CEN Africa is a Bible-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, evangelical Christian education network committed to strengthening the Body of Christ through faithful Christian education and Kingdom collaboration. This Statement of Faith defines the essential biblical convictions required for membership and participation in the network.
New CEN Africa members are asked to affirm this Statement of Faith when creating an account. CEN Africa is interdenominational, so agreement is not required on every secondary issue of church tradition; however, the core convictions below define the theological boundaries of the network.
We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, truthful and without error in the original writings, and the final authority for Christian faith, doctrine, character, and practice. Scripture must govern our teaching, experience, traditions, and decisions.
2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Psalm 119:105; John 17:17We believe in one living and true God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—equal in divine nature, glory, and majesty, yet personally distinct.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4–6We believe God created all things and that every human being is made in His image and therefore possesses God-given dignity and worth. God created humanity male and female and calls people to live under His loving authority and stewardship.
Genesis 1:1, 26–28; Genesis 2:7, 18–24; Psalm 8:3–8; Colossians 1:16–17We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, performed mighty works, died on the cross as the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the Father, intercedes for believers, and will return personally, visibly, and gloriously.
John 1:1–14; Matthew 1:18–25; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Hebrews 4:15; Acts 1:9–11We believe humanity fell into sin through disobedience and that all people are sinners by nature and by choice, separated from God and unable to save themselves. Sin brings spiritual death and places every person in need of God's grace and reconciliation.
Genesis 3:1–19; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3We believe salvation is the gracious gift of God, accomplished through the life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. A person is justified and born again through repentance and faith in Christ alone, not by human merit, religious works, education, or institutional membership. Good works are the fruit of salvation, never its price.
John 3:3–18; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:4–7We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God and personally active in the world and the Church. He convicts of sin, brings new birth, indwells every believer, illuminates Scripture, produces Christlike character, sanctifies God's people, empowers them for witness and service, and distributes spiritual gifts according to His will for the building up of the Church.
John 14:16–17, 26; John 16:7–15; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Galatians 5:22–25We believe every believer is called to a life of holiness, obedience, prayer, worship, love, integrity, compassion, justice, forgiveness, generosity, and faithful service. Spiritual maturity is a continuing work of God's grace through the Holy Spirit as believers abide in Christ and submit to the Word of God.
John 15:1–11; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:13–16We believe God is compassionate and powerful to heal. The Church should pray in faith for the sick and suffering and may practice biblical anointing and prayer, while humbly recognizing God's sovereignty, wisdom, and purposes in every circumstance. Our confidence rests in God, not in formulas or human claims.
Psalm 103:1–5; James 5:13–16; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; Philippians 4:6–7We believe the universal Church consists of all who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ. Every believer should participate in a faithful local church for worship, biblical teaching, prayer, fellowship, accountability, service, and mission. We affirm baptism and the Lord's Supper as ordinances given by Christ, and we embrace the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Ephesians 4:11–16; Hebrews 10:24–25We believe every person must be treated with dignity, compassion, truth, and respect because every human life bears the image of God. We affirm the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. We believe biblical marriage is a covenant union of one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage. Christian conduct should reflect both biblical holiness and Christlike love toward every person.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13–16; Matthew 19:4–6; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Ephesians 5:21–33We believe Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory. There will be a bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost, final judgment under the perfect justice of God, everlasting life with God for those who belong to Christ, and conscious eternal separation from God for those who finally reject Him.
Matthew 25:31–46; John 5:28–29; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 20:11–15; Revelation 21:1–5We believe Christian education should pursue truth under the lordship of Jesus Christ, unite biblical faith with academic excellence, develop character and wisdom, equip believers for service, and prepare God's people to bear faithful witness in the Church and the world. We welcome cooperation across evangelical traditions while keeping Scripture and the gospel central.
Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Proverbs 1:7; Colossians 2:6–8; Colossians 3:16–17; 2 Timothy 2:15By affirming this Statement of Faith, a CEN Africa member declares sincere agreement with these core evangelical Christian convictions and commits to participate in the network in a manner consistent with biblical truth, Christian integrity, and respect for others.
This statement is CEN Africa's own doctrinal standard. CEN Africa's interdenominational character allows faithful evangelical Christians and institutions to differ on secondary matters that are not defined here as membership essentials.
