One of my dearest friends (now deceased) was a retired Special Forces officer who
served as a Green Beret in Vietnam a little later than this book is set. Likewise, the
author wore the Green Beret in the Dominican Republic’s civil war in 1965, and then
at Tra Bong in Vietnam, where served as advisor to a Combat Recon Platoon made
up mostly of Montagnard irregulars. The ‘Yards were tough, an ethnic minority in
South Vietnam, and willing to be led by Americans with some sense. That trait was
not always present in the officers commanding Barnes’ platoon.

Navy SEALS had built the camp, but it had been allowed to fall apart. Barnes’ job
was to turn it back into an effective camp. Duties included repairing and improving
the camp, hold a late-night guard shift, burn out the latrine and pour lye into the
urine tube, maintain the weapons. He was cross-trained (as are all Special Forces
teammates) and his second specialty was first aid. Wounds and disease were the
biggest health issues, as rats were endemic and flies were ubiquitous. He learned to
appreciate potable water, decent food, and clean socks.

The mountains and valleys of Tra Bong Sheer were part of an important infiltration
and supply route for the enemy. The Tet of 1966 began with a west win that smelled
of all the moisture and fecundity of Vietnam. When two of his fellow Green Beret
are killed in a recon mission, and their officer vanishes, a new desperation sets in.
You get very close in a small unit, and now they were at half strength with the loss of
their friends. Worse, they were not able to retrieve the bodies for some time.

On his first fire mission, Barnes learned that “ fear, discomfort, and uncertainty were
endemic to soldiering.” When on a separate mission, the Warrant Officer called in
the wrong coordinates, their team was devastated by friendly fire. Replacements
arrived, one motivated by avenging one of the earlier casualties who had been his
best friend. The author learned to “trust the jungle”, to be comfortable there. He
realized that he “was alive in a way (he) had never been before or would be again.”

He shares his experiences, warts and all, in a compelling book designed to help
those with no combat experiences to get a sense of what our armed forces live. We’ll
talk t H. Lee Barnes, professor of English at the College of Southern Nevada, about
his recent book, “When We Walked Above the Clouds: a memoir of Vietnam” from
the University of Nebraska Press, this Sunday ON THE BOOKSHELF on WTBF-AM/
FM. It’s our Veteran’s Weekend special show, and I hope you join us.

Continuing this fascinating devotional series, AMG looks to the experiences of the
men and women of the Vietnam War. The author was one of those brave warriors
who made it home. His devotional book is designed to show the role of faith in the
Vietnam War. Some young soldiers and Marines brought a deep spiritual connection
to the war, while others lost their faith for a time because of combat experiences.
(He was one of those who left as a religious skeptic, but came to trust Jesus.)

Each month begins with a short chapter explaining different phases of the war, and
Larkin Spivey hopes to convince every veteran that “this was a war the United States
needed to fight”. It was an important part of the Cold War that we eventually won,
defeating a brutal and oppressive system of government. Our active opposition
to Communist expansion in Europe and Asia dates back to 1947. US interest in
Indochina began in the mid-1950’s as North Vietnam aggressively pursued so-called
land reform and began incursions into South Vietnam. First we sent advisors (1961)
then soldiers (1963) then involvement escalated dramatically in 1965.

Vietnam became a proxy war between communists and the free world, as Chinese
and Russian troops and equipment roared in, and forces from Great Britain,
Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines joined the US. Operations
gradually increased in size and scope. The Viet Cong were being beaten, and the
North Vietnamese waded in to help. The Tet Offensive in 1967 was a military
catastrophe for the Communists, but the perception back home in America was
vastly different. The war became a political struggle back home as we were
defeating the communists in country.

Each day has a story of someone who touched other lives with courage, compassion,
and resolve. Even in the midst of death and destruction, the Hand of God was clearly
felt. In some cases, it was a mysterious soldier who took someone’s place on a
helicopter which later crashed, or of a young person back home wearing a POW
bracelet, the need to forgive the enemy, the miraculous deliverance from certain
death, the kindness of burial details and rescue pilots, and the healing power of the
Vietnam Memorial with its careful listing of the names of those who died there.

The stories are powerful, not always happy, but cause you to wonder about eternity.
Even those who came home from combat will eventually die, as did many of their
young comrades-in-arms in the field. So will we. What insight can we gain from
those who faced death on a daily basis, and what lessons can they teach those of us

who never saw combat? I’m planning on giving copies of this devotional to friends
who did serve in Vietnam. But the question is still before each of us: what does
eternity hold for you? Larkin Spivey has found the answer in the Bible.

