The Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church (AEPC) is a growing conservative
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their n ...
and
Reformed Church
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Cal ...
which adheres to the
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" o ...
started in
Kenya
)
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, later spread to the surrounding countries like
Burundi
Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Gr ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
,
Congo and as far as
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...
. The headquarters of the church is located in Nairobi, Kenya. The current Moderator is Rev. Dr Joseph Mutei (from June 2022) installed on Sunday 26th June 2022
History
Formation
Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church was founded by the World Presbyterian Mission (now the
Mission to the World
Mission to the World (MTW) is the mission-sending agency for the Presbyterian Church in America. This evangelical Christian organization believes in advancing the Great Commission by promoting Reformed and covenantal church planting movements u ...
) of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church (1961).
In 1946 Rev. and Mrs. Sanders Campbell and other missionaries sent by the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions (IBPFM) came to Kenya settled in
Mulango,
Kitui District
Kitui County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Kitui, although Mwingi is also another major urban centre. The county has a population of 1,136,187 (2019 census). and an area of 30,430 km2 ...
. The missionaries were invited to the country by the
Africa Inland Mission
Established in 1895, Africa Inland Mission (AIM) is a Christian mission sending agency focused on Africa. Their stated mission is to see "Christ-centered churches established among all African peoples." AIM established the Kapsowar Hospital in 19 ...
. The missionaries established a mission station here. In 1948 Rev. Campbell begun preaching at the market place in Mwingi. In 1951 other missionaries came, a couple Rev. and Mrs. John G. Ames. Through converts several churches were planted in Tyaa-Kamuthale and Kakuyu, Thaana. Later the Mwingi station built church building, Bible school, water catchment system. A presbytery was formed, that included 12 congregations in Mwingi, Kakuya, Ngui, Ngomeni, Itundua, Gai and Tyaa-Kamuthale. In 1949, after a conflict with the district authorities, the Mwingi mission was forced to vacate the plot allocated to them. It moved to a temporary location at Makindu on Nairobi-Mombasa road. After appealing to London colonial office the mission won back its plot in Mwingi and returned to it in 1952.
Separation and consolidation
In 1956 the
Bible Presbyterian Church
The Bible Presbyterian Church is an American Protestant denomination in the Calvinist tradition.
History
Origin
The Bible Presbyterian Church was formed in 1937, predominantly through the efforts of such conservative Presbyterian clergymen as ...
had split and this also affected the missionaries in
Kenya
)
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, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
. This section was the minority group, the majority become the
Independent Presbyterian Church in Kenya The Independent Presbyterian Church in Kenya was started in 1948 by missionaries of the Bible Presbyterian Church from the (United States). In 1962 a split occurred in the Bible Presbyterian Church, and in Africa the missionaries divided, the minori ...
. Missionaries Jack Armes and Sandy and Grace Campbell joined World Presbyterian Mission. Their Kenyan pastors moved with them willingly. This was the formation of the AEPC in 1962.
For long time the church concentrated in one area in Mwingi presbytery, and remained in one ethnic community. The denomination begun to plant churches in
Nairobi
Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ...
and in Urban Kenyan towns. In 1973 the Community Presbyterian Church was founded and later church planting continued. Rev. Campbell went to plant a church in Nairobi.
In 1986 Growth and Expansion Committee was formed and in the 1980s the church expanded rapidly. The Beyond Mwingi Mission started dozens of mission churches in
Nairobi
Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ...
,
Kiambu
Kiambu is a town in Kiambu County, Kenya within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region. It is from the capital Nairobi. It has an population of 147,870. It is the capital of the Kiambu County, which bounds the northern border of Nairobi. Other proxi ...
,
Meru
Meru may refer to:
Geography Kenya
* Meru, Kenya, a city in Meru County, Kenya
** Meru County, created by the merger of
*** Meru Central District
*** Meru North District
*** Meru South District
* Meru National Park, a Kenyan wildlife park
Tanz ...
