Category: Uncategorized

Article By Kyama Mugambi, PhD

The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD is one of the earliest significant gatherings that highlights Africa’s foundational contributions to the early church. Three of these contributions stand out.

First, through African leaders such as Athanasius, Alexander and others, the council illustrates Africa’s participation in shaping Christian doctrine through collaborative community engagement. These early leaders engaged in deep reflection and debate, inspired by their strong commitment to Scripture and the traditions of the early church. Second, the meeting at Nicaea highlights the role of intellectual rigor in addressing matters of the church. This scholarly depth was rooted in spiritual maturity, evident not only in individuals but also in the life of the church as a whole. Third, the council contributes to our understanding of mentorship as essential for developing leaders within the broader body of Christ.

Community Participation

Nicaea was the first major church council held after the Edict of Milan in 313 AD. This is significant because the Edict ended the official persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. While persecution did not cease immediately across the empire, the Edict paved the way for Christianity to become one of several accepted religions. As a result, the Council of Nicaea took place with the permission—and even the sponsorship—of the state.

The council occurred at a time when Africa, particularly Alexandria, was one of the five most important centers of Christian growth. However, it was not the first time Christian leaders had gathered. Historical records show that church leaders had convened in other important meetings as early as 155 AD, including councils in Carthage, Africa (notably in 251 AD and 311 AD). Like these earlier gatherings, Nicaea demonstrates a strong sense of community among leaders, especially in the face of theological disagreement.

Scholarly Engagement

Accounts of the council reveal an environment where Christian leaders committed themselves to the highest level of scholarly engagement. The issues presented were subjected to deep reflection and rigorous debate. Early Christian centers of faith were also centers of learning. Carthage and Alexandria—both in North Africa—produced distinguished scholars whose work helped shape Christian doctrine during these formative years.

Alexandria was home to the renowned Alexandrian Catechetical School, an institution with a long history of training theologians. Notable teachers included Pantaenus, Clement, Origen, Dionysius, and Eusebius. These scholars were deeply committed to upholding the teachings of Scripture.

This intellectual rigor was the product of a church life in which leaders, congregants, and the broader Christian community were deeply committed to their faith—often to the point of death. Many of the leaders who attended Nicaea bore physical scars from persecution. Others carried fresh memories of the pain, loss, and death experienced by their congregations and families.

The issues discussed at Nicaea had a direct impact on leaders who were devoted to living deeply pious lives in ways that reflected their beliefs.

Mentorship

The leaders who attended Nicaea also point us to the importance of mentorship in developing leaders within the wider body of Christ. Athanasius stands out as one of the most prominent figures at the council. He vigorously defended the deity of Christ at a time when Arius was teaching otherwise.

Athanasius, who was in his late twenties at the time, credits two important mentors. The first was Alexander of Alexandria—a pastor, teacher, and bishop who had lived through the persecution of Christians. Alexander was also a teacher at the Alexandrian Catechetical School and introduced Athanasius to the long, rich tradition of Christian scholarship. He ordained Athanasius as a deacon and later appointed him as his secretary. Alexander brought Athanasius with him to Nicaea. By then, Alexander was 75 years old and nearing the end of his life.

In his writings, Athanasius also names Anthony of Egypt as a mentor. Anthony was a deeply pious Christian who lived in the caves of the desert. Many people sought him out to learn from his devotional commitment to Christianity, traveling into the Egyptian desert to be taught by him. Athanasius later wrote a book about Anthony, highlighting what Christians could learn from his life.

In Athanasius, we see a Christian whose life was shaped by two mentors who lived out their faith in very different ways. His involvement in Nicaea as a young man, having been mentored by these great Christians, illustrates how God works in people’s lives through the positive influence of devoted Christian mentors.

Spiritual formation and intellectual rigor go hand in hand as essential companions in the life of individuals and in the life of the church.

Nicaea and Africa Today

Just as Africa played a central role in the fourth century, it continues to hold a prominent place in global Christianity today. During Athanasius’s time, Africa was a leading center of Christian thought and home to many believers. Today, Africa is the continent with the highest number of Christians.

