Testimony and Fellowship for a Continuous Conversion in the East African Revival

Abstract

The East African Revival emphasised the so-called conversion experience, including an individual's conviction of sin and experience of forgiveness. The revivalists asserted that evidence of one's conversion would be – and had to be – discernable at both the personal level and the communal level. One distinctive feature of the Revival was that in revival meetings or marketplaces, converts shared testimony that re-enacted their original conversion experiences, in order to demonstrate the genuineness of their conversion and maintain its continuing efficacy in their daily lives. A second distinctive feature of the Revival was its strong focus on fellowship with other converts. Structured opportunities for fellowship facilitated the ongoing process of identity reorientation and provided a safe, embracing environment in which new converts could receive spiritual and practical support from other members of the Revival. This article examines the significant roles of fellowship and testimony in the East African Revival and how they upheld the authenticity of a person's initial conversion experience while also cultivating ongoing conversion through involvement in this new religious community. More broadly, the article also explores the interplay of race and religion, the dynamics of conversion narratives and identity reorientation.