NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE CODE: CTH 847 COURSE TITLE: AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS Course Code CTH 241 Course Title African Church Leaders Course Writer/Developer Rev Isaiah Anumah West Africa Theological Seminary, Ipaja. Lagos. Course Editor Course Coordinator Programme Leader 1 CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA CTH 241 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS Course Writers/Developers Rev Isaiah Anumah West Africa Theological Seminary, Ipaja. Lagos. Course Editor Course Coordinator: Rev. Dr. Owolabi Jacob Christian Theology Unit School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria Programme Leader: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Ushe Christian Theology Unit School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria 2 CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS CONTENTS PAGES Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 What You Will Learn In This Course ........................................................................... 1 Course Aims ................................................................................................................ 2 Course Objectives ........................................................................................................ 2 Working Through This Course ..................................................................................... 3 Course Materials .......................................................................................................... 3 Study Units .................................................................................................................. 4 Set Textbooks .............................................................................................................. 5 Assignment File .......................................................................................................... 5 Presentation Schedule .................................................................................................. 5 Assessment .................................................................................................................. 6 Tutor Marked Assignments .......................................................................................... 6 Final Examination and Grading .................................................................................... 6 Course Marking Scheme .............................................................................................. 7 Course Overview ........................................................................................................ 7 How to Get the Most from the Course .......................................................................... 8 Reading Section .......................................................................................................... 9 Tutors and Tutorials ................................................................................................... 10 Summary.................................................................................................................... 11 3 CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS Introduction CTH 847 ‘African Church Leaders’ is a one semester, two units’ undergraduate course. Presently, it is a requirement for those who wish to obtain bachelors degree in Christian Theology. The course will consist of fourteen units, divided into three modules. Module one discusses on the Introduction of the gospel to Africa and the biography of some selected pioneer leaders. Module two discusses the life and ministry of selected past leaders and the spread of the gospel in Africa, while Module three discusses Selected Christian Leaders presently influencing the stability and growth of the gospel in Africa. The materials have been developed to suit a Nigerian studying at a distance. This course guide tells you briefly what the course is about, what course materials you will be using and how you are to use them. It provides some general guidelines for the amount of time you might be spending in order to successfully complete each unit of the course. It also gives you some guidance on your tutor-marked assignments, details of which are to be found in a separate ‘assignment file’. The course involves regular tutorials and you are advised to attend the sessions. What You Will Learn In This Course This course does not presume that you have a pre-knowledge of African Church Leaders. As a result, you are going to be assisted to build up a repertoire of knowledge on the contributions of African Church Leaders. You will come to realise that the study of African Church Leaders is not just an academic discipline, but it is necessary for daily living and spiritual life. You will come to appreciate that even your little contributions as a Christian towards changing the life of others which is the responsibility of every Christian helps to spread the gospel of Jesus. The course will be ecumenical in its approach. With this method, it will not seek to adopt the history of any particular church or denomination. Neither will it use the official documents on African Church Leaders of any particular church or denomination. This course will seek to take a centrist approach to the discussion on African Church Leaders which will be of interest to the generality of Christians. This course will first take you through the brief history of Christianity in Africa and the spread of Christianity in Africa. The course will further review the contributions of 4 CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Moses Ladejo Stone, William Wade Harris, Agbebi Mojola, Isaiah Shembe and Garrick Braide to the spread of Christianity in Africa. The course will also explore the contributions of Orimolade Moses, Samuel Oschoffa, Joseph Babalola and Benson Idahosa to the spread and growth of Christianity in Africa. These African leaders were responsible for starting the African independent Churches, which took into consideration the culture and language of the African people. These African independent churches helped Christianity to take root and spread among the African people. Furthermore, in this course, you will come to study the contributions of selected Christian leaders presently influencing the stability and growth of the gospel. Such leaders include Bishop Peter Akinola, Pastor Williams Folunrosho Kumuyi, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo and Pastor Daniel Olukoya. These men have taken African Christianity to the global stage such that Africa is shaping the image of Christianity today. In view of this, you have an exciting course, “African Church Leaders” ahead of you. Harmonize what you will learn in this course with your personal reflections and take time to put what you study and reflect on into practice. A general bibliography of all the reference works used in preparing the course guide is given towards the end of this course guide. Hopefully, your use of these will enable you to deepen your knowledge in other areas of your interest, which the course content may barely treat. Again, you will notice that there are many biblical references and quotations given in this course. Please note that all the biblical quotations used in this course are taken from (1990) The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. Course Aims The aim of this course can be summarized as follows: The general aim of the course is to acquaint you with the contributions of African Church Leaders to the growth and stability of Christianity in Africa. This course specifically aims to help you appreciate their heroic sacrifice, presentations and the suffering they encountered on the basis of their faith. 5 CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS Course Objective In order to achieve the aim listed above, the course sets overall objectives. In addition, each unit has its own specific objectives, which are always outlined at the beginning of that unit. You should read them before you start working through the unit. It is necessary to refer to them during your study of the unit, to check on your progress. Also, after completing a unit, you should glance through the unit objectives. This will enable you to be sure that you have done what was required of you by the unit. Listed below are the wider objectives of the course as a whole. By meeting these objectives, you will have achieved the aim of the course as a whole. On successful completion of the course, you should be able to: Explain the history of Christianity in Africa Discuss the spread of Christianity in Africa Describe the Contributions of Pioneers like Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Moses Stone, William Wade, Agbebi Mojola, Isaiah Shembe and Braide Garrick to the growth of Christianity in Africa Explain the emergence of African independent Churches Enumerate the contributions of Moses Orimolade, Samuel Oschoffa, Joseph Babalola and Benson Idahosa to the xpread of Christianity in Africa Discuss the mighty revivals experienced during the ministry of these selected African leaders Describe the contributions of Africa Christian leaders like Peter Akinola, William Kumuyi, Enoch Adeboye, David Oyedepo and Daniel Olukoya who have positively impacted on the stability and spread of Christianity both in Africa and in the world at large. Understand the Importance of a call to ministry 6 CTH 847 AFRICAN CHURCH LEADERS Derive inspiration for your personal life from the life