Veteran’s Day is observed every November 11 at 11 AM, remembering the armistice
that ceased hostilities of what was called “The Great War.” After the carnage of WWII,
we tend to forget what an enormously destructive conflict occurred from 1914-1918.
This comprehensive look at world War I explores the role of the USA in the war; drafting
and training an instant army; building morale and maintain morals in the military; the
experiences of minorities and women in the US military; combat experiences; the physical
and emotional cost of warfare; and the situations faced by the doughboys’ return home.

America entered the war three years after it started, but we were not idle from 1914-
1917. Frequent armed conflicts over the Mexican border kept US soldiers near and
eventually inside Mexico. Our industry provided much of the war materiel for the Allies
(and occasionally the other side), and our banks extended commercial credit to the lies
of almost $10 million per day! This moved us from a debtor nation to a creditor nation.
President Wilson was constantly blasting the Germans for their unrestricted submarine
warfare, while Irish-Americans were appalled at the ruthless oppression by the Brits of
the Irish “Easter Rebellion”. America immediately implemented a wartime draft to prevent
volunteers leaving essential occupations, and to avoid eager volunteers raising their own
units (as TR wanted to do.)

Once we got in the “War to End All Wars”, it was a total commitment. “Nearly 15% of the
American male population served in the military and over one million saw combat along
the Western Front.” Nineteen months elapsed between the time we entered the war and
we helped win it. We raised an army of over 4 million men, transported half of them to
France, and commanded a field army of 1.2 million in major offensives across the Western
front. However, our lack of long-term planning resulted in disorganization behind the
lines, constant leadership changes, and high casualty rates. White Americans struggled
with the changing role of African-Americans and their acceptance in French society, while
women volunteered in large number as nurses, ambulance drivers, and clerical workers.
Propaganda posters and patriotic songs kept the fervor alive.

Increasing sophistication of new tactics and technology, coupled with American brawn
(especially after three grueling and gruesome years of turning the young men of Europe
into corpses) brought the victory. The development of airplanes, machine guns, artillery
and chemical weaponry dramatically changed the face of modern warfare. Americans
were able to avoid the filth and misery of trench warfare largely due to the insistence of
American Expeditionary Forces Commander, General John “Black Jack” Pershing. Peace
came at enormous cost: over 53,000 American soldiers were KIA, more than 200,000 were
wounded. The other major combatant nations experienced much higher rates, since they
were at war three more years. France lost 1.3 million men; Britain lost 900,000, Germany
1.6 million and Russia nearly 1.7 million. This does not count civilian casualties (almost
a million Germans starved to death). Coupled with a global pandemic in 1918-1919 of
influenza that killed millions more, 1914-1919 was the deadliest five years in human

history.

Sadly the peace would be only temporary, a twenty-year respite, which disillusioned many.
But WWII would even surpass the carnage and destruction of its predecessor.

It’s National Bible Week, and here is a new English translation that involved 120 biblical scholars from 24 denominations in America, African, Asian, European, and Latino communities. They translated the Bible into English directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. More than 500 readers in 77 groups field-tested the translation. Every verse was read aloud in the reading groups, where potentially confusing passages were identified. More than 700 people worked jointly th bring the Common English Bible to fruition, and thanks to modern technology it was completed in less than four years.

The Common English Bible is sponsored by the Common English Bible Committee, an alliance of five publishers that serve the general market, as well as Chalice Press (of the Disciples of Christ), Westminster John Knox Press Of the Presbyterian Church USA), Church Publishing, Inc. (of the Episcopal Church)., The Pilgrim Press( from the United Church of Christ) ,and Abingdon Press (from the United Methodist Church.)

Supplemental publications include a beautiful large printed atlas from National Geographic ; printed Bible dictionary this month,; Daily Companion Bible in December; and in 2012, a Reference Bible (print form), Church/pew Bibles plus Gift & Award Bibles, and a children’s Bible in print form. I was sent a copy of the Thinline Bible to review, but the CEB is available in a wife variety of print and digital formats!

Here is one of the more familiar Bible passages from the new CEB : the 23rd Psalm–

“The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff—they protect me. You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! Yes, goodness and faithful love with pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the LORD’s house as long as I live.”

