I received a newsletter from a young missionary family who is not in language and culture learning mode in a south-central African country. They had recently attended a conference at which they met African Christians from several surrounding nations. They were somewhat surprised by the fact they most of the Africans taking part were much better educated than they. Most had masters and doctors degrees from prominent colleges and universities. It set me to thinking.
When Greta and I went to Africa in 1971, Africa was just emerging from European colonization and was still known as the "Dark Continent". Most of Africa's fifty-some nation-states were less then 10 years old and struggling with their identity. European powers had drawn the boundaries of these countries with little regard for the topographical realities on the ground. Many tribes (nations) and some of the more than 2,000 language groups were on both sides of some of those national borders. In almost every measurable area of life, Africa has declined since those days including health, education, peace, or standards of living. The one area of booming growth has been the Christian church. Africa today is no longer the "Dark Continent" but has become predominantly Christian or about 47%. In 1970 there were about 250,000 Christian congregations across the continent, today the number is more than 550,000. In other words, the church seems to be Africa's one "growth industry."