The Council of Nicaea reminds African Christians to come together as a community and deliberate on Christian life and doctrine—especially in a time when many differing ideas exist. This is particularly important as Christians continue to live their faith in religiously diverse societies, much like in the time of Nicaea. Spiritual formation and intellectual rigor go hand in hand as essential companions in the life of individuals and in the life of the church. As Christians reflect deeply, the council reminds us not to refrain from debating passionately—always grounded in a deep commitment to God and His Word.

Athanasius’ example reminds us of the value of a strong culture of mentorship—of raising deeply devoted leaders in the body of Christ. This tradition, rooted in the time of Jesus and His disciples and carried through the early church, should continue to serve as a model for us today as we consider the responsibility of African Christians to the global church.

Article By Africa Speaks

“You don’t write a book that you think will succeed. You write a book that you know will succeed.” This is one of the many thought-provoking statements that got our participants pondering at the ACTS (Africa Christain Textbooks) Writers Workshop. The workshop, held from the 4th to the 6th of June 2025 at TCNN, Bukuru, Plateau State, was an impactful and intellectually sound gathering that lived up to its theme, “Fresh Approaches to Theological Writing: Bridging Gaps and Expanding Digital Reach.” The workshop was an intensive experience for our participants. All our facilitators brought their A-games, delivering perspectives on the present challenges and opportunities in theological writing.

You don’t write a book that you think will succeed. You write a book that you know will succeed

Equipping Writers for a Digital Age

Right from the first day, it was palpable that all the participants were ready to learn and unlearn. The workshop kicked off with an opening ceremony and a warm welcome address from the Provost of Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN). The introduction by Dr. Paul Todd, ACTS Director of Publishing, was also engaging and stirred anticipation for what was to follow. From the very first session by Prof. Sunday Agang, Provost of Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS), who passionately taught on writing theologically relevant books in the digital age, it was evident to us that the participants were being equipped not only to write but to thrive in this digital age.

A highlight of the first day was the session by Pastor Pusonnam Yiri, who expertly spoke on creative theological writing in a changing world. His delivery was clear, practical, and relatable, with many of our participants struggling to find their creative voice in theology. The session inspired participants to embrace creativity while remaining grounded in biblical truth.

The second day maintained the momentum, with the timely focus of “Digital Transformation in Theological Writing.” Pastor Dr. Hankuri Tawus of Campus Missions and Leadership Initiative (CMLI) then took the floor with an effective discussion on identifying challenges and proffering solutions in theological writing with another session on preserving originality during editing. The balance of technical skill and spiritual depth encouraged our participants as aspiring published authors to protect their voice while ensuring excellence in their craft.

Dr. Paul Todd later explicitly addressed the pressing issue of plagiarism in theological writing. His session was both a warning and a guide. It was clear, honest, and informative. Dr. Paul Todd’s session left no room for ambiguity on the ethical standards expected of Christian writers.

From Inspiration to Publication: Marketing and Ministry in Harmony

The final day brought everything together under the focus of exploring the hurdles faced by theologians and finding practical solutions. Prof. Danny McCain, Chairman of ACTS, took the session on researching unique ideas and identifying gaps in theological writing. His delivery, rooted in experience, spoke to the heart of every participant struggling with researching unique ideas in faith-based writing. Rev. Luka Vandi Uti, MD/CEO of ACTS Bookshop, came with an impactful presentation on marketing theological books to a tech-savvy generation. In his discussion, he mentioned that ACTS is a hundred percent ministry and a hundred percent business. This gave our participants insight on not taking marketing with levity.

In the final hours, the participants were introduced to the work of ACTS and CMLI, their mission, and how these organisations have served as platforms to impact Africans. The issuing of certificates and closing formalities were met with joy, heartfelt appreciation, and a sense of accomplishment. A group picture crowned the workshop. It captured not just faces but a community of writers energised, enlightened, and encouraged. Throughout the three days, our participants were receptive in the atmosphere of learning and interaction. The speakers did justice to every session. All our participants left with the tools to not only write better but to write with impact.

Article By Africa Speaks

April 2025 — Langham Publishing has reached a significant milestone: the publication of its 500th title. At the turn of this 500th publication we reflect on something deeper — a long and purposeful journey to serve the global church with biblically faithful, contextually relevant books representing our church around the world.
Langham Publishing began with a vision — carried forward by John Stott and nurtured through decades of prayer and partnership — to equip leaders in the Majority World with the resources needed to teach, preach, and understand the Bible in their own contexts.