We talk to associate publisher, Dr. Paul Franklyn, this Sunday ON THE BOOKSHELF on WTBF-AM/FM about the new Common English Bible, a special show for National Bible Week.

What does it mean to be a Christian? What does the Bible teach us about faith, redemption, forgiveness, and righteous living? Are there REALLY many paths to God, or is Jesus “the Way, the Truth and the Life” and the only way to get to Heaven?

The son of popular apologist, speaker and author, Sean McDowell is a popular speaker and author in his own right, and like his famous dad he lectures on the historicity of the Christian faith and the critical importance of following Jesus. He is the general editor of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, and has written for a number of magazines as well as authoring or co-authoring 12 other books

GodQuest is Sean’s most comprehensive project so far. The series include church materials, a DVD curriculum, a novel and this book, which explores the powerful truths and evidences for Christianity. It is co-authored with Stan Jantz, co-creator of the “Stan and Bruce Look at…” series for teen readers, as well as authoring numerous books by himself.

The “quest” is a “search for something of great value, and going on a quest means embarking on an adventure in pursuit of that treasure. A quest also connects you with the people who are in pursuit of the same treasure.” People don’t go on epic adventures for trivial things, but for noble causes, fame and fortune. The power that we seek is a “connection to something that seems unattainable because it offers the promise of an extraordinary life of harmony and peace. It’s a longing that God has put in our hearts.” It is a goal that is only reached by following God.

McDowell and Jantz state that there are six “signposts” to help you discover the truth by yourself. There is the search for something bigger and better than the ordinary things of your life. There is the Beginning of the world, because what you believe about creation determines how you view yourself and life. (Are we accidents or lovingly created?) There is The Word, because what you believe about the Bible determines how you live your life. (Is it truly inspired by God or just an old book?) The Question: what you believe about God’s goodness defines your relationship with Him. (Does He want us to be His children, or is He far away and unconcerned?) The King: what you believe about Jesus’ identity determines your path in life. (Is Jesus really the only Son of God, or just a great prophet?) The Path you follow determines your destination. (Is there anything after death, like Heaven? How do we get there? How do we live in the meantime?)

This is a very practical book that presents the facts and gives you the option: to follow or not? We’ll talk to Sean McDowell this Sunday ON THE BOOKSHELF on WTBF-AM/FM about his new GodQuest book and series from Outreach, Inc.

This marvelous book of poems celebrates the amazing diversity of Lain American music and culture.
The region is a mixture of the indigenous tribes, the Europeans who came to conquer (Spanish and
Portuguese, primarily), and the slaves they brought from Africa. These three streams merged from
three different continents into a new and unique culture. This is reflected in the amazing music,
which varies from nation to nation. I love it all!

**
“ Around the World” by Matt Phelan (Candlewick Press)

In graphic novel form, we meet three world travelers inspired by the fictional account of Phileas Fogg
in Jules Verne’s rollicking adventure, Around the World in Eighty Days. They are Thomas Stevens,
who rode one of the new fangled Columbia high-wheeler bicycles across the USA in 1884. The owner
of the bicycle company hires him to write about riding a bicycle around the world! In 1889, Nellie
Bly a New York World reporter, traveled around the world writing. She made it n 72 days. In 1895,
Joshua Slocum sailed solo around the world in a boat, which was 36 feet and 9 inches long. He was
beset with hallucinations but succeeded. 14 years later he left in the same boat and was never seen
again.

**
“May I Have the First Dance?” written by Sonja Paschal Linsley, illustrated by Paul Linsley (Higher
Ground Press LLC)

This is the sweetest book! A daddy dances with his little girl time and again. First time it is when she
is a newborn, then a toddler, later when she is headed for her first day of school, and when her soccer
season starts. Later when she has her first slumber party, when she breaks her leg and is in a cast,
when they paint her room pink, when his first date came to pick her up, and when he escorted her
down the aisle at her wedding. Soon, he was dancing with his new granddaughter, and remembering
that his daughter grew up too fast.

**
“Hugo the Happy Starfish Wants to be Different” written and illustrated by Suzy Liebermann
(Happy Language Kids LLC)

Spanish and Character Education for Kids wrapped up in a bright and colorful book about accepting
yourself just as you are. You learn some espanol, and you get a good life lesson, too. Very cool!

