Doug Welch, Area Coordinator
Lacey Gilliam, Administrative Assistant

Regional liaisons:
Jeff Boyd, regional liaison for Central Africa

Nancy Collins, regional liaison for East Central Africa

Joshua David Heikkila, regional liaison for West Africa

Douglas Tilton, regional liaison for Southern Africa

Michael Weller, regional liaison for the Horn of Africa

Overview of the region

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) began its participation in God’s work in Africa when the first American Presbyterian missionaries arrived on the island of Corisco (present-day Equatorial Guinea in West Africa) in 1869. Traditionally the PC(USA) has been particularly concerned for the poorest and most marginalized people groups in Africa, and thus has significant work in places like Congo (Zaire) and Sudan. More recently special attention has been raised by several African partner churches to focus attention and resources to establish a church among people groups where there is no established Christian witness, and so concern for northern Ghanaians, the people of Niger, the Murle (Sudan), and other groups is increasingly being expressed. Today we are actively engaged with our partners in Niger, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Rwanda. We have emerging partnerships with churches in Sierra Leone, Senegal and Liberia, being presently heavily engaged in the delivering aid to Liberians. [Read more]

The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, pp. 22,23

January 22
January 23

Extra Commitment Opportunities

Related Stories

November 2, 2009 ‘Mission is a gift from God’: World Mission Celebration wraps up with Africa plenary, worship
August 2009 Central Africa Strategy document
August 11, 2009 [RNS] Secretary of State Clinton asked to raise religious freedom issues in Africa
July 16, 2009 PW Gathering hosts commissioning service for mission personnel (RLs Nancy Collins and Joshua David Heikkila; also Debbie Blane, Kay Day, and Larry and Barbara Moir)
May 5, 2009 Past Leadership Development scholar [Bright Mawudor] puts education to use with the All Africa Conference of Churches
Winter/Spring 2009 Highlights: Christian peacemaking
December 18, 2008 South African anti-apartheid cleric Boesak joins ANC breakaway
December 16, 2008  [ENI] African churches denounce burden of global economy / AACC adopts covenant addressing a host of issues
December 15  Linda Valentine's blog: Africa Trip 2008
December 10, 2008 [WCC] ‘Conventional piety’ not enough, Cameroonian pastor tells AACC
October 13, 2008  Rwanda Presbyterian to head African ecumenical body
July 2008 Janet Guyer facilitates NetACT AIDS Curriculum Development Workshop
June 17, 2008 [WARC] Africa consultation on the Accra Confession calls for stand against world disorder
November 1, 2007 New resource devoted to Africa's vulnerable children
October 2007 Tumekutana Update: A historic gathering
Sept. 9–13, 2007 Tumekutana: A conference of African women

Resource

Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon 9-10/05 Trip Report

Countries

All countries in this area are listed below. Countries with Web pages giving Presbyterian-specific information are highlighted. For other countries, there is currently no PC(USA) involvement in this country or the Web pages have not yet been prepared. The PC(USA) also participates in or relates to work in other countries through ecumenical relationships.

Overview

Africa is home to over 600 million people who speak more that a thousand languages and are citizens of some 52 nations. Africa's religious expressions are similarly diverse. Indeed, perhaps the defining feature of modern Africa is the increasing differentiation among countries and communities of believers. The truth is that there is no single Africa but a multitude of Africas.

That having been said, there are some hopeful trends to be seen in today's Africa. Positive changes are taking place. Violent struggles and wars have given way to reconciliation and nation-building. Closed economies are becoming more trade-friendly. Intra-Africa cooperation is on the rise. African churches are taking on increasingly significant roles as peacemakers, reconcilers and advocates for the poor and disadvantaged. As a result, talk about Africa these days focuses on a triad of engagement — aid, trade and investment.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has long understood that ministry and mission with Africa (and elsewhere) must be built upon a foundation of dialogue rather than dictation. That mission, if it is to be successful, sustainable and mutually beneficial, must be God-inspired and -directed and based on two-way partnership. If we follow the Will of God, we can teach and we can learn from our sisters and brothers.

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