Abstract
Afrane-Twum is a Ghanaian who arrived in the UK in 2005 to study, having already planted churches in three West African countries. This book is the fruit of that study and his experience as a church leader in England.
Christian Mission in a Diverse British Context is based on Afrane-Twum’s doctoral dissertation from North-West University, South Africa. Convinced that “mono-cultural churches” cannot effectively evangelize a multi-cultural context, he seeks to explore how a model of partnership might be developed.
As a foundation for his research, he maps the pattern of UK immigration since World War 2 and follows this with a theological analysis of “immigrant African churches” in the UK. The heart of his work is four case studies of individual churches from different denominations, located in multi-cultural urban contexts.
Afrane-Twum concludes that while “mono-cultural churches” do not fully embody the inclusiveness of the New Testament’s vision of the body of Christ, they have provided a vital function for immigrant communities. They have been a place of refuge, support, and cultural identity. But as significant as this has been, he believes an alignment with the missio Dei requires more. He therefore envisages a kind of intercultural ecumenism, rooted in the missio Dei, that builds a theological unity in cultural diversity that expresses itself in evangelism.
This is an important book if, at times, a frustrating one. It is important because of what it witnesses to, the wrestling of an experienced and insightful leader from among the “immigrant African churches” with the missional challenges of contextualizing the Gospel in contemporary Britain. The “existential challenge” for second and third generation migrants is illustrative of this. British-born, and socialized into contemporary British culture, are they only to been seen as the future of “immigrant African” congregations? Or, rather, as a bridge generation to inform and enable a more inclusive outreach? But then, should they still carry a “migrant” tag at all? They could be lost to the faith altogether.
The wrestling is also witnessed to as Afrane-Twum’s main concerns are revisited frequently, often with slightly different slants and sometimes in ways that contradict what has gone before. But such is the nature of grappling with a subject, especially following the structure of a dissertation. It does not make for an easy read. Ultimately, though, the book is worth it for the clarity of his final eight pages and a vision for the cross-cultural mission that is required to reach multi-cultural Britain for Jesus.