**
The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub” story & pictures by Jan & Mike Berenstain (Zonderkids
I Can Read! Beginning Reading, a division of Zondervan Publishing House)

The wonderful work of the Berenstain Bears continues! The Good Deed Scout have found a lost cub
and are looking everywhere for his parents. They have also been able to cheer him up.

Book Bit for WTBF-AM/FM in Troy, Ala. For Nov. 2, 2011

Children’s Books today: history, science and literature!

“The Civil War: A Hands-On History Book” written by Douglas Rife and Gina Capaldi,
illustrated by Dennis Lyall (Published by innovativeKids, a division of innovation USA, Inc.)

150 years ago, American went to war with itself.

**

“Super Science: Feel the Force!” by Tom Adams, illustrated by Thomas Flintham (Templar
Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press)

**

“Charles Dickens, England’s Most Captivating Storyteller” written by Catherine Wells-Cole,
including extractions from the works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated Templar Books, an
imprint of Candlewick Press)

**

“Big Book of History: 1 15-foot fold-out time-line from Creation to Modern Computers”
contributing editors: Laura Welch, Bodie Hodge, and Ken Ham (Master Books, a division of
New Leaf Publishing Group)

This marvelous book of poems celebrates the amazing diversity of Lain American music and culture.
The region is a mixture of the indigenous tribes, the Europeans who came to conquer (Spanish and
Portuguese, primarily), and the slaves they brought from Africa. These three streams merged from
three different continents into a new and unique culture. This is reflected in the amazing music,
which varies from nation to nation. I love it all!

**
“ Around the World” by Matt Phelan (Candlewick Press)

In graphic novel form, we meet three world travelers inspired by the fictional account of Phileas Fogg
in Jules Verne’s rollicking adventure, Around the World in Eighty Days. They are Thomas Stevens,
who rode one of the new fangled Columbia high-wheeler bicycles across the USA in 1884. The owner
of the bicycle company hires him to write about riding a bicycle around the world! In 1889, Nellie
Bly a New York World reporter, traveled around the world writing. She made it n 72 days. In 1895,
Joshua Slocum sailed solo around the world in a boat, which was 36 feet and 9 inches long. He was
beset with hallucinations but succeeded. 14 years later he left in the same boat and was never seen
again.

**
“May I Have the First Dance?” written by Sonja Paschal Linsley, illustrated by Paul Linsley (Higher
Ground Press LLC)

This is the sweetest book! A daddy dances with his little girl time and again. First time it is when she
is a newborn, then a toddler, later when she is headed for her first day of school, and when her soccer
season starts. Later when she has her first slumber party, when she breaks her leg and is in a cast,
when they paint her room pink, when his first date came to pick her up, and when he escorted her
down the aisle at her wedding. Soon, he was dancing with his new granddaughter, and remembering
that his daughter grew up too fast.

**
“Hugo the Happy Starfish Wants to be Different” written and illustrated by Suzy Liebermann
(Happy Language Kids LLC)

Spanish and Character Education for Kids wrapped up in a bright and colorful book about accepting
yourself just as you are. You learn some espanol, and you get a good life lesson, too. Very cool!

**

“Super Science: Feel the Force!” by Tom Adams, illustrated by Thomas Flintham (Templar
Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press)

What a cool book which happens to be full of “pop-up physics fun” for ages 7 to 11. The
book is full of wild illustrations, and contains several simple experiments to try at home,
under parental supervision. Your kids can learn about friction, electricity, Magnetism, light,
sound, pressure, floating, and force. They’ll have fun while learning!

**
“The Civil War: A Hands-On History Book” written by Douglas Rife and Gina Capaldi,
illustrated by Dennis Lyall (Published by innovativeKids, a division of innovation USA, Inc.
150 years ago, American went to war with itself. This new style of history book for young
readers can help them get a real feel for what caused the North and the South to come
to blows. Loaded with illustrations, and with a reproduction of actual letters on every
other page, you get an inside look at life in the army and navy of both sides. The book also
investigates the role that slavery played in causing and exacerbating the war. It has short
stories on individual heroes, major battles and tipping points, some of the many inventions,
spies, hospitals, POWs, and the terrible price of the war.