“Langham Publishing was born without any fanfare,” says Pieter Kwant, former Director of Langham Literature. “Working on the Africa Bible Commentary had convinced me that the future for Langham Literature lay in amplifying the voices of Majority World leaders, rather than just distributing western written materials. I also realised that this was going to be a generational change, as we all needed reeducation. With the start of Langham Publishing brought a challenge to the paradigm of the West to the Rest, and instead presented locally contextual writing that touched the hearts and answered the questions asked within the great variety of cultures. God answered our prayers and it is remarkable to me how Langham Publishing has grown in number of Majority World authored titles and in distribution coverage, with an emerging paradigm of the Rat to the Rest. Soli Deo Gloria”

Over time, a few monographs grew into a publishing house with four key imprints: Langham Academic, Langham Global Library, HippoBooks/LivresHippo, and Langham Preaching Resources. With books published in English and French (and more translated through local partnerships), Langham Publishing is active in theological communities across Africa and Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. There, seminaries are growing, preachers are thirsting for solid resources and church leaders are navigating fast-changing social and cultural landscapes.

“Langham Publishing has had a visible impact on African theological education and scholarship,” says Elizabeth Mburu, the Literature Coordinator for Anglophone Africa at Langham. “For too long, African institutions did not have access to resources published by African scholars. Most of the resources were from the Global North and this meant that students and faculty were limited in their ability to theologize contextually in the classroom.
“The increasing resources from authors from the Global South, and from Africa in particular, means that both students and faculty can empower the church positively and address the specific needs that impact the continent of Africa, as well as Africans in diaspora. Langham Publishing is also empowering scholars to conceptualize and write from within their contexts without compromising biblical truth. As one of my roles as a commissioning editor, and a Langham author myself, I see first-hand how Langham-produced resources are changing the face of theological education. There is now the sense that the church is both local and global and that unity in diversity is indeed possible.”

Luke Lewis, Director of Publishing, addresses the ongoing challenges and goals: “These first fifteen years have been an amazing journey. I am so grateful to our faithful supporters and readers, all of the staff past and present, as well as all of the amazing relationships developed with our authors, editors and translators.”

“There are still major hurdles for scholars in the Majority World when it comes to publishing both locally and globally, especially in countries or regions where academic publishing is limited. There are also still major challenges for readers in the Majority World when it comes to access. As we move forward with our next 500 publications we will continue to partner and work for the local church, local institutions and local publishing initiatives to break down these barriers.”

Langham Publishing’s hope is to continue to support the needs of the global church offering a platform for local voices while also contributing to broader theological conversations. Hani Hanna, Director of Langham Literature, expresses hopes and vision for the future: “Reaching 500 published books is a remarkable milestone for Langham Publishing. Its unique contribution to the global church lies in its commitment to serving theological education and church leaders and to amplifying important theological voices that are often marginalized. This dedication to contextualized theology enriches our understanding of Scripture and fosters global conversations.
“We praise the Lord for enabling us to come thus far. A heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated Publishing team who are genuinely caught up in Langham’s vision. Many thanks are due to our invaluable partners who have contributed to this incredible journey.

As we celebrate this achievement, our hope is that Langham Publishing continues to press on, fulfilling its calling to equip the global church with resources that deepen understanding and promote unity. May the next chapter bring even greater impact to increasingly polarized communities and a wider reach in increasingly digitally-driven societies, ensuring a rich tapestry of global Christian voices.”

About Langham Publishing

Langham Publishing is a ministry of Langham Partnership whose vision is to strengthen the global church. 

Through Langham Publishing, we publish books for Christian leaders, preachers, and scholars that represent a diverse church around the world, furthering our understanding of scripture, our mission as God’s people, and our love in Christ.

Some of the African Titles by Langham

Article By Africa Speaks

Christian Life Publishers, formerly ECSS Life Publishers, is currently the only Christian publishing house in South Sudan. Founded by the Renk diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), Christian Life Publishers offers quality services and resources to meet the spiritual and intellectual needs of people in South Sudan and beyond.

