Wade in the River: The Story of the African Christian Faith (book)

 

by Father Paisius Altschul (Author)

 

"Wade in the River" is a fresh approach to the faith of Africa and its contribution to the world. Starting with the Biblical accounts of significant Africans, then passing through early Christianity, winding through the Islamic period, pressing past Western slavery, and finally arriving at the present era, the book describes the riches of ancient, African Christianity. This book fills an important gap in the need for people from all ethnic backgrounds to rethink the idea that "Christianity is a white man's religion." (from here) 

 

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Orthodoxy today
 
A Story of Great Courage of a Woman in Slavery Passion Bearer Margaret Ward and Her Infant Son, Samuel Ringgold Ward. (1855)
On American soil, nothing comes close to the early Christians' noble suffering and pain of heart endured in the pursuit of God, except the African-American martyrs and passion bearers. Despite the masters' attempts to either suppress their slaves' lively faith, or to twist Christianity to their own economic advantage, the African-American slaves were able to penetrate the veneer and discern the essence of the Christian Faith. One such heroic soul was Margaret Ward of Maryland.
Born on a slave ship en route to Baltimore from Africa in the early 1800's, she and her mother were bought by a religious family. Margaret was a woman of remarkable character: Of a proud, indomitable spirit, yet having acute moral sense, a disposition naturally amiable, of cheerful temperament, and crushed with a sense of her degraded condition. She was quiet, noble, and was very capable.
The complete story can be found on St. Mary of Egypt website which works to bring the Orthodox faith to African-Americans.
  
One priest making a difference

patheos.com
 

“What the soul is in the body, this is what Christians are in the world,” says the Epistle to Diognetus, an ancient Christian text. Nobody demonstrates the present-day truth of that more than Fr. Paisius Altschul of Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fr. Paisius in conversation, Troost Festival 2009. St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church.

Fr. Paisius, priest of St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, is also the founder of Reconciliation Services, a ministry that offers desperately needed counseling, material aid, medicine, and job training to the city’s poor and disenfranchised.
He’s been at that work for more than twenty years now and was recognized by the city in 2013 for his efforts. “He’s dedicated his life to this,” said Mayor Sly James, characterizing his work as “totally invaluable to the city.” Which of our mayors would say that of our pastors?
Beyond these efforts, Fr. Paisius has brought a sense of history and local pride to his long-troubled neighborhood, something also recognized by the mayor.
I was privileged to spend some brief time at St. Mary of Egypt and Reconciliation Services in 2009 and saw Fr. Paisius in action. I left deeply moved by his spirit and impressed by his work, which were mirrored in the lives of the many people who labor there. Almost palpably it felt like a loving place, like a gracious place.
The local alt-weekly published a profile of Fr. Paisius a few years back, which tells his fascinating personal story. It’s worth a read, and here also is a Q&A with Fr. Paisius from Road to Emmaus. This extract captures part of his heart and his spirit of reconciliation:

The Holy Spirit touches souls in many ways, and you need to make many different avenues available, whether through church services, reading, Bible study, or social outreach. Let’s just live the life of Christians and see who the Lord gathers. . . . [B]eing with people is pretty sacramental for me. I think a lot about the iconic view of a person. When you are with another person you discover how the Holy Spirit is working there, and if you pray with them, it’s wonderful to see what’s already taking place.

Though recently handing the reins of Reconciliation Services to Fr. Justin Mathews, Fr. Paisius remains an active and inspiring presence in the community — part of the soul of Troost Avenue.

About the book in Google

See also

Reconciliation: Ambassadors of the Greater Kingdom (a voice from African-Americans Orthodox Christians)
Eight principal areas of convergence between African spirituality and Ancient Christianity
Solutions to end racism already given; must act on it!
Fr. Nathaniel Johnson: "The Church That Has It ALL"...
Orthodox African Americans  
The Kingdom of Heaven, where racial discrimination has no place   
Fr. Moses Berry, a descendant of African slaves, Orthodox priest and teacher in USA

Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black  

 

Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa (& the Decolonization of Africa)
African Initiated Churches in Search of Orthodoxy...
How “White” is the Orthodox Church?
Ancient Christian faith (Orthodox Church) in Africa 
LIVE, BEYOND THE LIMITS!


«Seigneur, montre-moi le pur trésor que tu as caché dans ce désert»: Vie de Sainte Marie l’Égyptienne († 565)