**

“Charles Dickens, England’s Most Captivating Storyteller” written by Catherine Wells-Cole,
including extractions from the works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated Templar Books, an
imprint of Candlewick Press)

It’s another gorgeous book celebrating one of the world’s great innovators. Charles Dickens
came from an uncertain beginning to become the most famous writer of the Victorian Age.
He drew upon his own life, including early poverty, to explore the themes of Victorian
family values, He started as a journalist, and when he progressed from short stories
to novels, he embraced serialization of his works. He often worked on several novels
simultaneously. Dickens addressed many of the social issues of the day, such as childhood
poverty, orphans, child neglect and abuse, workhouses, the result of industrialization and
technological advances. He loved Christmas, and his most beloved works are set in the
season of good cheer.

**

“Big Book of History: 1 15-foot fold-out time-line from Creation to Modern Computers”
contributing editors: Laura Welch (editor-in-chief at New Leaf Publishing Group), Bodie
Hodge, and Ken Ham (from Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group)

A big beautiful book helps students age 7 10 12 to see the chronological relationship
of events from the time of Creation to the Age of Computers. Unfold 15 feet of the most
interesting history of the world. You can place the birthdates of famous people throughout
history, wars and wonders of the ancient and modern worlds, and the inventions and
innovations that have occurred through the centuries. Multiple color-coded time streams
show a comprehensive picture of history.

**
The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub” story & pictures by Jan & Mike
Berenstain (Zonderkids I Can Read! Beginning Reading, a division of Zondervan Publishing
House)

The wonderful work of the Berenstain Bears continues! The Good Deed Scout have found
a lost cub and are looking everywhere for his mom. They go all over town to reunite the
family, just like Jesus searched for the lost sheep.
The books are designed to help young readers gain confidence and skill.

Oct. 12, 1492, Columbus found a New World. When we were observing the 500th
anniversary of the voyage of Columbus to the New World, the great explorer got blamed for
everything from genocide to ingrown toenails. Almost 20 years later, new evidence makes
the case that Christopher Columbus took his first name (“Christ-bearer”) very seriously.
In fact, his whole motivation for sailing east toward Cathay was apparently to get enough
riches to mount an army to reconquer Jerusalem and therefore pave the way for the Second
Coming of Christ!

Columbus was an experienced and accomplished sailor and navigator. After his wife died,
he was left to raise his four-year-old son Diego. Traveling from one nation to another,
looking for the backing for the voyage he planned, Columbus fell in love again. This
relationship led to a common-law marriage and a second son, Ferdinand. The captain
worked for years trying to convince one sovereign after another to fund the expedition. (He
talked to Queen Isabella for the first time in 1485!) When Spain expelled the Moors and the
Jews by 1492, she was ready to commit the funds for his grand vision.

Although no sailor thought the world was flat anymore, there were some interesting beliefs
about the size of the world, the amount of water on the globe, the monstrous appearance
of people to be found and the type of vegetation as one traveled further south. What
Columbus found, with his three little ships, was indeed a new world, one more amazing than
anything he could have imagined.

Columbus was a lot more culturally sensitive than modern scholars would credit him. He
was very impressed with the natives he met, treated them well, and demanded that his men
do the same. They were not to enslave, rape or kill them, but to show respect. He left for
Spain with some gold and six Indian volunteers to meet the royal couple. After returning
to his settlement in Hispaniola he found the Spaniards slaughtered and the buildings a
smoking ruin. He figured they had broken his rules, and that was the case, so the Indians
retaliated. Columbus considered them a good people and did not hold them responsible for
the attack.

The Admiral of the Ocean Seas turned out to be a great sailor but a mediocre governor.
He was trusting almost to the point of being naïve, and the Spaniards didn’t all want to
treat the Indians well. That’s why, after a minor rebellion, a Knight Commander arrested
Columbus! The people in the Caribbean enslaved each other before the Spanish ever
showed up. Columbus realized that he discovered a whole continent after finding what is
now Venezuela. He was amazed to find pale-skinned people as well as those with bronze
skin.

A fourth voyage was less successful, and Columbus returned to find his great benefactor,
Queen Isabella, had died. Her husband, the King, reneged on their promises and titles.
Columbus mostly wanted the mutineers from previous voyages to be punished. He died

in 1506 considering himself a failure, but his vision and perseverance gave Europe a New
World. This book seeks to set his record straight.

Bill Scott is a guy like most of us. He’s Christian, believes the Bible, and understands
that there are invisible demons that seek our destruction. But Bill never took them very
seriously until the day in 1988 that he was working his mid-day shift as a DJ at a Christian
radio station and he got a most terrifying call.

