Why focus on Africa?
Africa is right at the center of the Bible’s story of God’s people. The story lands in Africa as Joseph and the people providentially find themselves in Egypt. After years of slavery, Moses leads the people out of Egypt through the powerful working of God at Passover and the Red Sea. Our Savior, Jesus, along with Mary and Joseph, flees to Egypt under the threat of Herod’s death decree. And in Acts 8, we see the mission of the church reaching Africa through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
In light of these missiological, global realities, Africa should be at the center of our story at LMPC. And you will be encouraged at our World Missions Conference to find that it is.”
Africa is currently right at the center of the Christian story. For the past 1,000 years, Europe was the continent with the most Christians. Latin America eventually passed Europe and now Africa has passed Latin America. In 2018, Africa has 599 million Christians. By 2050, there will likely be more Christians in Africa (1.25 billion) than in Latin America and Europe combined.[1] The future of Christian leadership is now more likely to be found in Africa, Asia, and Latin America than in historic Europe or North America.[2]
In light of these missiological, global realities, Africa should be at the center of our story at LMPC. And you will be encouraged at our World Missions Conference to find that it is. This video celebrates how many of our people have joyously been to Africa, giving their lives away in the name of our King and Savior. At our upcoming conference, you will also be led to celebration and prayer for the many ways LMPC has engaged and invested in Africa throughout the years.
Though the growth rate of the church in Africa is remarkable, the concerns for soundness of doctrine are significant as well. As numerical growth increases, so also does heretical growth through the influence of the prosperity gospel as well as prophetic, cultish personalities.
LMPC is answering these challenges by addressing the need for biblically trained leaders. We are accomplishing this through Westminster Christian Institute of Uganda (Kampala), Africa Bible College (Kampala), Bible Institute of South Africa, and Grace Theological College (Juba). LMPC also has and is providing theological education in Kampala for four Sudanese pastors, as they lead Grace. We need biblically trained, orthodox Protestant leaders for Africa, the continent of contrasts. LMPC is playing its part to address that need.
LMPC is also addressing the spiritual battle between Islam and Christianity through supporting projects in North and West Africa. Our presence in North Africa through residential missionaries was celebrated last year during our 2017 conference on Gospel Hope for the Muslim World.
Africa is at the center of the Christian story. Our prayer and hope is that after our upcoming conference it will be at the center of LMPC’s story for many years to come. Please join us for our World Missions Conference, March 16-18, where we’ll focus on God’s work in Africa.
[1]Christianity 2018: More African Christians and Counting Martyrs. International Bulletin of Mission Research 42, no. 1 (2018): 20-28
[2]Christianity 2017: Five Hundred Years of Protestant Christianity., International Bulletin of Mission Research 41, no 1 (January 2017): 41-52.