The Church in Africa is growing rapidly! We expect that 750 million people will be added to the African Church in the next 30 years and will be the center of evangelical Christianity with over 40% of the world’s evangelicals in the next few decades. But the countries of Africa, while rich in natural and human resources, are some of the worst on the poverty index. It must also become economically viable for it to carry on as the new epicenter of Christianity. So church planting in Africa necessarily requires economic development to empower the churches.
Agriculture is a critical sector for the economy. Many churches are being planted in rural agricultural communities. Pastors in these communities need a means to support themselves and the ministry of the church. So MTW, in partnership with Foundations for Farming, has launched a training program that allows small holder farmers to multiply their production 10-fold. We are working in 12 countries so far and have requests to expand to 30 more. One of our greatest needs is Western training partners to work alongside African trainers and help develop this work.