Africana Manna

K.A. Ellis joins Co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr. and Noelle Shaw to discuss global Christianity and the church on the margins with a focus on persecuted Africans both on the continent and here in the Americas. They discuss aunties and church mothers, how we grow as Christians, revivals in Africa, the courage of Africans in the Caribbean, and much more! Are you wondering what it means to follow Jesus while being on the margins of society? What it looks like to grow spiritually in environments openly hostile to Christianity? Tune in!

Prof. K.A. Ellis is the Director of the Edmiston Center in partnership with Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Atlanta. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Theological Ethics and Spiritual Formation at the Oxford Center for Mission Studies in Oxford, England. She is passionate about theology, human rights, and global religious freedom.

01:24 Intro of Prof. Ellis
05:30 Intro of the African Moravians
07:55 Spiritual Formation Around the Globe
11:13 Pictures of Discipleship in the Black Church
23:26 Disciple-making around the World
30:38 What Would Revival Look Like at Howard?
35:30 Lessons from Persecuted African Christians
42:33 African Moravian Wisdom Under Oppression
49:17 On the Saying "Just Preach the Gospel"
55:40 Final Inspirations from Prof. Ellis
57:23 How to Follow Prof. Ellis
57:50 Prayer

Mentioned Resources:

Rebecca's Revival by Sensbach

Prayer Revolution by Smed 

Alicia Jackson joins Co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr. and Noelle Shaw to discuss the Georgia presidential and senatorial elections, the significance of the black church in black politics, racial rhetoric in the elections, Francis Watkins Harper, and much more!

Dr. Alicia Jackson is Associate Professor of History at Covenant College and author of forthcoming book The Recovered Life of Isaac Anderson (University Press of Mississippi, 2021). This project uncovers and restores the narrative of a pivotal leader in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church and in Georgia’s state legislature in the late nineteenth century

00:45 Intro of Dr. Jackson
02:15 Intro of Francis Watkins Harper
03:27 The Georgia Election Current Event Catch-Up
07:44  The Significance of the Black Vote
12:40 Black Voter Suppression Dynamics Historically and Current-Day
23:02 Racialized Rhetoric in the Election and the term "Radical"
34:26  Role of the Black Church in Black Politics
40:10  Advice for Howard students wanting to inform politics with faith
42:05  Francis Watkins Harper speaks on the Cost of Oppression
47:56  The Christian African Theological Imagination
51:41. Dr. Jackson's Final Encouragements
52:26 Dr. Jackson's Forthcoming Book
53:10 Prayer

Mentioned Resources:

White Rage by Anderson

Soul Liberty by Turner

"Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone and Every Close Eye Ain’t Shut" by Jackson

The Recovered Life of Isaac Anderson by Jackson

Iola Leroy by Harper 

Russ Whitfield joins co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr.; Noelle Shaw; and Alafia Bailey to discuss the Council of Nicaea, the origins of Christian orthodoxy, Athanasius, and much more. If you have heard that Christianity is the white man's religion, that Christianity was invented at Nicaea, or that Christianity emerges from Egyptian and Greek religions, then this episode is for you! 

Rev. Russ Whitfield is the lead pastor of Grace Mosaic Church in Washington, DC and the Assistant Coordinator of Cross-Cultural Advancement for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF).

1:20 Introduction of Russ Whitfield

3:25 Introduction of Athanasius

7:05 What is Orthodoxy?

7:45 Was Christianity Invented at Nicaea?

12:23 What is Christology? Theology?

19:25 How human desires shape religions

22:58 How did Africans shape Christianity?

33:33 Athanasius Speaks on the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus

40:40 The urgency and importance of getting Christology right

43:03 Reflections from MLKJ and the danger of truth telling

45:18 Connection between Augustine and Athanasius

49:30 Final Inspirations from Pastor Russ

Resources:

How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Oden

A Multitude of All Peoples by Bantu

The Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Great Athanasius by Tyson

A Defense of the Nicene Definition by Athanasius 

Co-host Cyril Chavis, Jr. expresses his excitement about Season 2 of Africana Manna, coming to you January 29, 2021! We have brilliant guests, new ancestors, relevant discussion topics, and more!

Co-host Cyril Chavis, Jr. reflects on season 1 and anticipates season 2. 

Co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr. and Alafia Bailey discuss "Our Wretchedness in Consequence of the Preachers of the Religion of Jesus Christ" from David Walker's Appeal. They chop the life of David Walker, Christian compromise within U.S. culture, true vs. false Christianity, false Christian mythology used to justify U.S. chattel slavery, current blindspots of U.S. Christians, God's judgment upon the nations, Christian faithfulness in our current moment, the hope of racial reconciliation, and more.

Mentioned Resources:

David Walker's Appeal by David Walker. Introduction by Sean Wilentz.

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am 

Co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr.; Noelle Shaw; and Alafia Bailey discuss why they are excited to explore the life and writings of Maria Stewart. They chat about the compatibility of black radicalism and Christianity, the role of education and moral training for Africans, an explicit Christian justice-movement, Stewart's life events, and more.

Mentioned Readings:
Word Like Fire: Maria Stewart, the Bible & the Rights of African Americans by Valerie C. Cooper

"Religion and the Pure Principles of Morality, the Sure Foundation on Which We Must Build" by Maria Stewart. 

Co-host Cyril Chavis, Jr. and guest Jerome Douglas chat about black pictures of success; black excellence across generations and across different HBCUs; the importance of black excellence, it's spiritual beauties and dangers, and it's ability to bring happiness; and how to handle the applause of people. 

In lieu of the holiday, Co-host Cyril Chavis, Jr. introduces Augustine of Hippo, born 354CE, a monumental North African church father, philosopher, and bishop. Stay tuned next week for our regularly scheduled episode on Black Excellence, Black Joy, and the Talented Tenth with Augustine. 

Primary Source:

Confessions by Augustine of Hippo 

Co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr. and Alafia Bailey discuss the importance of Africana studies, valuing Christian Africana, excerpts from Turner's "God is a Negro," and depictions of God. 

Readings Mentioned:

"What Black Studies is Not: Moving From Crisis to Liberation in Africana Intellectual Work" by Carr

Preaching with Sacred Fire ed. by Simmons and Thomas

"God is a Negro" by Henry McNeal Turner

Black Religion and Black Radicalism by Wilmore