Empowering Africa's Youth: The Future of Faith

 

Summary

Africa is a vast and diverse continent, home to 1.3 billion people and over 2,100 languages. This complexity is often overlooked, especially when discussing the church in Africa. The average age in Africa is under 20, which presents both challenges and opportunities for the church. The youthful demographic means that the church must continually re-establish its teachings, as each new generation brings different challenges and perspectives, particularly with the rise of social media and increased access to education.

In Kenya, for example, the church is experiencing significant growth among young people who are hungry for the Word of God. Many are disillusioned with churches that focus on politics or building projects and are instead seeking a deeper, more authentic spiritual experience. This hunger is evident in the increasing number of young people joining churches and seeking teachings on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture.

However, a staggering 95% of pastors in Africa have not received formal training, which poses a significant challenge. The rapid growth of the church has outpaced the available resources for training and equipping pastors. Many pastors lack access to theological resources, which are often imported from the West, making them expensive and inaccessible to many. Ekklesia Afrika is addressing this by publishing and distributing theological resources locally, aiming to equip pastors with sound biblical teaching.

Despite the challenges, there is a remarkable opportunity for the church in Africa. With the continent's population set to double in the next 30 years, Africa will play a crucial role in global Christianity. The Global South, including Africa, is expected to surpass the Global North in sending missionaries worldwide. Supporting the church in Africa through prayer and resources is vital to ensure that the growing number of believers are well-equipped to spread the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

1. Africa's Youthful Demographic: The average age in Africa is under 20, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the church. This youthful population requires the church to continually re-establish its teachings to address the unique challenges and perspectives of each new generation. [03:39]

2. Hunger for Authentic Faith: Many young Africans are disillusioned with churches focused on politics or building projects and are seeking a deeper, more authentic spiritual experience. This hunger is driving significant growth in churches that emphasize the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. [07:08]

3. Challenges in Pastoral Training: With 95% of pastors in Africa lacking formal training, there is a critical need for accessible theological resources. The rapid growth of the church has outpaced the available resources for training, highlighting the importance of initiatives like Ekklesia Afrika. [09:09]

4. Complexity of African Christianity: The high percentage of self-identified Christians in Africa often masks a cultural Christianity that lacks a deep understanding of the gospel. This presents a challenge for the church to teach biblical truth and foster genuine faith. [22:05]

5. Future of Global Christianity: Africa's population is set to double in the next 30 years, and the continent is expected to play a crucial role in global Christianity. Supporting the church in Africa through prayer and resources is essential to equip believers to spread the gospel effectively. [27:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Introduction of Speakers
- [00:43] - Overview of Africa's Size and Diversity
- [01:49] - Africa's Geographical and Linguistic Complexity
- [02:58] - The Church in Africa's Diverse Contexts
- [03:39] - Impact of Africa's Youthful Demographic
- [04:41] - Challenges of a Young Population
- [06:03] - Growth Among Young Church Members
- [09:09] - Challenges in Pastoral Training
- [11:35] - Lack of Theological Resources
- [14:49] - Ekklesia Afrika's Mission
- [19:04] - Growth of Training Programs
- [21:38] - Complexity of African Christianity
- [27:28] - Future of Global Christianity
- [29:09] - Supporting the Church in Africa

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)
2. 2 Timothy 2:2 (Entrusting to faithful men)
3. Acts 1:8 (Witnesses to the ends of the earth)

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some of the unique challenges and opportunities presented by Africa's youthful demographic, as discussed in the sermon? [03:39]

2. How is the hunger for authentic faith among young Africans influencing church growth, according to the sermon? [07:08]

3. What are the main challenges faced by pastors in Africa due to the lack of formal training, as highlighted in the sermon? [09:09]

4. How does the sermon describe the complexity of African Christianity and the challenge of cultural Christianity? [22:05]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the youthful demographic in Africa impact the way churches approach teaching and discipleship? Consider the influence of social media and education. [04:41]

2. In what ways does the hunger for a deeper spiritual experience among young Africans reflect a broader global trend in Christianity? [07:08]