Its mission is to contribute to the prosperity of South Sudan by producing print and digital publications that highlight relevant stories of local interest, while offering guidance that uplifts, enriches, educates and inspires.

Although the opening of the physical offices of Christian Life Publishers is quite recent, August 2023, the seeds of Christian Life Publishers have been sown for a long time, starting with the training of authors.

From a Writers’ Workshops with MAI to a Publishing House

In 2013, 18 South Sudanese writers came together for their first training, delivered by MAI-Africa (Media Associates International) trainers Lawrence Darmani from Ghana and Barine Kirimi (PhD) from Kenya. They worked on four potential books with a powerful message of spiritual truth and hope for Christian and general readers. The following year, 2014, the workshop had to be moved to Nairobi due to continued fighting. The writers continued to work on the manuscripts that became the first books written locally by the new nation, amid the civil war. One such book was Prayers for South Sudan, published in 2015.

2019 was marked by a three-day writing workshop in Juba, South Sudan, organized by Archbishop Joseph Garang Atem, former bishop of Renk and Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Malakal, and led by MAI-Africa trustees Dr. Barine Kirimi and Rose Inziani Birenge from Kenya.

In June 2022, a group of 15 participants gathered in Juba for the publishing process training and orientation program, in preparation for the publishing house’s establishment. The two-day training focused on the identity, vision, mission, core values, purpose, completed projects and new and upcoming projects of the Christian Life Publishers. It also introduced participants, made up of staff and governance team members as well as friends of the publishing house, to the understanding of publishing and the publishing process, including acquisitions, contracts, manuscript development, art direction, pre-press production, digital printing and distribution, as well as book marketing.

In a society scarred by years of civil war, Archbishop Joseph Garang sees locally written books as key to “nation-building” and a means of implanting Christian values. The book Days of Light in Darkness for instance, shares the stories of resilience, faith and hope in God, told through the experiences of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan during times of conflict. This book highlights the Church’s role in these challenging times and the experiences of Church leaders serving their communities amid adversity.

The Projects

Christian Life Publishers is now based in Juba, but the vision is to expand. “We have ten states in South Sudan, and many universities. So, we are looking to open some offices for Life Publishers in many different states. But not now. Step by step,” says Archbishop Joseph Garang.

The main challenge for the publishing house is the lack of editors. For the moment, the publications are in Dinka and English, with plans to add Arabic soon. One of the most important projects in the Dinka language was the Bible translation project. The Dinka people are a Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan with a large overseas diaspora population. Dinka Christians were eager to have Scripture in their language so they can grow spiritually and reach out to others.

The Wycliffe Bible Translators has been working with a local team to produce the entire Bible in the Dinka Cam language. Archbishop Joseph Garang was one of those first people to do the translation for the Dinka Bible before he went for further studies to the US and come back to open the Renk Theological Seminary. The Dinka Bible is now finished but not yet launched. 

Challenges and Projects 

Dr. Zechariah Manyok Biar PhD, Diocesan Bishop of Wanglei Diocese in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, author and editor at Christian Life Publishers shares that their current challenges are printers and binders.“We have secured a printer, but the binder is still coming. When we begin to receive many books to be published, our small printer will be a major challenge. We pray to have a more giant printer and binder as soon as possible,” he says.

 

Current projects include translating the ECSS handbook from English into Dinka, publishing Forgiveness by Archbishop Joseph Garang Atem, and Women and Religious Roles: Exploring the Growing Roles of Women in the Episcopal Church of South Sudanby Zechariah Manyok Biar, PhD.

As a final word, Archbishop Joseph Garang Atem adds: “We need to be known all in Africa, even abroad. Because we’re going to serve people of God and other people to know Jesus so that they can be saved. That is our dream. And we are happy to invite many different editors, writers, publishers to come and help us, to see what we’re lacking, so that we can fill that gap.”

Please join us in praying for Christian Life Publishers, that God will provide for their needs, including a larger printer, and that they will be able to fulfil their publishing plans.

To connect with Christian Life Publisher, contact them through their website www.christianlifepublishersss.com or connect with their Managing Director, Ajak John on his Africa Speaks Community profile.

