EGN NEWS DESK
The Africa Mission Association is on a mission to assist church buildings in Africa set up mission associations in all 54 international locations from the present seven within the continent.
Stephen Mbogo, the vice chair of Africa Mission Association (AMA) is alive to the large process however equally conscious of the nice alternative to formalize nation mission associations that may be a supply of coordinating and supporting missions in respective international locations.
Speaking to Christian Daily International on the sidelines of the Christ Over Asia Africa and Latin America (COALA 2.5) assembly in Busan, South Korea, final month, Mbogo mentioned AMA is strategically working to ascertain nationwide mission associations in every African nation by fostering a way of possession and coordination on the nationwide stage.
One of the important thing challenges the AMA is tackling head-on, mentioned Mbogo, is the historic under-representation of Africa’s vital contributions to the worldwide missionary motion. This under-representation is usually mirrored in mission statistics and reviews, which are inclined to overlook the intensive missionary actions undertaken by African church buildings and organizations.
He mentioned the continental affiliation will be taught from the expertise of extra established mission our bodies, such because the Nigeria Mission Association, which has been in existence for 40 years, and the 30-year outdated Ghana Mission Association.
“We had been challenged by these different international locations as a result of we realized that until you’ve got a nationwide affiliation, reaching the unreached stays very disjointed,” mentioned Mbogo.
This unity of objective led to by an affiliation, added Mbogo, is what has enabled Latin America by COMIBAM (Ibero-American Mission Cooperation) to have detailed and up-to date details about the variety of missionaries they’ve despatched or the variety of unreached individuals teams “which can’t be mentioned the identical of Africa.”
In 2023, COMIBAM mobilized 2,750 pastors throughout 24 LATAM international locations for international missions, 850 church buildings engaged and near 1,000 ladies and youth mobilized for missions, based on the group’s 2023 report.
Mbogo, nonetheless, mentioned this doesn’t negate the affect African church buildings are having in sending missionaries to different areas of the world, thereby difficult the standard notion of missions as a primarily Western-led enterprise.
“We have an extended approach to go nevertheless it additionally reveals the necessity is there as a result of if nobody can substantively say that is the place we’re in Africa, until you measure it, you will not know should you’re attaining it or not,” mentioned Mbogo.
Despite going through numerous challenges, equivalent to restricted assets and infrastructure, Mbogo is optimistic about the way forward for Africa-led and Africa-funded missions. He emphasised the immense potential that lies throughout the ardour, dedication, and non secular vitality of African Christians, notably the youth.
Africa, with its younger and quickly rising inhabitants, is now the continent with probably the most Christians, a incontrovertible fact that Mbogo sees as a chance to double down on mission actions for the good thing about the African Church and the worldwide Christian group. He noticed that as Africa continues to be a power in sending missionaries to the remainder of the world, discipleship and particularly youth discipleship, can be “a really key issue” in increasing the Kingdom of God.
AMA is wanting throughout the continent for partnerships and impactful mission methods, added Mbogo, who cited the work of African Enterprise, a pan-African urban-focused mission group the place he serves because the CEO. African Enterprise, with its intensive expertise and experience in city missions, is taking part in a vital function in equipping and mobilizing African church buildings to successfully have interaction with the complexities of city environments.
With a presence in 12 African international locations, Africa Enterprise follows an elaborate prayer-led plan backed by God’s individuals to ascertain missions in a few of Africa’s massive cities. Mbogo mentioned it takes as much as two years to organize a brand new mission.
“We have what we name the three P’s: Preparation can take one or two years gestation the place we’re groaning and praying for town and likewise mapping town, figuring out the varied areas the place we can be concentrating on with the Gospel,” defined Mbogo.
The second stage is proclamation the place Africa Enterprise companions with totally different church buildings, skilled teams, para church organizations and authorities companies to ship a demand-driven want with a missional goal. The third is preservation, the place new believers are connected to native church companions for discipleship and coaching of pastors and church buildings.
“We name it stratified evangelism the place you attain all people at their stage. So we are saying ‘from statehouse to the streets.’ We ask ourselves: ‘how will I attain the highest leaders, the politicians, the movers and the shakers on the town?’ But you additionally ask your self, ‘how do I attain the road boy who’s within the streets?'” defined Mbogo.
Taking a holistic method to missions has allowed Africa Enterprise to affect extra individuals and has supplied a chance to exhibit Kingdom rules in several social-economic spheres. Mbogo supplied an instance of the group’s microfinance establishment in Kigali, Rwanda, which has 300,000 members and has gained a number of awards for being among the best performing para-church NGOs within the nation.
The mission ministry has additionally partnered with medical establishments in several international locations to offer free medical camps and the development of clinics in casual settlements as a part of missions to the unreached within the city areas. This, and missions to prisoners and thru sports activities, has supplied a chance to minister to individuals of different faiths and create contact factors for discipleship.
“In Africa we should tackle the social aspect intentionally with out assuming [that the physical needs have been met],” mentioned Mbogo who’s trusting God that the affect of the nationwide mission associations can be felt on the non secular stage, primarily, but in addition on the social-economic stage.
© Christian Daily International
