Africa: From Mission Field to Missionary Force

Hello, friends, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus.

Today, I want to share something with you that absolutely thrills my heart. It's a story of how God is raising up missionaries from the very places that once received missionaries. Today, we're going to talk about Africa—and how the African church has gone from being a mission field to becoming a missionary force that's reaching the world.

When Europeans came to Africa in the mid-1800s, some wanted economic gain, but others wanted souls for God's kingdom. Those early missionaries were characterized by passionate mission fervor. They sacrificed everything to bring the good news of Jesus. Churches emerged and believers multiplied. But sadly, that mission passion wasn't initially passed on to the African churches.

Beginning in the 1950s, that changed. Major national initiatives aimed at birthing authentically African churches began. Then in the 1960s, African countries gained independence, and there was a major surge of indigenous leadership—Africans were now leading African churches! This new ownership sparked revivals in Burundi, Zululand, Zaire, and Nigeria. The 1970s saw full-blown national initiatives to mobilize Africans for missions, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya.

Let me give you an example that illustrates this transformation. In 1986, there were nearly 10,000 foreign missionaries serving in Nigeria and just over 500 indigenous Nigerian missionaries going out. But watch what happened: By 2006, foreign missionaries had dropped to about 860—because Nigerians were taking control of their own evangelism. But missionaries sent by Nigerian churches increased to over 5,200! That's a complete reversal in just 20 years!

And it hasn't stopped. As of 2025, Nigeria sends an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 cross-cultural missionaries to at least 65 countries around the globe—from Europe to Asia, from North America to South America.

Here's the bigger picture: In 1900, there were only 9 million Christians in Africa—just 3% of the population. By 2000, there were 380 million Christians, representing 50% of the population. As of 2024, there are an estimated 734 million Christians in Africa, growing at 2.59% annually—nearly three times the global population growth rate. By 2050, Africa is projected to be home to more than 1.2 billion Christians—more than Europe, Russia, and North America combined.

And these African Christians aren't just growing numerically—they're going! African missionaries serve as far east as Japan and China and as far west as Brazil and Bolivia. Some of Europe's largest churches are now led by Africans! Africa is sending missionaries back to the continent that once sent missionaries to them!

Kenya has over 1,500 missionaries serving globally. Ghana sends more than 1,000 missionaries internationally. Friends, the missionary movement is becoming polycentric—it's no longer just from the West to the rest. It's from everywhere to everywhere!

Now, challenges remain. There's still critical need for theological training appropriate to the African context. Infrastructure challenges, disease, wars, and unstable governments still affect millions. The relationship between Islam and Christianity remains a major challenge—in Nigeria alone, as of early November, reports indicate that an average of 35 Christians are being killed each day. Yet despite persecution, the Nigerian church continues to grow and send missionaries.

So what do we do with this? First, expand your mental image of what a missionary looks like. A missionary might be a Nigerian going to Chad, a Filipino going to Saudi Arabia, a Kenyan going to the UK. Second, partner better. Western churches often have more financial resources; African churches often have more people willing to go and sometimes better access to closed countries. How can we work together?

Third, support African missions. Give to African missionary organizations. Support theological training in Africa. Fourth, learn from them. African Christians have much to teach us about passion, joy in suffering, and worship. And fifth, celebrate! This is the fruit of faithful missionaries who went generations ago.

Friends, this is an incredible testimony to the power of the Gospel. Africa went from 9 million Christians in 1900 to over 750 million in 2024. From 3% Christian to over 50% Christian. This happened in a context of incredible difficulty—poverty, disease, political instability, persecution. Yet the church grows and sends. What an indictment on comfortable Western Christianity! We have so much and send so little. They have so little and send so much.

When I look at what God is doing in Africa, I am filled with hope. By 2050, the typical Christian will likely be African, Asian, or Latin American—young, passionate, and on fire for Jesus. Africa is leading the way, and we get to partner with them!

Heavenly Father, we praise You for what You are doing in Africa! Please bless the African missionaries serving in difficult places. Provide them with theological training and protection from persecution. May we, in the Western churches, humble ourselves and learn to be genuine partners. We love You and thank You for all You are doing around the world. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Friends, remember—some day, we will all rejoice around God's holy throne together. Christians from every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. And there will be multitudes from Africa who are there because African Christians said yes to God's call. What a glorious day that will be!

Thank you for joining me today. I hope this has expanded your vision for global missions and filled you with hope. The Gospel is spreading, the Church is growing, and it's happening through missionaries from everywhere going everywhere.

Until next time, keep your eyes on the nations, celebrate what God is doing globally, and remember—the best days of missions are ahead of us!

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