Article By Africa Speaks

3M Publishing is the publishing branch of Madagascar 3M ministry, founded and chaired by theologian and publisher Dr. Faly Ravoahangy. Dr. Ravoahangy’s involvement in Christian literature dates back nearly two decades, when, after graduating as a polyvalent officer in the merchant navy and marine mechanical engineer, he volunteered aboard MV Doulos, the floating bookfair which was then docked in Penang, Malaysia.

He served there for 10 months as a second officer. Later, after starting a family, his life took a new direction away from the maritime industry. He earned a master’s degree and then a doctorate in theology, specializing in textual preaching.The idea of creating the Madagascar 3M ministry came to him after realizing the lack of theological knowledge among the body of Christ in Africa, as well as the poor quality of locally printed books in Madagascar.

3M Publishing was then founded to offer high-quality, affordable Christian books written in clear, accessible language for the Malagasy people. Its aim is also to provide spiritual resources that nourish faith, deepen understanding of the Bible and strengthen believers.

As for Madagascar 3M’s vision, it is to identify and equip the next generation of Malagasy pastors, by providing biblical training through an expository preaching seminary in Madagascar. Pastors are trained in three roles that are at the heart of their vocation: preachers of the Word of God, shepherds of God’s people and servants of God; hence the three M’s for the Malagasy words for preacher (mpitoriteny), shepherd (mpitandrina) and servant (mpanompo).

A New Transformation Objective

3M Publishing house, launched on November 13, 2023 to print high-quality books on demand, publishes three types of books:

• Books in French, in partnership with the publishing houses ‘Publications Chrétiennes’ (Canada) and ‘BLF Éditions’ (France), which have granted them representation rights in Madagascar.
• Books translated from French or English into Malagasy by a team of translators.
• Books in Malagasy written by Malagasy Christian theologians, pastors and teachers.

As well as meeting the demand for quality Christian resources in Madagascar, 3M Publishing is also working to:

• Promoting a culture of reading in Madagascar;
• Working with bookshops, local churches, associations and businesses to spread the Good News;
• Offering a print-on-demand service, 3M Printing, to meet the need for books, brochures, posters, leaflets, magazines and other communication media with precision and quality.

A library was added to the 3M ministry in June 2024.

Among the titles available are French and Malagasy translations of God’s Design for the church and Your Discipleship Manual, by Zambian author and preacher Dr. Conrad Mbewe.

In April 2024, Dr. Ravoahangy took part in an intensive training course on Christian publishing in Cape Town, South Africa, organized by Desiring God Ministries and challenging the traditional approach to publishing in Christian circles. The speakers invited Christian publishers to focus on spreading ideas, referring for example to the Reformation era, when pamphlets helped spread Luther’s ideas throughout Europe.

This workshop was a game-changer for 3M’s publishing, leading to a new transformation objective: to transform lives in Madagascar and beyond through Scripture-centered resources designed to raise and equip Preachers of God’s Word, Shepherds of God’s people, and Servants of Christ in local churches.Dr. Ravoahangy stresses the importance of written resources for the edification of the church.

“The church needs available resources if it is to grow stronger. There is teaching in the church, but we also need to take advantage of the cloud of witnesses who have shared their testimonies with us through books,” he says.

The Challenges of Christian Publishing in French-speaking Africa

In an interview with Africa Speaks in November 2023, on the occasion of the visit to Madagascar of the ship Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating bookshop, Dr. Ravoahangy stated that one of the main obstacles to the realization of publishing projects at Madagascar 3M is the lack of editors.

“We are in great need of a qualified person who will do all the work of revising the manuscripts of local authors or theologians,” he said, pointing to the lack of training opportunities in editing, particularly in the French-speaking countries in Africa. While there are many literary and journalistic training schools to produce good writers, there is still a long way to go in the editing field.

However, Dr. Ravoahangy remains positive about the future, as initial reactions to “3M Publishing and Printing” have already been favourable. Demand is growing, including from Christian associations who want to print training manuals and evangelism materials. Print-on-demand means better quality locally printed books, while avoiding the storage and customs problems associated with importing books.

To ensure the success of the publishing industry in French Africa, he also resounds the need for greater collaboration between countries, so that, for example, books by West African authors would be available in Madagascar and books by Malagasy authors would be available in West Africa.

