The Changing Face of The Changing Face of ChristianityChristianity

What is a Missionary?What is a Missionary?What does a missionary…What does a missionary…

……look like?look like?

……say?say?

……do?do?

Is this guy a missionary?Is this guy a missionary?

Which guy is the missionary?Which guy is the missionary?

Something is happening…Something is happening…

Did you know that:Did you know that:

The largest church in The largest church in Europe is Europe is made up made up primarily of African primarily of African immigrants. immigrants. The The Embassy of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom Blessed Kingdom of God for All of God for All Nations has Nations has approximately approximately 25,000 25,000 membersmembers

Something is happening…Something is happening…

Did you know that:Did you know that:

In Scotland less than In Scotland less than 10% of the 10% of the population population attends church on a attends church on a regular basis…regular basis…

But in the Phillipines the figure is But in the Phillipines the figure is nearly 70%!!!nearly 70%!!!

Something is happening…Something is happening…

Something is happening…Something is happening…

Did you know that:Did you know that:

In South Korea there are In South Korea there are four four times as many times as many Presbyterians as Presbyterians as there are in the there are in the United States, United States, even though the even though the U.S. is six U.S. is six times times larger in total population.larger in total population.

What happened?What happened?

Church Growth by 300 A.D.Church Growth by 300 A.D. -Steady Growth-Steady Growth -Social Networks-Social Networks -Commercial -Commercial

NetworksNetworks

-Lay Missionaries-Lay Missionaries

Offered:Offered: 1. ethics1. ethics 2. socialization2. socialization

What happened?What happened?

Church Growth 300 - 600 A.D.Church Growth 300 - 600 A.D. -Became official-Became official -Blurring of church -Blurring of church

and and empireempire

-Explosive growth, -Explosive growth, then then

gradual gradual slowingslowing

Offered:Offered: -Recognition-Recognition

What happened?What happened?

Church Growth 600 - 800 A.D.Church Growth 600 - 800 A.D. -Empire in Decline-Empire in Decline -Monastics-Monastics -Very slow -Very slow

Offered:Offered: -Stability-Stability

What happened?What happened?

The Next Phase of Church Growth The Next Phase of Church Growth could be called could be called ““The Church MilitantThe Church Militant””

• Conflict between Eastern and Western Conflict between Eastern and Western Christianity (what we now called Roman Christianity (what we now called Roman Catholic and Orthodox)Catholic and Orthodox)

• Conflict between Church and IslamConflict between Church and Islam

The Church MilitantThe Church Militant Growth took place primarily Growth took place primarily

through forced expansion.through forced expansion. Lasted nearly 1000 yearsLasted nearly 1000 years Even when it wasnEven when it wasn’’t t ““forcedforced””

the mindset influenced such the mindset influenced such growthgrowth

Best/Worst examples Best/Worst examples • THE CRUSADES (1000 – THE CRUSADES (1000 –

1300 AD)1300 AD)• South America (1500 – South America (1500 –

1800 AD)1800 AD)

Modern MissionsModern Missions

New Era begins around New Era begins around 18001800

William Carey goes to William Carey goes to IndiaIndia

Influenced by Religious Influenced by Religious LibertyLiberty

Dominated by English Dominated by English Speaking World (nearly Speaking World (nearly 80% of missionaries were 80% of missionaries were English speaking in the English speaking in the 1919thth and 20 and 20thth Centuries) Centuries)

2020thth Century Christianity Century Christianity

In 1900, 80% In 1900, 80% of the worlof the worldd ’’s s Christians Christians were either were either Europeans Europeans or North or North Americans.Americans.

2121stst Century Christianity Century Christianity

Now, more Now, more than 60% of than 60% of the worldthe world’’s s Christians Christians live in live in Africa, Asia, Africa, Asia, and South and South America.America.

2121stst Century Christianity Century Christianity

Most populous Christian nations:Most populous Christian nations:NationNation 20002000 20252025 20502050

U.S.U.S. 225M225M 270M270M 330M330M

BrazilBrazil 164M164M 190M190M 195M195M

MexicoMexico 95M95M 127M127M 145M145M

PhillipinesPhillipines 77M77M 116M116M 145M145M

NigeriaNigeria 50M50M 83M83M 123M123M

Zaire/CongoZaire/Congo 34M34M 70M70M 121M121M

EthiopiaEthiopia 36M36M 65M65M 79M79M

ChinaChina 50M?50M? 100M?100M? 200M?200M?

The Changing Face The Changing Face of Christian Missionof Christian Mission

So what does that mean?So what does that mean? How should that shape how we think How should that shape how we think

about how we are involved in Godabout how we are involved in God’’s s mission?mission?

Acts 10 as modelActs 10 as model

What about South Africa?What about South Africa?

44 Million People 44 Million People in South Africain South Africa• 66% of total 66% of total

population population Christian, BUTChristian, BUT

• Nearly 80% of Nearly 80% of the Black the Black population is population is ChristianChristian

What about South Africa?What about South Africa?

Most people you meet in South Most people you meet in South Africa Africa will be Christians.will be Christians.

What is a Missionary?What is a Missionary?What does a missionary…What does a missionary…

……look like?look like?

……say?say?

……do?do?