Augustine and the BMB Church of Algeria

Augustine has had a colossal impact on the development of Christian theology, yet his life, ministry and theology are relatively unknown amongst the growing Muslim background Church of Algeria today. For this growing indigenous Church, Augustine’s Roman-Western orientation presents challenges. His struggles with the Donatist Church and the eventual ‘victory’ – through the power of Rome – over an indigenous North African resistance movement is a reminder of the dangers of the colonializing influence of centres of Christianity over the multiple particularities in the margins where the Church grows. The Algerian Church of today is one such Church in the margins whose presence and growth is linked to this same story of the particularity and universality of the early Church in North Africa. Much can be learned from Augustine that can continue to strengthen and encourage the modern BMB church in Algeria.