation for individual renewal and societal transformation.
Key topics include Christ as the supreme Ancestor (or Proto-Ancestor), mediating divine grace without endorsing ancestral veneration; Christ as Healer, addressing spiritual and physical wholeness in contexts of witchcraft and illness; Christ as Liberator from oppression, colonialism, and injustice; and Christ as King, embodying righteous rule akin to African leadership models. The course emphasizes holistic soteriology, where salvation encompasses spiritual, physical, social, and economic dimensions, yet roots all transformation in personal faith in Christ's atoning work. Readings from theologians like John Mbiti, Bénézet Bujo, and Victor Ezigbo, alongside biblical texts, will highlight the interface with indigenous religions, critiquing syncretism while promoting inculturation that advances God's redemptive mission.
Designed for undergraduates, the course fosters critical thinking through weekly readings, group discussions, and reflective journals. Assignments include short exegetical papers analyzing African Christological metaphors in Scripture, a midterm presentation on a key concept's missional implications, and a final project proposing a contextualized evangelism strategy for an African setting. Assessments comprise participation, papers and journals, midterm, and final project, encouraging students to integrate faith, culture, and mission for transformative gospel witness.
This African Christology course equips students with a robust understanding of how Christ’s identity and work resonate within African cultural and religious frameworks, fostering both personal and professional growth. It serves students seeking to deepen their evangelical faith while engaging with global Christianity, particularly those preparing for ministry, missions, or cross-cultural service in African contexts. By grounding Christological exploration in Scripture and emphasizing personal salvation as the catalyst for individual and social transformation, the course nurtures spiritual maturity and a commitment to the Missio Dei. The course benefits students by equipping them to articulate a contextualized gospel, address issues like oppression and holistic well-being, and contribute to transformative mission work, meeting the needs of those called to serve diverse communities with theological depth and cultural relevance.
This African Christology course is vital for equipping students to engage with global Christianity through an evangelical lens, emphasizing the relevance of contextualized theology in African contexts. Its significance lies in bridging Scripture with African cultural realities, enabling students to understand Christ’s identity as Ancestor, Healer, Liberator, and King in ways that resonate with African worldviews while maintaining biblical fidelity. This fosters a robust faith that counters syncretism and promotes personal salvation as the foundation for holistic transformation—spiritual, social, and economic. For students, particularly those pursuing ministry or missions, the course cultivates skills to navigate cultural complexities, address issues like oppression and witchcraft, and develop contextualized evangelism strategies. By integrating African hermeneutics with the Missio Dei, it empowers students to contribute meaningfully to God’s redemptive mission, preparing them for impactful service in diverse African settings and beyond, enriching their theological perspective and global missional engagement.
This course roots African Christology firmly in the Scripture, prioritizing biblical authority while exploring Christ’s roles as Ancestor, Healer, Liberator, and King. It critically distinguishes biblical truth from syncretism with African indigenous traditions, using theologians like John Mbiti and Victor Ezigbo alongside scriptural analysis. Through exegetical papers and discussions, students examine Christological metaphors, ensuring theological fidelity from an evangelical perspective.
The course aligns with the Missio Dei, emphasizing God’s redemptive mission in African contexts. It equips students to proclaim a contextualized gospel that fosters personal salvation as the foundation for individual renewal and societal transformation. Students learn to apply Christological themes to address spiritual, social, and economic needs. By exploring Christ’s roles as Liberator and Healer, the course connects personal faith to holistic mission, preparing students for impactful service in African settings, ensuring their work advances God’s kingdom with theological depth and missional zeal.
The course engages African cultural, social, and religious contexts, making Christology relevant to African worldviews. It uses African hermeneutics to explore Christological passages in light of indigenous practices like ancestral veneration, witchcraft and oppression. The course fosters critical thinking through discussions and projects, equipping students to navigate complex African realities with theological sensitivity, ensuring the gospel speaks meaningfully to diverse contexts.
The course bridges African cultural frameworks with evangelical theology, preparing students for cross-cultural ministry. It explores how Christ’s identity resonates within African worldviews, addressing themes like liberation and holistic well-being. Group discussions and reflective journals foster intercultural competence, equipping students to serve diverse African communities. The course cultivates skills to navigate cultural complexities, ensuring effective ministry and missions that honor both African heritage and biblical truth, preparing students for global Christian engagement.
The course emphasizes practical application through assignments tailored to African settings. Students develop skills to address real-world issues like oppression, witchcraft, and economic challenges, integrating Christological themes into mission work. By analyzing African metaphors for Christ, students learn to communicate the gospel effectively. The course equips them to design culturally relevant outreach, fostering holistic transformation rooted in personal salvation. This practical focus prepares students for ministry and cross-cultural service, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to God’s mission in diverse African contexts with actionable strategies.
Through reflective journals, group discussions, and a final project, the course fosters spiritual and personal growth, integrating faith, culture, and mission. Students explore Christ’s transformative power in African contexts, deepening their evangelical commitment. By engaging with Christ as Healer and Liberator, they reflect on personal salvation’s role in holistic renewal—spiritual, social, and economic. The course encourages transformative witness, equipping students to serve African communities with theological depth and cultural sensitivity. This experiential approach nurtures maturity, preparing students for impactful ministry and missions, grounded in a vibrant, transformative faith.