,
Embu
Embu may refer to:
Places
; in Brazil
* Embu das Artes
* Embu-Guaçu
; in Kenya
* Embu, Kenya
* Embu County
Other
*Embu people of Kenya
*Embu language
Embu, also known as Kîembu, is a Bantu language of Kenya. It is spoken by the Embu peopl ...
and Nakuru.
The church become self-autonomous and self-governing and self-propagating in 1998, the
US missionaries left.
This was a difficult time in the history of the denomination. While being cut loose from the Mission, was a major blow for the denomination. The local pastors become responsibility for the church, without any assists from outside.
Rev. James S. Park, a PCA missionary, came from USA to the country in 1987 and worked hard on outreach evangelism until 1997. The Imani Church, Tumaini Church and Upendo Church were planted under his leadership. A theological institution known as Grace Bible College also was set up in Nakuru the same year with his assistance and expanded with the help of a missionary named Rev. Kwang-Ho Chung who came from Korea. He is still actively teaching at Grace Bible College and working in AEPC. They both sparked a fire to the AEPC toward evangelism in Kenya and mission in the neighboring countries.
In 1990 AEPC sent Rev. Daniel Mathuva, Rev. Richard Kimanzi and Rev. David Kimathi to evangelise in Meru, Mombasa and Embu. In 1996 the denomination was able to create 2 Presbyteries, Mwingi and Central Presbytery. This led to the formation of the General Assembly.
The Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church has also close relations with the
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is a confessional Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States, with additional congregations in Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyter ...
(United States). The denomination had 56 congregations and 10,000 members in the early 2000s.
The Grace Bible College in
Nakuru
Nakuru is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It is the capital of Nakuru County, and was formerly the capital of Rift Valley Province. As of 2019, Nakuru had an urban and rural population of 570,674 inhabitants, making it the largest ...
exist to train pastors and the other training location is Trinity Bible Institute in
Muruu.
Development
The church grew to 5 Presbyteries in 2010. Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church got connected to
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...
which became another Presbytery in 2011. In the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
, four churches requested to form a Presbytery and register the denomination in the Republic of Congo, and buy a plot for the mother denomination. The General Assembly visited these congregations in October 2011.
The church also sent missionaries to
Meru
Meru may refer to:
Geography Kenya
* Meru, Kenya, a city in Meru County, Kenya
** Meru County, created by the merger of
*** Meru Central District
*** Meru North District
*** Meru South District
* Meru National Park, a Kenyan wildlife park
Tanz ...
,
Mombasa
Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town ...
, and
Embu
Embu may refer to:
Places
; in Brazil
* Embu das Artes
* Embu-Guaçu
; in Kenya
* Embu, Kenya
* Embu County
Other
*Embu people of Kenya
*Embu language
Embu, also known as Kîembu, is a Bantu language of Kenya. It is spoken by the Embu peopl ...
in Kenya.
Recent history
In April 2012 the Church celebrated its 50th anniversary. A national headquarters was started to be built in Kenya on land donated by the Community Presbyterian Church in
Madaraka District and the construction offerings of 200,000 Kenya shillings donated by Rev. James S. Park in 1997.
Today AEPC has grown to 105 churches and six
Presbyteries. No longer restricted to Mwingi District, Africa Evangelical Presbyterian congregations can be found from
Mombasa
Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town ...
on the
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by ...
to Nakuru in the
Rift Valley
A rift valley is a linear shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift. Rifts are formed as a result of the pulling apart of the lithosphere due to extensional tectonics. The linear d ...
. Thirteen churches in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
and
Burundi
Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Gr ...
associated themselves with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and several churches were started in
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
and the
Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council ...
Presbytery with three churches were created in
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...
.
The English
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus ...
was translated into two of the major languages in Kenya,
Swahili and
Kikamba
Kamba, or Kikamba, is a Bantu language spoken by millions of Kamba people, primarily in Kenya, as well as thousands of people in Uganda, Tanzania, and elsewhere. In Kenya, Kamba is generally spoken in four counties: Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, ...
.
