Chopo Mwanza pastors Faith Baptist Church Riverside in Kitwe, Zambia, and his thoughts about missions in Africa provide insightful context to the work of 127’s east African partners. Our GO teams qualify as some of the very western missionaries he addresses, and we welcome his instruction as beneficial to our cross-cultural engagement. We hope that 127 Worldwide will join Pastor Mwanza in “[seizing] the opportunities that our diversity brings by joyfully, graciously and honestly working together through the challenges of cross-cultural missions, both in Africa and abroad.”
To Western Missionaries: From An African Pastor – TGC Africa
Reflection Questions:
- Before reading Pastor Mwanza’s article, have you thought of or described a mission trip as “taking the gospel to Africa?” How does the history of Christianity and church planting already happening on the continent reshape the way we might describe our partnership with African believers in gospel work?
- Pastor Mwanza warns that “many of us are building little kingdoms for ourselves and are envious when others experience the fruits God grants.” Knowing that 127’s ministry model is one of partnership, what are some negative examples of ways GO Teams could prioritize their own “ministry” to the neglect of kingdom work? On the other hand, what are ways GO Teams can intentionally display God’s transformative work through partnership?