3. What are the implications of the lack of theological resources for pastors in Africa, and how might this affect their congregations? [11:03]

4. How does the sermon suggest that cultural Christianity in Africa might differ from a genuine understanding of the gospel? [22:52]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the youthful demographic in Africa. How can your church engage with young people in your community to address their unique challenges and perspectives? [03:39]

2. Consider the hunger for authentic faith among young Africans. How can you cultivate a deeper, more authentic spiritual experience in your own life and church community? [07:08]

3. With the challenges in pastoral training in Africa, what steps can you take to support theological education and resource distribution, either locally or globally? [09:09]

4. How can you help address the issue of cultural Christianity in your own context, ensuring that the gospel is clearly understood and lived out? [22:05]

5. Given the expected growth of Africa's population and its role in global Christianity, how can you contribute to supporting the church in Africa through prayer and resources? [27:28]

6. Think about the role of the Global South in sending missionaries. How can you prepare yourself or your church to support or participate in global mission efforts? [28:32]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on resources. What specific resources can you share or create to help spread the gospel effectively in your community or abroad? [31:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Africa's Youthful Potential
Africa's youthful demographic, with an average age under 20, presents both challenges and opportunities for the church. This young population requires the church to continually re-establish its teachings to address the unique challenges and perspectives of each new generation. The rise of social media and increased access to education are shaping the way young Africans engage with their faith. Churches must adapt to these changes, ensuring that their teachings remain relevant and impactful. By doing so, they can harness the energy and passion of the youth to drive spiritual growth and transformation across the continent. [03:39]

"For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants." (Isaiah 44:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively engage with and support the younger generation in your community to help them grow in their faith?


Day 2: Seeking Authentic Faith
Many young Africans are disillusioned with churches that focus on politics or building projects and are instead seeking a deeper, more authentic spiritual experience. This hunger for genuine faith is driving significant growth in churches that emphasize the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Young people are looking for teachings that resonate with their personal experiences and provide a solid foundation for their spiritual journey. Churches that prioritize authentic faith and scriptural integrity are seeing a surge in young members who are eager to learn and grow. [07:08]

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your own spiritual experience and seek a more authentic relationship with God?


Day 3: Addressing the Pastoral Training Gap
With 95% of pastors in Africa lacking formal training, there is a critical need for accessible theological resources. The rapid growth of the church has outpaced the available resources for training, highlighting the importance of initiatives like Ekklesia Afrika. Many pastors lack access to theological resources, which are often imported from the West, making them expensive and inaccessible. By publishing and distributing theological resources locally, organizations like Ekklesia Afrika aim to equip pastors with sound biblical teaching, enabling them to lead their congregations effectively. [09:09]

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you support the training and development of church leaders in your community or abroad?


Day 4: Navigating Cultural Christianity
The high percentage of self-identified Christians in Africa often masks a cultural Christianity that lacks a deep understanding of the gospel. This presents a challenge for the church to teach biblical truth and foster genuine faith. Many individuals identify as Christians due to cultural norms rather than personal conviction, leading to a superficial understanding of the gospel. Churches must focus on teaching biblical truth and encouraging personal faith journeys to cultivate a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God among their congregants. [22:05]

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your understanding of the gospel to ensure your faith is rooted in biblical truth rather than cultural norms?


Day 5: Africa's Role in Global Christianity
Africa's population is set to double in the next 30 years, and the continent is expected to play a crucial role in global Christianity. The Global South, including Africa, is anticipated to surpass the Global North in sending missionaries worldwide. Supporting the church in Africa through prayer and resources is essential to equip believers to spread the gospel effectively. As Africa's influence in global Christianity grows, it is vital to ensure that the church is well-equipped to meet the spiritual needs of its expanding population and to contribute to the global mission field. [27:28]

"And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations." (Mark 13:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the global mission of the church, particularly in supporting the growth and development of the church in Africa?

