What is the history of Christianity in Africa?

I wanted to share this information to get rid of the rumors that the Europeans, during slavery, were the ones who introduced Africans/African Americans to Christianity. 


What is the history of Christianity in Africa? 

 The history of Christianity in Africa probably began during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, two thousand years ago. 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. It is possible that the history of Christianity in Africa began when these Africans shared what they witnessed with other Africans. 

The Gospel of Luke records that a Cyrenian was compelled to bear the cross for Jesus, prior to Jesus' crucifixion. Cyrene was located in North Africa. The book of Acts records that, on the day of Pentecost, Egyptians and Cyrenians were among the crowd, and heard the apostles proclaim the Gospel in their native languages. Acts also records the conversion of an influential Ethiopian eunuch to Christianity. Finally, the book of Acts records that following the apostles missionary journey to Cyprus, new converts from Cyprus and Cyrene preached the Gospel to the Greeks of Antioch. 

The spread of Christianity throughout Egypt and Northern Africa, during the first five centuries was rapid and intense, despite the prevalence of false teachings, persecutions and martyrdom. Some religious scholars believe that Christianity was introduced to Africans by way of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Reportedly, the city boasted a very large Jewish community, which was located in close proximity to Jerusalem. It is believed that African Jews in Alexandria were converted from Judaism to Christianity following a Jewish revolt in A.D. 115 that all but extinguished Judaism from the region. 

North Africans were the first to receive and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The early church in North Africa went through severe persecutions A.D. 64 thru 311. In response, the church established the Catechetical Schools of Alexandria, among other similar schools of Christian instruction. Many significant leaders of the faith emerged from the early African church. 

Persecutions in Egypt resulted in the dispersion of Christians to the innermost regions of Egypt. Egyptian churches spread the Gospel in the Coptic (Egyptian) language and planted churches throughout the interior of Egypt. However, Christianity, in the region, was weakened by theological and doctrinal controversies. 

At the start of the seventh century, the Coptic Church had established itself as the national church and had penetrated every region of the country. Although Christianity began in North Africa several centuries before its introduction in Egypt, the church in North Africa did not grow as quickly because the North African church used the Latin language in its services and literature, rather than the language of the people. 

An influx of muslins into the continent of Africa, during the Middle Ages, resulted in an exponential increase in Islamic converts, which forced many African Christians to flee to Europe. Missionary efforts by the Roman Catholic Church and the European Protestant church reclaimed some of the African continent for Christ, however Islam remains the predominant religion on the continent, with Christians comprising just over thirty percent of the African population. 

As always, I love you and God bless you

Angela R. Ingram

GUARD YOUR HEART:

Jesus is speaking regarding the parables.

18 “So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don’t understand these mysteries. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Matthew 10:7-8 GWT***When you read this it almost sound like it's repeating the same thing. Key note: PAY ATTENTION TO HOW YOU LISTEN! Be completely aware of how you are hearing and receiving the truth! LISTEN: You are totally responsible for how you receive the truth! Some don't want to receive the truth, especially if the truth hurts or it shows you what you are lacking. Pride steps in and takes away you receiving and accepting the truth. So watch yourself. Jesus also made it known, in one of the parables, that it is Satan who is THE thief, stealing the truth away from your heart...if you let him.

These verses immediately grab hold to my attention because we are always taught to be careful as to what we say, how we live, but not necessarily in so many words as to how we listen.

In some schools, a teacher would prefer if you were never taught on the subject that they are teaching for fear that you received the wrong information and they would have to first, take everything that you thought you knew out, (you had to be emptied of all previous knowledge) so that you can receive only the facts or truth. It was easier for a teacher to teach someone who knew nothing (so they will not mix in what they think they know along with what new thing they are learning). 

Sometimes we might find ourselves receiving things based on our background, culture, fables that were taught, how we were raised and disciplined. This can make it difficult to receive the truth when you are not willing to give up your culture practices, or the brainwashing you may have received from others instead of from GOD Himself.

You have to get to a place where you are after (chasing) GOD. You have to be open to receive GOD. And you have to accept what comes with knowing GOD. To know GOD is to change your whole entire life to become a new person. We are a new creation, nothing like what had already existed (Black, White, Asian, Indian, Mexican, etc...) because, we are living just like Christ lived and no one else. We are all one (child of GOD) just like GOD is one.

