The church did not begin with your denomination. It has a two-thousand-year story of triumph and failure, revival and apostasy, faithfulness and betrayal. This course walks you through the major eras of church history: the early church and the councils that defined orthodoxy, the medieval church and the corruption that demanded reform, the Reformation and its legacy, the missionary movement and its complicated relationship with colonialism, and the explosive growth of the church in Africa and the Global South. You will learn from the saints and the sinners, the heroes and the heretics. And you will see that restoration is not a new idea — God has been restoring His church from the very beginning.
History is the story of God restoring His people across the centuries. The African church has its own unique journey of brokenness and restoration that every Soul Restorer should understand — because you cannot serve people you do not understand, and you cannot understand people without knowing their story.
Study the first five centuries — persecution, expansion, the church fathers, and the great councils that defined Christian orthodoxy.
Module quizzes (4 quizzes)
Historical case study: analyse a period of church brokenness and the restoration that followed
African church reflection: write a theological reflection on your own church's historical journey
Final examination
Passing score: 70% on all assessments. Students who do not meet the passing score may retake assessments after additional study.