The expansion of the Christian faith on the African continent in the present century is one of the most remarkable events in the entire history of Christianity. This poses tremendous challenges for African Christianity as African Christians and African Christian institutions are called upon not only to shoulder a significant portion of the burden of Christian witness in the world, but also to undergird such witness with the appropriate Christian scholarship in the interest of the church’s universal task in our time. What happens to world Christianity in the twenty-first century may well depend on how effectively African Christians rise to these challenges and how faithfully they reflect on and proclaim the gospel message entrusted to them.
The ATF aims to play a part in deepening this understanding and commitment and in equipping Christian leaders and theological institutions to meet these challenges more effectively.