Browsing by Author "Mukuka, Charles"

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    Has "Evangelization" Tried To Bring About a Deep Faith In Africa?
    (Tangaza University College, 2000-02) Mukuka, Charles
    Despite the centuries of achievement in the Church's missionary task, many of the African Christians feel alienated from their Christian faith. The flow of many African Christians to New Religious Movements, African Initiated Churches and the like are certain indications of this truth. This raises the question: Has "evangelization" tried to bring about a deep faith in Africa? In trying to answer this challenging question today, we have proposed that effective "evangelization" is the only way which can bring about a deep faith in Africa. As such, this present work is divided into five chapters. The first chapter wrestles with the question: Has "evangelization" tried to bring about a deep faith in Africa? The second chapter deals with contradictory factors to the statement that "evangelization" tried to bring about a deep faith in Africa. As regards chapter three, deepening African faith through "evangelization": authoritative Church teachings and reflections are its pre-occupations. Chapter four tries to answer the objections raised in chapter two, whereas chapter five is centred on effective "evangelization" as the only way forward for a deep faith in Africa. This chapter is then, completed by a few suggestions on appropriate avenues for the present and future Church in Africa. This scheme does not exhaust everything on "evangelization" as the only way of bringing about a deep faith in Africa, because each local church has some characteristics which distinguish it from other local churches across the continent at many levels. This makes the puzzle complicated. In any case, although generalisations and convenient simplifications necessarily distort, because every local church is at once unique and one of the many, we shall make use of them with great caution on different aspects of the same reality. Owing to the ambiguities which may arise in the use of terms, it is imperative to say that in some parts of this present work, the terms: "evangelization" and "mission" are used interchangeably to mean the same reality. This applies also to the following terminologies: (a) Latin Church or Catholic or Universal Church; (b) The Church in Africa or African Church and in some cases Local Church. However, the topic of this essay is very important. What effective "evangelization" should ultimately bring to the African Christians is a deep faith. The royal path to this greatly coveted faith is effective "evangelization," which entails providing suitable conditions for the spread of the "good news." We hope that many genuine seekers of a deep faith will find their way through this essay.