Quotes


One, we're in a continent or a country, in my case, Kenya is so young, it means the things that you taught or established a couple of decades ago, you need to go ahead and do those things all over again. So, there's no assuming the history of the church that you're in, where you have maybe taught the gospel, is the reality that you're currently facing. [00:03:57]

Because in many ways you have a totally brand-new crop of individuals in that congregation, or your city is now filled with a whole new population that you need to re-proclaim those truths to. It also means that the challenges that they're facing are very different. So, it's going to be younger people who are on social media, who are using their phones a whole lot more, who are a whole lot more aware of the things going on in the internet. [00:04:28]

And it is showing up amongst young people. There seems to be a disgruntled spirit with either attending a charge where it feels like it's all about politics, announcements take an hour, and it's all these wrangles in the congregation or just building projects. And people are a bit tired of that, and you can see a hunger in the young people for something more, something transcendent, if you so please. [00:07:05]

So, it's not unusual in our case to be invited to a university and for the young people to ask us to preach on the authority of Scripture, the sufficiency of Scripture, the inerrancy of Scripture. And we ask them, "Who told you about these things? Where did you hear about those words?" And for them to give you an answer that does not track back to either your ministry or the ministry of people that you know, but something that just seems to be a broad hungering for truth and for God Himself. [00:07:39]

I think to some extent it's because maybe the growth of the church ran past the attempts to equip the church that were currently existing. So, with an explosion in population growth, it simply means that there are far more people out there than there actually are institutions that are trying to either reach them or equip them. [00:09:42]

So, you'll find when it comes to books, for example, there's not much going on, on the continent that is doing two things – the producing of sound theological resources and the distribution of sound theological resources. So, if you come across a book on the continent that's by a Sinclair Ferguson, right, or one of the people that you guys will listen to you here, right, it's likely that that book was either put in a ship and brought in from the West to Africa or was put on a plane and flown over to the continent of Africa. [00:10:54]

So, the lack of indigenous ministries that are working to produce content amongst their own people and then distribute that content in local ways, just like putting that content on boda bodas, you don't have an Amazon, right, or a UPS, which I hear is hanging around here waiting to ship books for you back home. [00:11:42]

So, because of the lack of theological resources, it's meant that most pastors, even most ministries, most individuals who are trying to equip pastors are starved of the resources necessary to be able to properly equip those pastors, even something as basic as Bibles. Quite recently, we were talking to a very solid and sound ministry partner in the coastal part of our country, and with our training program which we highly subsidize to be able to train people for three dollars and fifty cents, he was telling me, "Ken, they can't pay that three dollars and fifty cents, because the guy that you're trying to get to do that is a guy who's trying to preach from the book of Exodus and can't because he doesn't have that book in his Bible." [00:12:39]

So, when you speak about a fifty percent on the continent who claim to be Christians, it looks different in different places. So, in our country specifically, there's almost eighty percent. It's a little less than eighty percent who will claim to be Christian. And what that will look like in the city is a very cultural Christianity, right? People who, their parents were reached by the missionaries, and let's say it was Anglican missionaries who reached them, and their parents attended the Anglican church, and now they are just committed to the Anglican church or the Baptist Church or the Presbyterian Church. [00:21:58]

And yet when we ask those questions about what is the gospel, you do not really get a biblical answer. So again, it's become the Christianity has become an identity that is, in many ways, apart from the Christ of the Scriptures. And even though in that context there's actually a lot of pain and suffering that they have experienced, the sad part is when you're articulating what the Bible teaches, you just hear very different answers. [00:24:37]

But over the next thirty years there will be an additional two billion souls that will be added to the planet. Over half of those will come from Africa. And so, Africa's population will double in the next thirty years. What that means is this, try to get your mind around it, that's like adding China today to Africa. All the people in China today, adding those to Africa. [00:26:55]

And another thing that I think we need to keep in front of us too, as we think about Africa, is also this idea of the Global South. And so, when we look to the Global South, one thing that we're seeing is that probably within the next ten to fifteen years, the Global South will eclipse the Global North, which the United States is part of, in terms of sending missionaries around the world. [00:27:42]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?