Journeying with Our Ancestors

Dr. Bantu joined the Fuller faculty as assistant professor of church history and Black church studies in 2019. Dr. Bantu teaches primarily on Fuller’s Houston campus, where he also serves as a liaison to the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies and networks with Black churches, pastors, and students. Prior to coming to Fuller, Bantu taught in various capacities at a number of colleges and institutions, including Nyack College, New York Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, the Center for Early African Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary.

Additionally, he has years of pastoral experience in African American, Asian American, and Hispanic churches, as well as extensive involvement in multicultural urban communities. Bantu earned his Ph.D. in Semitic and Egyptian languages from The Catholic University of America, and his dissertation married his interests in African Christianity and social identity. He also directs the Meachum School of Haymanot, which provides theological education for urban pastors and leaders. He is the author of Gospel Haymanot: A Constructive Theology and Critical Reflection on African and Diasporic Christianity (2020) and A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity’s Global Identity (2020), as well as numerous articles on global Christianity, Syriac and Nubian Christianity, apologetics, justice, evangelism, and African American theology.

Fuller Seminary is an evangelical, multidenominational graduate institution committed to forming global leaders for kingdom vocations. Responding to changes in the church and world, Fuller is transforming the seminary experience for both traditional students and those beyond the classroom: providing theological formation that helps Christ-followers serve as faithful, courageous, innovative, collaborative, and fruitful leaders in all of life, in any setting.

The Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith International (PCAFI) was founded by Bishop Samuel N. Hancock in 1957 and officially incorporated on November 20, 1957. Established from its inception as a Oneness Pentecostal organization practicing baptism by full water immersion, the group sought to create an organization that stood for the highest standards of holiness. It is one of twelve major organizations born from the womb of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World between 1919 and 1960. Today, with churches across the globe, the PCAFI remains committed to its trademark of spiritual excellence and integrity on behalf of the Apostolic faith. Bishop Lambert W. Gates, Sr. is the current presiding bishop.