I have the privilege of connecting with partners here in Africa for East Mountain. If you know me you know that I love this kind of work. Connecting people and organisations for kingdom purpose and impacted lives. This past Saturday morning I was invited to a breakfast with one of our partners, George Whitfield College. They are one of the top evangelical schools in Africa. GWC is training and preparing Africans from around the continent to lead the “church” and lead with great biblical clarity.
*This is where Alechia is attending college with the hopes of being a children’s pastor one day back in her community.
During our breakfast a professor was sharing passionately the stats on the explosion of Christianity on the continent of Africa. I have heard most of these numbers before but was reminded just how important it is for discipleship and training of young African Christian leaders! Let me tell some of the numbers and see if you aren’t surprised.
In 1900, 9million Christians were estimated to be from Africa
In 2000, 380 million African Christians (that’s a 400% growth!!!)
In 2025 there is projected to be 700 million Christians in Africa!!! – Gordon Conwell
1 in 4 Christians today are African and with in the next 50 years it will be 1 in 3. This will make Africa the centre for world wide Christianity with out a doubt.
Why is the church growing so fast?
Africans might be the best evangelist. Why? From my observations, they are for the most part a communal society, passionate communicators, and unashamed of their beliefs. Beliefs in God or beliefs in soccer. It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is they will passionately and unashamedly let you know.
Also, many mission efforts over the past 100 years has been focused on evangelism. This isn’t a negative but it isn’t complete in fulfilling the Gospel. We need to lead people to Jesus and then walk with them through life to help them grow in their relationship and understanding of Jesus and the bible.
What issues might come out of the rapid growth of Christianity?
Let me give you a real life scenario that is taking place today as you read this and takes place everyday across Africa. I think it will clearly demonstrate my view and others of the issues and need for discipleship.
A young man heads to the big city to get a job so that he can take care of his family. While in the city someone passionately, unashamedly, and honestly shares the Good News of Jesus with him while he is in the taxi. The man returns to his village and begins to share with others the love of Jesus and all that he has been reading in the bible. After just a few months, there are now 100 people in his village that have put their faith in Jesus. They want to gather weekly for fellowship and learn more about the bible. This is a good size church in an African village. Now the questions arise…
Who is going to lead this church? Who is going to teach the bible accurately? Who is going to disciple all of these people into strong, growing, bible believing Christ followers?
WHO? The young man that just a few months ago became a Christian himself but still doesn’t understand the much of the bible, has never been discipled, and has never lead a group of people.
The problem with this real life scenario is exactly what you can imagine. No one has every taught him the bible. No one has ever discipled him and showed him what a Godly man looks like. No one has ever warned him against false teaching like prosperity gospel. He has had tribalism and animism ingrained into not just what he believes but who he is from birth. It will not be easy for him to clearly differentiate from correct teachings and false, corrupt teaching.
By investing in, mentoring, discipling, doing life with, and building good relationships with young men and woman here in Africa we whole heartedly believe we are having a great impact on the “church” across the continent of Africa. Life on life ministry can have exponential benefits for years to come! That is our hope and God’s call on our life.
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