The title of the project refers to the conversion through Philip of the Ethiopian high official royal treasurer in the court of Ethiopia's Queen Candace (Acts 8: 26-40)

The Bible is a fascinating book to read when you let it do so its own terms. Consider what the Bible says in the book of the Acts about one African: Two thousand years ago an African is riding in a chariot and he is reading something. ‘Wait a minute, two thousand years ago, an African in a chariot? And he is literate? Why, no one was literate in America at that time and most of Europe was untouched by the alphabet! It’s got to be a mistake.’ But read on. This African is in charge of the treasury of the kingdom of Meroe whose queen is Candace.

‘What’s this about civilisation in black Africa 2000 thousand years ago? Why, we know its Europe that brought organised government to Africa!’

But read on...

The rest of the story suggests, to me anyhow, that what we have here is an authentic and historical report of an encounter between an African and the gospel. Note: when asked

‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The reply suggests two things: First he is not embarrassed about his ignorance in this matter. He is quite secure in who he is and so he doesn’t need to play to a false image of himself. He owns up to it without any hint of embarrassment; how like people from my continent Africa!

Secondly, he hasn’t had the benefit of a Western education for clearly he hasn’t learnt to hide his ignorance! His reply is quite candid:

‘How can I unless someone shows me?’ I’ve always thought if he had received a Western education he would have replied ‘What do you mean by ‘understand?’ or something clever like that.

So you see, the Bible does say amazing things when you let it speak for itself and archaeology is catching up with this fact. Amazing finds are getting uncovered in the sands of Sudan leading a prominent researcher ancient Africa Krzyszt Grzymski to remark of the ancient cities that are emerging out of African sands: "People didn't expect deep in the heart of Africa depictions resembling those of Egyptian or classical Greek art."

One church tradition says that this African treasury minister returned to the area of Africa then called ‘Ethiopia’ and opened the first church. Some researchers trace that church all the way to the present day church in Axum, Ethiopia.

That Bible report about the treasury minister is a fitting metaphor for this project. Philip, one of the seven chosen deacons of the church in Jerusalem was uniquely equipped to meet the spiritual need of the African official whose zeal for the study and obedience of the scriptures mark him as one of the outstanding converts in Acts.

Without stretching the metaphor excessively, Christians in the UK, like Philip in the Acts story, are uniquely equipped to meet a spiritual need of the Church in Africa. Today in the UK there are thousands of African students taking undergraduate and post graduate courses in all manner of ‘secular’ degrees.

The Philip Project exists to contribute towards the training of Bible teachers among professionals from Africa studying in UK universities. This is done by identifying and equipping them with the skills to faithfully handle the word of truth especially in an African setting.

This is achieved by:

Attending training on the last Saturday of the month (except in December and August) at the respected Cornhill Training Course, 140-148 Borough High street London. We learn three things:

• Understanding how to handle the Bible faithfully
• Understanding Islam
• Understanding culture’s influence on how we read the Bible

Discipleship. Each student meets with a like minded local professional provided by the project for:

• Prayer and sharpening each other ‘as iron sharpens iron.’
• Reviewing how the training at Cornhill Training Course is progressing
• Friendship

Both of these elements are key to what the project is about. The essential qualities for candidate are:

• A heart for God
• A heart for Africa
• Commitment to teach the Bible

How the project benefits the African church:

1. Students avail themselves to teach the Bible in university Christian Unions and in churches. We don’t cost the church anything as we are in independent employment in private and public sector
2. We are available to pass on Bible handling skills to university students and churches
3. We encourage university and college students to start Bible handling courses in their campuses and wherever possible we provide the benefit of our experience.