Africa Speaks was created to serve publishers like Dr. Ravoahangy and to facilitate exchanges between the various players in African Christian publishing. Join our community to network with other professionals, access online forums and the member directory.

Article By Africa Speaks

A Cameroonian proverb says: “The mouth that speaks is not lost.” This perfectly describes the essence of The Writers Blog Talk Show, hosted by Vickie Amoah in Accra, Ghana. The show provides African authors with a unique platform to amplify their voices, share their work, and ensure their creations don’t get ‘lost’ on bookstore shelves.

Vickie Amoah: A Multifaceted Visionary

Vickie Amoah founded Reveal Multimedia Ltd., in 2019, specializing in editorial services, including transcription, editing, proofreading, and book publicity.

However, Vickie quickly realized that many authors struggled with post-publication marketing – a gap she sought to fill with The Writers Blog Talk Show. Furthering her passion for literacy and education, Vickie and her team organize impactful literacy events and community programs aimed at fostering a culture of reading, writing, and lifelong learning.

The Writers Blog Talk Show: Connecting Readers and Writers

Broadcast weekly on SUNNY 88.7FM, SUNNY TV, and PCG TV in Ghana, and streamed globally via social media platforms, The Writers Blog Talk Show is a vibrant space where authors and book lovers connect. The program has featured over 200 author interviews, reached thousands of listeners worldwide, and hosts more than 10 annual book events. Its podcast has achieved remarkable success, ranking 9th in the Books category and 16th in the Arts category on Apple Podcasts in Ghana.

Authors benefit from the show’s unique promotional strategies, including personalized social media campaigns and direct engagement with listeners. The impact is tangible: books are sold on-site at the radio station, listeners call in to purchase more, and authors are invited to events.

“We sometimes sell up to 10 copies on-site, with more orders coming in later,” Vickie shares.

Reveal Impact Initiative: Events that Inspire

In addition to the Writer blog Talk show, The Reveal Impact Initiative organizes a variety of book-related events to inspire and empower. These include symposiums focused on mentoring young men and women in life skills, parenting workshops, writers’ workshops for aspiring and established authors. A highlight is the Nyansapo Mentorship Program, which nurtures young readers, writers, and artists, culminating in the publication of Nyansapo Tales, a collection of stories written by children in collaboration with Leap Publishers and Africanbooks.com. You can get a copy here

Expanding Horizons: Collaborations Across Borders

The show has fostered international partnerships, such as a recent appearance on the show by Nigerian author and Chairperson of Africa Speaks, Mrs. Modupe Ehirim – who first met Vickie Amoah at ASROCO in Nairobi in March 2024. On the show, she shared insights from her book Marriage is NOT a Trap. Again, Mrs. Ehirim featured on the show’s Virtual Parenting platform sharing on “Building Bridges: Fostering Openness and Trust in Your Family.”

In addition to her literary experience, Mrs. Ehirim, former president of the Christian Booksellers Association of Nigeria and a board member of Oasis International Ltd, founded The Right Fit Marriage Academy, guiding young professionals in building lasting marriages.

Her appearance on The Writers Blog Talk Show made her realize that there is a market in Ghana for her book and materials. However, she faced challenges with payment systems between Nigeria and Ghana. “I learnt that I needed to build a sales funnel for my products. I didn’t have in place a plan or process for ongoing connection with the audience that I was exposed to,” she shares.

On the other hand, Bookie Adekanye; a Nigerian author based in Canada on November 16, 2024 appeared on the Writers Blog Show to share from her book, Happily Whenever After published by Oasis International.

Ugandan publisher Lena Pirembe has also worked with the team on the launch of Nyansapo Tales, a celebration of young African voices.

A Vision for the Future

To sustain and expand its impact, The Writers Blog Talk Show is actively seeking partnerships with corporate organizations to support children’s books and educational materials.

The aim is to give African authors all over the world an opportunity to showcase their works to Ghanaian book lovers and others worldwide.

“My prayer is that God will equip us with the grace and resources to keep transforming lives through books not just in Ghana but beyond. Similarly, we hope that through what we do, many will come to know Christ,” says Vickie.

