Christianity’s Future Shifts to Africa as Gospel Booms

Christianity’s Future Shifts to Africa as Gospel Booms

The Gospel is growing faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world, says Jason Mandryk, a Christian researcher from Operation World. Speaking at the World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, he described the rise of Evangelicalism in Africa as “explosive.”

Mandryk explained that while Christianity is growing slowly in Western nations, Africa is experiencing remarkable expansion. In 1960, Evangelicals made up about 8 percent of the world’s Christians. Today, they are more than a quarter of all believers, roughly 600 to 650 million people.

He said the growth is driven by active evangelism, strong family values, and conversions among Christians who were not previously Evangelical. Mandryk also noted that nearly 70 percent of all Christians, many of them Evangelicals, now live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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“Africa’s churches are vibrant and growing fast,” he said. “The future of Christianity is already here, and it has been for decades.” He pointed out that Africa leads the world in Christian growth, helped by rapid urbanization and a rising population. The center of global Christianity, once in the West, has now clearly shifted to the Global South.

Mandryk, however, urged believers to practice what they preach. “We must admit that we have often failed to reflect the Gospel we preach,” he said, admitting that scandals and divisions have hurt the Church’s reputation. Still, he remains hopeful. According to him, Evangelical families are raising a new generation that is deeply rooted in faith.

Dr. David Tarus of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, who joined Mandryk on the panel, said the Church’s fast growth has created a major need for trained leaders. His research shows that many African pastors lack formal theological education, mostly because of limited money or time.

Tarus warned that without proper training, the Church could fall into error and division. “We cannot wait for people to come to our institutions. We must take theological education to the communities,” he said.

Both leaders agreed that discipleship and pastoral training are crucial for the African Church to sustain its incredible growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit : Boluatife Abiola

Image Credit  : The Christian Post