Of course this drew my attention because I am in the learning process of Hebrew. There is so much information being feed to me and sometimes it can be overwhelming. I had to get to a place where I was willing to accept the TRUTH even (hypothetically speaking) if it is contrary to everything I thought I knew (understood). Even if it means that I will find out a lot of things about myself that are wrong. And, even if (in the past) I read the word to fit how I wanted it to be so as to not be guilty or so it will not seem difficult to do, I humbly and with trembling (very carefully) accept the truth completely so that I can truly walk with GOD (in his direction), and live a life that is pleasing to GOD (holy) with the HOLY SPIRIT being THE teacher, confirming what I am receiving. I do not live for myself any longer; I live my whole life for Christ. I do not belong to myself any longer, but I belong to Christ. I HAD TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT AND I HAD TO ACCEPT THAT.

Those who do not understand (do not have the ears to hear), try to understand things in the natural. It is impossible to understand it because spiritual belongs to spiritual and natural belongs to natural. It's just as difficult to explain spiritual things in a natural way. Or to translate a word in a different language to someone who does not use the same word or phrase in their language, how do you get them to completely comprehend? GOD set things up in such a way that He is after those who are after Him and He is faithful to show Himself to those who truly seek HIM. Those who don't (seek GOD) will never get it and will continue to try to figure things out over and over.

Note: No one will ever exhaust the knowledge of GOD because it is infinite but GOD has given us HIS spirit (HOLY SPIRIT) so that we can know and understand these things but it is all up to you and your heart! So...pay attention to how you listen!

Amen!

God bless you, and I love you

Angela Ingram

This is a poem written by a dear friend of mines. He has been through so much in his life including battling homosexuality. He gives all glory to God for the strength to overcome all the obstacles and evil forces that blocked him. His poems use to be from a dark place but now, he writes from a heart that has received Jesus.  Please pray for my friend that he will continue to be strong and continue to grow as this is all new for him. God bless you.

Poem: Jesus is lord
By: rashek Chandler
I'm watching these religious groups point fingers and talk
When half the world lost and young folks bodies are traced in chulk
Unbelievers don't believe in He would died on the cross
Fools teaching false teachings
Preachers preaching about riches and instead of repentance
Listen
Matthew 28 verses 19
Therefore go make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit
Never once did he mention go make Muslims, Catholics, or Protestants
Yet, false doctine is becoming more accepted than the true meaning of Christianity
And they say "the truth shall set you free"
Well, they persecuted Jesus indirectly for his honesty
Forced him to wear a crown of thorns
And they call themselves modest
When these fools themselves blaspheme the true laws of Moses
Separating their souls from heaven like the red sea
So who do we believe in when there is no Danial to confess our dreams
Or no Isaiah to envisionize what shall come to past
No Peter to question our hearts
Or John to baptize our judgements
But the moment is coming
When the ground shakes from earth quakes
Trumpets screaming
Angels throwing arrows of fire
And God thunders his anger
While every head, knee, and creature will bow to confess
Jesus is Lord

THINK on these things: Philippians 4:8

The LORD has given us (believers) something wonderful. We have the spirit mind of Christ in the form of the Holy Spirit. 1) The spirit of the LORD 2) the Spirit of wisdom and of 3) understanding, 4) the Spirit of counsel and of 5) power, 6) the Spirit of knowledge and of 7) the fear of the LORD-- Isaiah 11:2.

12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.c 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

16“For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him? 1 Corinthians 2: 12-16

With this wonderful gift that was given to us, it helps us to be effective in our Christian walk on earth. For we cannot produce any good thing without Christ. **"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5. Therefore we get our spiritual nourishment directly from God.

In the situation with Chris Dorner, for what we have heard, he felt he was unjustly punished. He got so angry that evil thoughts formed and with him continually dwelling on those thoughts produced bad fruit. ** 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ***Jesus Christ is the producer of good fruit but those who produce bad fruit, get theirs from Satan. Regarding Chris Dorner his thoughts were wicked and he was consumed with revenge. In the end, he lost his life.

One of my favorite scriptures is Phillippians 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Whenever you are put in a situation where you become angry, stop and think on the things mentioned in Philippians and act on the spirit that was given to you. We do not want to ignore the warning that God gave to Cain when he was angry and jealous. Gen 4:7 If you do well, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it.”** Although, according to Chris, he did nothing wrong, but, his thoughts of revenge consumed him and sin attacked him and he did not control those thoughts and therefore sin took over him while he was being feed and malnourished by Satan's lies.

The mind is very powerful and we must always keep our minds on Christ!!!

God Bless you. I love you

Angela

SELF AWARENESS PART 2 my breakthrough

SELF AWARENESS PART 1 my breakthrough

Sorry for the poor video quality. I use the Windows movie maker and I don't know how to adjust the picture. The original video is clear but once I saved it under this movie maker, it become fussy. I wanted to share this message with you because I want to dedicate this year to self awareness. By the way, I was off on the time between my divorce and me reading my diary. It was about 1 or 2 years after my divorce, not 5yrs later.