Discover more about The Writers Blog Talk Show and its initiatives on their website and social media channels. Join the movement to inspire Africa’s next generation of readers and writers!

Article By Africa Speaks

Since the sad news of Dr. Daniel Bourdanné’s passing on 6 September 2024 reached the Christian community, tributes poured in from around the world, expressing grief but also gratitude for his legacy. Dr. Bourdanné’s life and ministry had borne abundant fruit across multiple continents, particularly in the publishing sector.

“It was a long time ago when Bob Reekie [founding President of Media Associates International (MAI)] commended Daniel Bourdanné to the Tyndale House Foundation; a capable, godly young man likely to become a leader. That was the first time I heard his name,” recalls Edward Elliott, trustee of Africa Speaks and founder of Oasis International Ltd.

He remembers Dr. Bourdanné as a gracious man who never hesitated to speak truth on behalf of his beloved Africa. From his modest childhood in a village in Chad with no access to books, relying solely on oral tradition, Daniel’s parents, first-generation Christians, taught him the alphabet, but it wasn’t until he was 10 that he was able to choose to read a book on his own. Despite a lack of financial resources, he pursued his passion for books, eventually becoming a writer and publisher.

He is the author of several books, including: Ces évangéliques d’Afrique, qui sont-ils? (Who Are African Evangelicals?), PBA,1998, L’Évangile de la prospérité, une menace pour l’Église en Afrique (The Prosperity Gospel, a Menace to the African Church), PBA,1999. Under his direction, the book, Leadership pour l’excellence (Leadership for Excellence) was also published by PBA in 2002, featuring articles by seven prominent leaders in Africa.

“I am a richer man for having known Daniel,” said Edward Elliott.

Daniel Bourdanné’s impact on the publishing world spanned several generations, as many leaders of French-speaking Christian publishing in Africa can testify.

Leading Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA)

Dr. Bourdanné served as the director of Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA) from 1995 to 2006. Based in Benin, PBA is an initiative of the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires d’Afrique Francophone (IFES Francophone Africa). Under his leadership, numerous successful titles were published, and PBA’s influence expanded across various regions and nations.

The current PBA director, Georges Laté, acknowledges that it was Dr. Bourdanné who truly structured and developed the organization, creating a solid foundation.

In his last interview in July 2024 with Gathuku Kibunga, Executive Secretary of Africa Speaks, who was visiting him in London, Dr. Bourdanné expressed his appreciation for Georges’s work and reminisced about the early days when PBA had to relocate its headquarters from Abidjan to Benin due to socio-political unrest.

“I didn’t have the chance to serve at PBA at the same time as he did,” Georges Laté recalls. “But I worked with him in other parts of GBU, and I remember him as a man deeply committed to the cause of the Gospel. He showed the world that great things can come from Africa. It is a great honour for me to follow in his footsteps at PBA Editions and to ensure that Christian publishing remains a vital mission.”

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Centre de Publication Evangélique (CPE)

While General Secretary of the GBU (Groupes Bibliques Universitaires) in French-speaking Africa and Director of the Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA), Daniel Bourdanné was invited to chair the Board of Directors for the publisher CPE (Centre de Publications Évangéliques), as Dr. Jules Ouoba, CPE International Director and Vice President of Africa Speaks, recalls.

Jules Ouoba was appointed Executive Director of CPE in June 1996, after completing his studies in France. Faced with a growth crisis that led to major restructuring, the Board of Directors decided to entrust the management of CPE to Africans. Of Daniel Bourdanne’s impact on CPE, Dr. Ouoba comments that he fulfilled his role with excellence until 2008, bringing new energy to the organisation and implementing vital structural reforms.

“Dr. Bourdanné was a humble and deeply cherished friend, an exceptional leader, and a devoted servant for whom no sacrifice was too great in service to the Lord,” he said.

Representing Francophone Africa Globally

When Dr. Bourdanné conceived the idea for the book Leadership pour l’excellence, he reached out to Dr. Joanna Ilboudo, founder of ACTS-Burkina Faso, Editions CONTACT, and the magazine of the same name launched in 1992. He entrusted her with the task of writing the article “Diriger en tant que femme chrétienne dans l’église en Afrique” (Leading as a Christian Woman in the Church in Africa). Leadership pour l’excellence features contributions from prominent African leaders offering valuable insights for those aspiring to lead the Church and society toward excellence.

