Christianity Is Booming in Africa, and So Is the Economy
1) From "poor continent" to Christianity's new global headquarters
From receiving missionaries to leading spiritually and economically
Just twenty or thirty years ago, many of us pictured Africa as a poor continent that needed relief supplies and missionaries. But today, the world map is flipping.
Africa now has more Christians than any other continent and is becoming the new center of world Christianity, and backed by strong economic growth, it's sending people back to evangelize a spiritually dry Europe and America. Did you know?
2) Fast economic growth and a young population
High growth rates and a median age around 19
Growing several times faster than Europe
Many people assume Africa's growth is just about birth rates. But the speed of the economy is the real story.
Rapid growth: over the past twenty years, while post-Christian Europe struggled with growth around 1 percent a year, several African economies (such as Ethiopia, Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire) posted growth of 6 to 10 percent in many years.
The power of a young continent: while Europe's median age is over 43, Africa's is about 19. The continent is overflowing with young people who will earn, spend and pray fervently.
Moving capital: as economies grow, large African churches have grown financially strong too. They can now send missionaries abroad on their own budgets, without outside help.
3) The age of "reverse mission" to the West
African pastors filling empty Western pulpits and reshaping cities like London
"We've come to save you": reverse mission
If British missionaries once planted the seeds of the gospel in Africa, African pastors who are the fruit of that work are now landing in Britain to revive London's emptied churches.
Is London's largest church Nigerian-led? Many of the most dynamic and fastest-growing churches in London today are led by pastors of African origin.
Conclusion: where will South Korea go?
Between Europe's decline and Africa's revival
