Mennonite Weekly Review

ELKHART, Ind. — African-Initiated Churches, those planted and supported by Africans, are growing spontaneously and vigorously.

Victor Molobi of the University of South Africa said African-Initiated Churches “relate the good news of God’s Word to the living realities of Africa.” — Photo by Mark Gingerich/AMBS

Their worship life is full of color and dancing, and focused on the Holy Spirit, spiritual healing and prophecy.

They “relate the good news of God’s Word to the living realities of Africa,” said Victor S. Molobi, senior researcher at the Research Institute of Theology and Religion of the University of South Africa in Pretoria.

Molobi provided historical and cultural analysis on AICs as featured speaker at the Shenk Mission Lectureship Oct. 30-31 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Mission workers and educators added their stories.

AICs maintain more of their African culture and worldview than Mission-Initiated Churches, according to Molobi. They are less shaped by Western academic and theological approaches and cultural practices than Mission-Initiated Churches.

AIC theology is not significantly different from the theology of mainline churches, but “it retains its indigenous element,” Molobi said. “Their theology is a way of improvisation that makes the message of the Bible to suit their understanding without compromising its truth.”

In several African countries AICs have been the focus of efforts by Mennonite agencies, including Mennonite Central Committee, Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, and Mennonite Mission Network and its predecessors.

Many times, presenters acknowledged the pioneering work of Ed and Irene Weaver, who in 1959 were the first to respond to the request from Nigerian AIC congregations for Mennonites to come and work with them.

From the beginning of Mennonite work with AICs, church leaders identified the need for education, particularly theological education. Much of the effort of Mennonite mission agencies has focused on working with AICs to develop education programs.

Good News Theological College and Seminary near Accra, Ghana, is one example of a school for AIC leaders. It is managed by African church leaders, works with four major groups of AICs and is fully accredited by the government.