Dr. Ilboudo and Dr. Bourdanné had numerous opportunities to collaborate for the advancement of Francophone Christian publishing. Dr. Bourdanné participated in the Christian Publishers’ Forum organized by Dr. Ilboudo in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he delivered the closing address, encouraging Christian writers to use their pens as tools to build and beautify God’s Temple.

They also represented Francophone Africa at various events organized by Media Associates International (MAI) in the United States and contributed to the Africa Leadership Study (ALS) from 2012 to 2018, researching the challenges and opportunities of leadership within the African Church.

Their final encounter was in the United States in 2018, at the launching of Africa Speaks, an informal network uniting global publishing professionals with the goal of creating a sustainable and flourishing Christian publishing industry in Africa. In his keynote address at the first Africa Speaks meeting, The Call to ‘Contaminate’ Africa, Daniel Bourdanné pointed to clear and visible signs that the time has come for the Christian publishing industry in Africa to flourish. He also wrote The Resilient Christian Publishers of Africa, in which he highlights the difficult conditions facing African publishers, who therefore need to encourage each other.

“I thank God for Daniel’s life. He was a tremendous encouragement to me. When I started Contact Editions, beginning with the magazine, it was rare to find people who understood the vision, but he was one of those who not only understood but also supported, encouraged, and actively participated,” reflects Joanna Ilboudo.

One of His Final Pieces of Advice to Christian Publishers in Africa

Throughout his life, Dr. Bourdanné shared his experience and wisdom countless times, leaving many with valuable insights. One of his last pieces of advice, given during his final meeting with Gathuku Kibunga in July 2024 provides a fitting conclusion.

“We need to focus on a good editorial line. What do we want to do? What is the niche, the portion of market God calls us to serve? I can be producer of banana, but God may call me to be producer of apple. Why should I mix up? I will lose. If I am known as a good producer of banana, people will keep coming to buy the banana. […] Think carefully about your editorial line. What is your niche to serve? If you want to serve this kind of audience, stick with that and serve them faithfully. And don’t go left, right, up or down, you will not survive for a longer time,” advised Daniel Bourdanné.

The Africa Speaks Community joins the family, colleagues and friends to say, “Good night. We will meet on resurrection morning” to Daniel Bourdanné, a champion of Christian Publishing in Africa.

Article By Dr. Tim Welch

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for 13,000 pastors in French-speaking West Africa. Starting in August 2024, “Pastors Book Set” conferences will begin in West Africa.

This project aims to equip pastors with Christian books in French that are both beneficial to their ministries and doctrinally sound. The project was begun by the mission SIM (Serving In Mission) over forty years ago, with books in English for Christian workers in Ghana. The basic idea of the project is to provide pastors with a mini-library (usually around thirty books) at a modest price. This is the third time French-speaking Africa has benefited from this project, which was also carried out in 2001 and 2012.

In the past, SIM has organized similar projects in other parts of the world, providing Christian books in French, English, Spanish, Amharic and Hausa. Depending on the language, the books included in each project are chosen by pastors who will be served by the project in Africa, Asia or Latin America. In the case of the French-language books, a title has never been repeated from one project to the next.

This time, 13,000 pastors in seven countries will benefit from this project, namely pastors in Senegal, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Tchad and Cote d’Ivoire. Each participant will receive 36 books in all: eight printed books and 28 e-books, including 14 audiobooks. If you were to buy all these books in a bookstore, the cost would exceed 535,000 FCFA (880 USD). But each participant will pay only 35,000 to 40,000 FCFA (58 to 67 USD) to take part in this project. What’s more, each participant will attend a conference that will address themes of importance to the African church.

One of the special books included in this project is the French edition of the Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, a dictionary that has been translated especially for this project. This dictionary gives the meaning of Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible. Another special title is the second edition of the African Study Bible. This Bible emphasizes the African presence and participation in the biblical text. This project will mark the first time that this Bible is available to Christian leaders.

Please pray that the Lord will use this project to deepen the maturity of pastors and to transform His Church in French-speaking West Africa.