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A History of the Church in Africa

astonished at the influx of Harris Christians. The Methodist
Church there dates its official beginning, not from 1924, when the
first Methodists reached Ivory Coast, but from 1914, when Harris
did. (285)

However, not all of the converts from the ministry of Harris stayed
in the established churches. Other African independent churches point
to his ministry as foundational. Almost all of them advocate divine
healing and deliverance from
witchcraft. In time, some of
the independent churches
When Protestant became known by the name

missionaries reached of their founder.

Ivory Coast in 1924, they One can only wonder if

were astonished at the these independent “prophet
churches” would have had
influx of Harris Christians. adequate training at the
outset, would the church in
Africa be stronger today? Be
this as it may, it was not until the twentieth century that training African
leaders became important. When it became evident that the hope for
the African church was in biblically-trained leaders who would lead
mature churches, a new day had arrived.

Conclusion

In this chapter, I have traced the development of evangelical missions
in the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
With great sacrifice and with courage on the part of missionaries and
Africans, the church advanced—even though the challenges were many.
Although the stigma of colonialism and the accusation that Christianity
was a “foreign religion” were strong, on the positive side African leaders
and missionaries were emerging. The sovereign Lord raised up prophetic
voices in people such as William Wade Harris. Although the church had
begun to mature, more leadership training was needed. Above all, the
twentieth century portended more promise. Africa was being prepared
for the coming of a Pentecostal revival and the increased flow of a
mighty river.

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