Lived Islam in Africa

Islam and Christianity are often presented as violent rivals facing each other across a gulf

of insurmountable differences. Yet if Christians are to effectively engage Muslims with the

gospel, they must learn to build bridges across this divide.

This study explores the Muslim presence in Ghana, a nation once believed to be resistant to Islam, and analyses the missiological implications for Pentecostals, the fastest growing group of Christians in the country. Dr. Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe examines the shared spiritual heritage of Ghanaian Pentecostals and folk Muslims within the broader context of African traditional religion. He proposes that this shared heritage – with its emphasis on supernatural encounters and the spiritual realm – can provide common ground for Pentecostals seeking to peacefully and respectfully engage Muslims with the gospel. Identifying the existential, experiential, and theological needs at the heart of folk Islam, this book offers a practical guide for constructive Muslim-Christian engagement in Ghana and beyond. This study also challenges missiologists – both scholars and practitioners – to engage in critical contextualization that considers a culture's indigenous religious practices when seeking to build bridges to the gospel.