More Information
ISBN: 9781783687565
Imprint: Langham Global Library
Format: Paperback
Dimensions (mm): 229 x 152 x 14
Publication Date: 31/12/2019
Pages: 254
Series: Africa Society of Evangelical Theology Series
Language: English

God and Creation

£16.99

This collection of essays – the product of the 8th annual conference of the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology – wrestles with the topics of God and creation from distinctly African perspectives. Touching on topics from environmentalism, to ethnic conflict, to childlessness, the contributors present a powerful and timely reflection on the nature of God as creator and the implications of that identity on our relationship with the divine, with the earth, and with each other. Highlighting the rich wisdom of African voices, this book explores the particularities and complexities of an African cultural context, while presenting biblical truth that extends beyond geographical limits. Anyone interested in thinking theologically about our role in the universe God has made or what African culture, in dialogue with Scripture, has to teach us, will find this book to be an invaluable resource.

Author Bios

Rodney L. Reed
(Edited By)

RODNEY L. REED is a missionary educator who has been serving at Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya, since 2001. Currently, he is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, a position he has held since 2010. Prior to that, he served as the Chair of the Department of Religion for nine years. He holds a PhD in Theological Ethics from Drew University and is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene.

David K. Ngaruiya
(Edited By)

DAVID K. NGARUIYA is an Associate Professor and former Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Director of PhD in Theological Studies Program at International Leadership University. He holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He served as chair of the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology (2015–2016). He has published journal and book articles and served as co-editor and contributor to Communities of Faith in Africa and African Diaspora (Pickwick Publications, 2013) and was a director of the research study that produced African Christian Leadership (Langham Global Library, 2019).

Endorsements

This volume represents an important African contribution to global theology from an evangelical perspective. We see here an emerging generation of African theologians who can address current issues in a balanced and biblical way, one that reflects a growing confidence and theological competence. These writers are reading western theologians, but they are coming to their own conclusions free of inherited shibboleths. Western readers will recognize the issues, but they will learn much from the fresh perspectives on display. This book deserves a wide readership.

William Dyrness, PhD
Senior Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA Author of Insider Jesus (2016), and Seeking Church (2019, with Darren Deurksen)


In vibrantly exploring God as creator and human relationships in creation, the authors draw on African theologians and contexts in tandem with Western hermeneutics. They remind us that image-bearing discipleship suffuses our relationships with the land, diverse ethnicities, socio-political margins, and an eschatology of cosmic renewal. This book compellingly beckons the global church toward in-depth work on creation care and environmental theology.

Laura S. Meitzner Yoder, PhD
John Stott Endowed Chair and Director, Human Needs and Global ResourcesProfessor of Environmental Studies, Wheaton College, Illinois, USA

Table of Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Part I: God
    1. 1. God and His Creation Then and Now: A Critical Analysis - Samuel Ngewa
    2. 2. Missio Dei: A Way to Value the Present and Future World - Stephanie A. Lowery
    3. 3. God’s Justice and Its Implications for Sociopolitical Transformation of the Twa Community in Contemporary Burundi - Muhati Allan Isiaho
  4. Part II: Creation
    1. 4. The Groaning Creation: An Exegetical Study on Romans 8:19–23 - Joseph Mavulu
    2. 5. Toward a Theology of Creation: An African Approach to the Environment - Kevin Muriithi
    3. 6. Environmental Theology: Toward a Theology of Environmental Resource Management - Peter Mbede Oyugi
    4. 7. A Vision of Eschatological-Environmental Renewal: Responding to an African Ecological Ethic - Robert Falconer
    5. 8. Narrative Discipleship: The Interplay between Narrative Theology, Creation, and Discipleship - David Bawks
  5. Part III: Cultural Challenges
    1. 9. The Kipsigis’ Concepts of Childlessness and Their Implications for Discipleship in the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya - Catherine C. Kitur
    2. 10. Promoting Unity in Diversity: Imago Dei as a Panacea for Negative Ethnicity - Elkanah Kiprop Cheboi
    3. 11. God in the Public Square: The Place of Religion in Shaping Public Morality and Social Cohesion - Rodney L. Reed
  6. List of Contributors
  7. Index

Contributors

David Bawks

DAVID BAWKS is a minister with Nairobi Chapel, having served in Kenya since 2008. He graduated from Wheaton College, IL, with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical/Theological Studies and History, then went on to complete a Master of Divinity at Africa International University. Previously, he taught at Carlile College and led the Nairobi Chapel Tyrannus Hall training ministry. Currently he leads a new church plant at Nairobi Chapel Karen.


Elkanah Kiprop Cheboi

Elkanah Kiprop Cheboi holds a PhD in Theological Studies (New Testament) from Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya. Currently, he is a lecturer in Theology and Biblical Studies at Kabarak University, Kenya. In the past, he served as a local church pastor and as a chaplain in a mission hospital and nursing college. He is also the Founder and Director of ShahidiHub Africa, a Christian organization that deals with news perspectives, Christian research and publications.


Robert Falconer

ROBERT FALCONER (PhD) holds degrees in Architecture and Theology. He practiced architecture for seven years, after which he went to Kenya for three years as a missionary. He currently works at the South African Theological Seminary as the program coordinator for MTh and PhD research and takes a mentorship approach to student research concept development and supervision. His primary research interests are architecture and theology, soteriology, eschatology, and African theology.


Stephanie A. Lowery

STEPHANIE A. LOWERY is a lecturer in theology and coordinator of the BTh and DTh programs at Africa International University. She also teaches at Kalamba School of Leadership, as well as serving part-time in the Kalamba church district. She grew up in Kenya and considers Ukambani home. Her research interests include African theologies, African ecclesiological models, missional theology and hermeneutics, and the Trinity.


Peter Mbede Oyugi

REV PETER MBEDE OYUGI is an ordained minister and currently the National Director of Youth Ministries in Fountain of Life Churches International (FOLCI) and a member of the Executive Council of FOLCI. He was educated in Kenya and holds an Advance Diploma in Theology from Bible College of East Africa (2006), a Bachelor of Ministry degree from Far Eastern Bible College, Singapore (2007), and a Master of Divinity from International Leadership University (2011). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Theological Studies at the last institution, focusing on the theologies in contemporary music and how music can be used to teach theology. Rev Mbede is an adjunct faculty member in the department of Bible and Theology at Pan Africa Christian University, Kenya.


Kevin Muriithi

KEVIN MURIITHI serves two congregations in Loresho Parish as a youth pastor in the Presbyterian Church. Having studied and worked as an electrical engineer in energy and power systems, he was awarded an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies at the International Leadership University with highest honors. As a co-founder of Apologetics Kenya, he has presented and written papers for several institutions and publications, including the Africa Bible Commentary, in addition to his book A Curious Faith: Love, Loss and Living. He is also an adjunct lecturer at the Pan Africa Christian University. He is married to Jessica Murugi Muriithi and they reside in Nairobi.


Samuel Ngewa

Samuel M. Ngewa is Dean of the Graduate School at Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya. He holds a PhD in Biblical Interpretation from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, USA, and has published numerous works on New Testament studies. He is on the pastoral team at Africa Inland Church Lang’ata in Nairobi.


Allan Isiaho Muhati


Catherine Kitur


Jospeh Mavulu


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