THE CRISIS OF DISCERNMENT IN AFRICA

Cultic groups are multiplying and growing throughout Africa. Indigenous sects and extremist charismatic groups are operating almost unchecked—and doing tremendous harm. Making matters worse, pastors are severely underinformed and underequipped for the task of discernment and defending their flocks.

Christians in Africa have almost nowhere to turn for help in defending their faith. The region has no single source or reference point on cults, aberrant Christian movements, and non-Christian religions. There's no credible Christian agency to provide reliable facts, balanced biblical assessments, or evangelistic strategies.

OUR RESPONSE TO THIS CHALLENGE

This situation must change—and it can. By God's grace, we're seeking to establish a permanent ministry in Africa to respond to the challenge of cults and aberrant Christian movements. The Africa Centre for Apologetics Research (ACFAR) will provide Christians with the resources and training they need to effectively defend their faith and reach out to the lost with the gospel.

ACFAR is a partnership between the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR) and Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST). ACFAR director John Divito will hold a chair of apologetics at KEST, where he will teach church leaders and conduct open seminars and conferences in the area of biblical discernment and cults. He will also develop standardized curriculum for teaching on cults and apologetics throughout the region.

ACFAR will serve as a resource and training base to equip Christians for discernment and the defense of their faith. Our commitments include creation of an online database for East African cults and aberrant Christian movements, including both scholarly and popular source materials. ACFAR will also conduct research, translation, publishing, and distribution of much-needed resources for Uganda, East Africa, and beyond. And for church leaders and Christian workers, ACFAR will produce a quarterly research bulletin to keep them well informed about cultic groups and trends.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

While we are eager to begin ministry as soon as possible, we still need supporters here in the United States who have a heart for our African brothers and sisters in Christ — who are asking us to supply them with the tools they need to be able to defend themselves from the teachings of the cults. Will you consider a monthly gift of $25 or a one-time gift of $100 to help get this crucial ministry established?

• See our donate page for more information.
• See our endorsement page for messages from pastors, professors and Christian leaders standing with us.