Africa

According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, in 2018, Africa, for the first time, had the most Christians compared to any other continent - 631 million. Indeed, not all of these Christians in Africa are evangelicals or born again. But in Africa more people identify with Jesus Christ than any other continent. Asia, on the other hand, has the lowest percentage of Christians, just 9%.

The growth of Christianity in Africa is quite amazing when placed in historical perspective. In 1910, at the time of the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference, Africa was 9.4 percent Christian. Now it is 45% Christian.

In 2016 the North Africa Disciple Making Movements Partnership asked the Global Research Team to help them gather information about Sub-Saharan Africans who moved to North Africa. This research sought to discover: What would be the best means for Sub-Saharan Africans to gain access to reside in North Africa so they could begin Disciple Making Movements?

Five workers in three North African countries interviewed 92 Sub-Saharan Africans, 57 of whom were followers of Jesus. The results of those interviews were entered into an online survey and subsequently analyzed.

The most common motivations to go North were to earn additional income, get a better job, and facilitate immigration. For students and recent graduates, their choice to go North was tied to scholarships, quality education programs, or receiving a good job offer. Only four respondents moved North because they felt a calling or desire to serve in North Africa. Read on for other remarkable insights about living in North Africa.

The current issue of Research LINK. highlights two thought provoking resources from Africa that provide insight for training Christian leaders. The first was produced by members of our own South Africa Resource Team. The second highlights 17 insights into African Leadership. Even if you do not serve in Africa, the insights offered in the report will motivate you to critically reflect on ministry in your own context. Subscribe to the Research LINK mailing list here.

The Africa Leadership Study asked over 8,000 African Christians to identify lay leaders, pastors and organizations demonstrating a high level of positive impact. Respondents were also asked to identify key components of mature, impactful leadership. The report of the study is entitled 17 Insights into Leadership in Africa.

In the middle of the 17 insights is a cluster of five key areas for developing the impact and influence of African leaders. Consider how these insights apply to your ministry:

Insight #6 African Christian leaders minister within multi ethnic and cross cultural settings where intercultural skills, competencies and commitments are crucial to success.

Insight #7 African Christian leaders are increasingly part of a digital world, although some have limited access. Ability to effectively use digital media such as internet, e-mail and social media to communicate with and train those served is becoming ever more important.