Evangelism – Perspectives from an African Context

Evangelism – Perspectives from an African context consists of a collection of essays reflecting on different facets of evangelism. Even though evangelism could, and should, be seen as the core element of the church’s calling to witness (martyria) or its missional identity, it has become a contentious subject. It is often neglected in theological institutions as well as in church practices. This publication ventures in highlighting the importance of evangelism and does not hesitate in engaging with relevant issues. To name but a few: shedding evangelism’s connotation with “imperialism / colonialism” deriving from a “Christendom” era; the relation between evangelism and dialogue between faiths; bridging the divide between evangelism and social engagement (diakonia) and evangelism in and through local congregations. It also touches on evangelism in a post-Christendom era and the re-evangelisation of Europe. However, the book’s main contribution is its focus on distinct features of evangelism in specifically African contexts. Esteemed scholars from Africa, and two from Europe, contributed to this book. It is skilfully edited by Prof Johannes Knoetze. Covering a range of vital topics related to evangelism, this book is poised to capture the interest of a broad readership. The primary contribution of this collaborative effort lies in the diverse perspectives it provides on the main areas of evangelism that form the four parts of the book: “Theological perspectives on evangelism”, “Evangelism and other religions / faiths / worldviews”, “Evangelism as a holistic approach”, and “Evangelism in specific contexts”.