Several church starts were established for example in
Ruaka, Kenya and
Kibera
Kibera (Kinubi: ''Forest'' or ''Jungle'') is a division of Nairobi Area, Kenya, and neighbourhood of the city of Nairobi, from the city centre. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, and the largest urban slum in Africa.http://www.dominionp ...
, Kenya.
Theology and doctrine
Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a conservative
Reformed church, which subscribes to the historic
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their n ...
government and confessions like:
Creeds
*
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed ( Latin: ''Symbolum Apostolorum'' or ''Symbolum Apostolicum''), sometimes titled the Apostolic Creed or the Symbol of the Apostles, is a Christian creed or "symbol of faith".
The creed most likely originated in 5th-century ...
Confessions
*
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" o ...
(1647)
*
Westminster Shorter Catechism
The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a catechism written in 1646 and 1647 by the Westminster Assembly, a synod of English and Scottish theologians and laymen intended to bring the Church of England into greater conformity with the Church of Sco ...
*
Westminster Larger Catechism
Seminary and education
There are 3 affiliated educational institutes, these are :
* Grace Bible College in
Nakuru
Nakuru is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It is the capital of Nakuru County, and was formerly the capital of Rift Valley Province. As of 2019, Nakuru had an urban and rural population of 570,674 inhabitants, making it the largest ...
, Kenya - this institution is for students came from West and Central Kenya.
* Trinity Bible Institute - this institution is for students came from Nairobi and South Kenya.
* Covenant College of Theological Studies and Leadership - this institution is for all students especially those from East Kenya; started with the help of Rev. John Barber, a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America.
The church has a
medical center, the Tel Wa Yesu Hospital, and runs several
primary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...
s.
Church government
The Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church has a Presbyterian church government, with the
Session,
Presbyteries and the highest court is the
General Assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of pres ...
.
Interchurch relations
The Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a denominational member of the
World Reformed Fellowship which is a theologically orthodox organisation in which Reformed, Presbyterian, Reformed Baptist, and Reformed Anglican denominations can participate.
The WRF subscribes the Westminster Confession, the Gallican Confession, the 39 articles, the
Heidelberg Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563), one of the Three Forms of Unity, is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Calvinist Christian doctrine. It was published in 1563 in Heidelberg ...
, the
Belgic Confession
The ''Confession of Faith'', popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a doctrinal standard document to which many of the Reformed churches subscribe. The Confession forms part of the Three Forms of Unity of the Reformed Church, which are still ...
,
Savoy Declaration,
Second London Baptist Confession of Faith and the
Second Helvetic Confession
The Helvetic Confessions are two documents expressing the common belief of the Calvinist churches of Switzerland.
History
The First Helvetic Confession ( la, Confessio Helvetica prior), known also as the Second Confession of Basel, was drawn up in ...
of Faith.
The church has relationship with the
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is a confessional Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States, with additional congregations in Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyter ...
and the
Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)
The Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) is an Evangelical Presbyterian denomination, which is the biggest Christian church in South Korea. The headquarters of the church is in Seoul, South Korea.
History
In 1959 at the 44th General Assembly ...
as well as the
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is the second-largest Presbyterian church body, behind the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the largest conservative Calvinist denomination in the United States. The PCA is Reformed in theology and presb ...
, through
Mission to the World
Mission to the World (MTW) is the mission-sending agency for the Presbyterian Church in America. This evangelical Christian organization believes in advancing the Great Commission by promoting Reformed and covenantal church planting movements u ...
. Two AEPC representatives were present in the
PCA 40th
General Assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of pres ...
in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
one of them is the current moderator of the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
The
Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) (Dutch: Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (vrijgemaakt)) are an orthodox Calvinist federation of churches. This church body arose in 1944 out of the so-called Liberation (') from the Reformed ...
financially supports the Trinity Bible Institute.
References
External links
Joy Reformed Presbyterian ChurchImani Church of AEPC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian denominations in Africa
Protestantism in Kenya
Churches in Kenya
Members of the World Reformed Fellowship
Christian organizations established in 1962
1962 establishments in Kenya
Protestant denominations