PISTIS CONTINUITY PROGRAMME

COURSE TITLE: CHURCH HISTORY

Instructor: Joan Kimani
___________________________________________________________________________

BACKGROUND
Why do we study Church history?
§ Our faith is rooted in church history. There is a lot to learn from those who went before
us. Understanding the past has great value in understanding the present – how we got to
where we are now.

§ It serves to enlighten us regarding our spiritual ancestry.

§ To emulate the good examples of the past.

§ To avoid errors that the church has made

- Present day problems are the often illuminated by the study of the past – Patterns
/ things that repeated themselves
- We do not need to get into a cycle of things we could have avoided if we studied
the past
- It is a guide that helps us understand mistakes and avoid them (the present is a
product of the past – the seed that has produced what we have now),

§ It is an aid to understanding the present.

For example, it helps us to understand the puzzling query concerning 250+ religious
groups in US alone is found in church history

§ Church history is a motivating force that offers edification inspiration and give enthusiasm
that can help stimulate spiritual life

§ Church history has cultural value.

- History of western civilization is incomplete and unintelligible without
understanding the role that Christian religion played in the development of
western civilization
- History of man can never be divorced from history of his religious life.
INSTRUCTION FOR LEARNERS

1. INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

From the study that you conducted at Pistis of a Key Figure or Event within Ancient Church
Period, Medieval Church Period or Modern Church Period); you are to do the following:
I. Edit the study to remove the headings and write it in prose – in a story telling kind of
way. To this paper, add one thing found most interesting about the study.
Send your paper by midnight on Sunday 3rd March 2024
II. You will have 5 minutes to present this study on Tuesday 5th March 2024.

PRESENTATION ON KEY FIGURE OR EVENT

DATE: TUESDAY 5TH MARCH 2024

STUDENT KEY FIGURE OR EVENT Time

1 Sir Davis Philip the Evangelist 5 min

2 Rosie & Lady Hellen Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar 5 min

3 Lady Mary & Lady Elizabeth Persecution of the Early Church 8 min

4 Jacy Constantine The Great 5 min

5 Joan The Council of Nicaea 5 min

7 Anna Gregory The Great 5 Min

6 David The Renaissance 5 min

8 Joyce The Great Awakening 5 min

9 Sir Alex George Whitefield 5 min

10 Sir Munene TBC 5 min

2. GROUP ASSIGNMENT

The idea that Christianity is a white, European religion has been a major deterrent to following
Christ. It has become a major evangelistic hurdle, to say the least.
There have been several myths surrounding the entry, spread of Christianity in Africa and in
Kenya. These myths include;
- Christianity is a white man’s religion, and that it was brought as a tool strategy to
colonize Africans
 - Christianity was a tool of taking people’s land – exchanging of the Bible for land
- Christianity was first introduced to Africans through the transatlantic slave trade and,
therefore, is not the spirituality of our African ancestors.

In your groups; discuss and present a two-page document with the following

Group 1;
Explain how Christianity came to Kenya (general overview)
What caused the propagation of the myths aforementioned or what made them compelling?
Are there any people groups (that exist today) that believe these myths?

Group 2;
Explain the entry of Christianity through the various regions and how it was received. Further,
explain how it has influenced how they worship now. i.e. Examples may include AIC, PCEA,
Methodist, SDA, Catholic Church etc.

Group 3;
Identify conflicts between Christian culture, African culture and biblical principles e.g. doing
things believing it is the ‘Christian’ way yet it is cultural.
Examples include weddings (e.g. exchange of rings etc), names and naming, dowry etc. For
example, dowry is embraced in African Culture and biblical history but frowned upon in
Christian culture.

Group 4
Resurfacing or resurgence of old age religion and how it is impacting Christianity today
- What are examples of these old age religions?
- What is the reason for the resurgence?

Other questions that would be good to consider during these discussions will be the depth of
knowledge of God’s Word in Africa in general. The message of salvation is not in doubt. But
what is the depth of knowledge of the average believer?

GROUP STUDENTS ASSIGNMENT DUE ASSIGNMENT DUE TIME

DATE DATE
One Sir Davis, Sir Alex, Sir Sun 10.04.24 Tue 12.04.24 18 min
Munene
Two Lady Mary, Lady Hellen, Sun 10.04.24 Tue 12.04.24 18 min
Lady Elizabeth
ST Jacy, Rosie, Joyce Sun 10.04.24 Tue 19.04.24 18 min

4 Joan, Anna, David Sun 10.04.24 Tue 19.04.24 18 min