Identity and Transformation

David Ofumbi is convinced biblically that, Christian faith covers the entire realm of
human existence. There is no dichotomy between private life and public life, or spiritual
life and secular life, or an individual and a community. In fact, the whole of human life
is the visible expression of the invisible God. Therefore, respective indigenous cultures
and the gospel must engage and impact each other. On the one hand, Christians in
respective indigenous cultures engage and adapt the gospel to the deep-level meaning
and the surface-level forms of their cultures; on the other hand, the gospel transforms
respective cultures continuously. African understanding and practices of Christian faith
("Africa Christianity") in this respect is both the outcome of the reciprocal impact between
respective indigenous cultures and the gospel and the basis of authentic Christian
response to human needs ("Christian Community Transformation").
In the first two chapters, he identifies and discusses briefly the challenges and hopes
that characterize local communities in East Africa. He also defines and discusses the
phrases "African Christianity" and "Christian Community Transformation".
David particularly highlights that the impact of African understandings and practices of
Christianity on "Christian Community Transformation" strive: (1) to instill self-confidence
in native peoples by enabling them to recover and reassert their true human identities,
to restore their true self-dignity, and to build just relationships; (2) to encourage the
development and the use of local resources; (3) to bolster robust and enabling faith
community structures and proactive responses compatible with the African Christian/
human ethos; and (4) to galvanize global relevance and impact.
David Ofumbi is the team leader of Leadership Development Initiative
Africa (Leadia), an indigenous leadership development ministry based
in Kampala, Uganda. Leadia envisions a community of competent
Christian leaders transforming ordinary people into effective followers
of Christ courageously transforming Africa. He is currently pursuing
post graduate studies focusing on the reciprocal influence between
followership and leadership.