An utterly terrified woman who called herself “Lacey” was begging for help. She claimed to
be a member of a modern-day “coven”, a group of witches, who used her to breed babies for
terrible purposes, including satanic rituals. She pleaded for help in escaping, but suddenly
she would be interrupted with the hideous non-human voice of what could only be a demon,
insisting that “Lacey” could not be saved from her fate. He would kill her when he was
finished using her for his own purposes.

Bill and his boss Rick were stunned. More was to come, as a woman named Roxanne
showed up at the station. She claimed to be possessed by demons, claimed to be a member
of the coven, and claimed that “Lacey” was not a real human at all but a “familiar spirit”
inhabiting her. Bill was determined to save Roxanne from the demons that possessed her, so
impulsively he invited her to stay at his house for a while.

His wife was furious, but tried to make Roxanne comfortable. Soon they could hear growls
and voices shouting in the room down the hall. Roxanne told him later that one of her
missions for Satan was to break up Christian marriages. Bill and his wife got Roxanne into
a home where she would grow in faith of Jesus and be able to command the demons leave.
But they discovered that things he had left in their house were an open door to demons, and
they were involved in spiritual warfare until the demon was expelled. Bill discovers a black
address book in her car and it turns out the addresses are all Christians who have tried to
help her, and into whose homes she has brought demons! Their battle continued for 18
months.

The story did not end quickly. In 2009, Bill and Janet Scott heard from Roxanne, and she
had finally given herself to the Lord and been freed for the demons who possessed and
tormented her for so long. Bill shares ten lessons he learned from the experience.

Pray for Salvation. Trust in the Power of God for Deliverance in life. Protect your home from
satanic activity. Don’t assume problematic or even bizarre behavior is a result of satanic
activity. However, recognize that satanic activity is real. Fight boldly using the armor of God.
Break any and all agreements with Satan. Deal with the pain of your past. Know the Word of
God. Find a local church.

Remember, Satan is real. But he cannot defeat Jesus. He already tried at Calvary but lost. He
is a defeated foe. Never forget.

This book came out a year ago, but as I was preparing for a musical mission trip
to South Africa, I got it back out for insight as I prepared devotionals for the team.
Since its publication, Dr. Oden has released other books regarding Africa and the
development of Christian though, but this addressed the totality of African influence
on the faith, so I wanted to revisit it with you.

The continent of Africa is one of the places in the world (all outside of the Western
world) where the Christian faith is exploding. There may soon be almost half a
billion Christians in Africa, 46% of everyone on the continent. But it is not the first
time that Africa was a centerpiece of the Christian world. Prior to the expansion
is Islam in the 7th century, North Africa from Egypt to Morocco was Christian. And
some of the most significant theologians of the early church came from Africa! The
continent “played a decisive role in the formation of Christian culture. Decisive
intellectual achievements of Christianity were explored and understood first in
Africa before they were recognized in Europe, and a millennium before they found
their way to North America.”

Alexandria was one of the world’s three greatest cities of the ancient world.
Nilotic and Numidian cultures are the epicenter for the pre-European history of
Christianity. The two great rivers of north Africa: the Medjerda stretches east from
Timgad to Carthage for 290 miles, while the Nile stretches south to north 4160
miles from Uganda to Sudan and Egypt. There are an abundance of ancient Christian
pilgrimage sites in Africa, too.

What seven ways did Africa shape the Christian mind? The birth of the European
university was anticipated within African Christianity. Christian historical and
spiritual exegesis of Scripture matured in Africa. African thinkers like Tertullian,
Cyril, Cyprian, Athanasius, Origen and Augustine shaped some of the very core of
the most basic early Christian dogma. Early ecumenical decisions followed African
conciliar patterns. Africa shaped Western forms of spiritual formation through
monastic discipline. Neoplatonic philosophy of late antiquity moved from Africa to
Europe. Influential literary and dialectical skills were refined in Africa.

“Early African Christianity has added incalculable value to the Western intellectual
tradition. The study of early African Christianity does not resolve all the problems
of modern African Christian identity, but it goes a long way toward overcoming the
vague sense that African Christianity has to depend largely on oral tradition alone
for what it truly African in its Christian identity. It adds value to African religious

communities by helping to restore the confidence of Africans in their own early
African intellectual tradition.” It’s time to give Africa credit for their significant
contribution to Christian heritage and doctrine.