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Global South: About this series
Churches of Christ are changing.
Less than a century ago, most of the members were concentrated in the United States. But after decades of evangelism, the epicenters of church growth have shifted to the Global South — Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Increasingly, Christians from these regions are taking the lead in evangelizing their own people and reaching beyond their borders.
The Christian Chronicle launched Global South in 2009 to spotlight the changing face of the church. The series focuses on indigenous-led ministries, including the Makanisa School for the Deaf in Ethiopia.
Other features describe how the changing demographics of faith are transforming Churches of Christ in the U.S. and Europe.
Less than a century ago, most of the members were concentrated in the United States. But after decades of evangelism, the epicenters of church growth have shifted to the Global South — Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Increasingly, Christians from these regions are taking the lead in evangelizing their own people and reaching beyond their borders.
The Christian Chronicle launched Global South in 2009 to spotlight the changing face of the church. The series focuses on indigenous-led ministries, including the Makanisa School for the Deaf in Ethiopia.
Other features describe how the changing demographics of faith are transforming Churches of Christ in the U.S. and Europe.
Global South: The changing face of the church
Links to stories in this series
Part 1
The changing face of the church (series introduction, from Ukpom, Nigeria)
South goes North (Africans in Minnesota, from Brooklyn Park, Minn.)
Africa: A century later, church membership tops 1 million (region-by-region feature, from Kumasi, Ghana)
A conversation with Wendell Broom (former missionary to Nigeria, from Abilene, Texas)
The new demographics of faith (editorial)
Part 2
Dream for Christian college materializes (education and Africa, from Accra, Ghana)
He takes notes, shoots photos — and preaches (Inside Story column about Ghanaian church, from Amsterdam)
Christianity’s southward shift demands new history (review of “The New Shape of World Christianity” by Mark A. Noll)
Part 3
Whom shall we send (U.S. missionaries versus indigenous workers, from Kakinada, India)
Burkina Faso: New life in a land of wooden crosses (example of American missionary team working in Global South, from Ur-gawn, Burkina Faso)
To reach Togo (example of African indigenous mission work, from Kpalime, Togo)
A conversation with Joyce Hardin (former missionary to Korea)
Part 4
Ghana goes global (How African immigration is changing churches in Europe, from Antwerp, Belgium)
U.S. churches look south to meet Spanish demand (from Quito, Ecuador)
God’s call to mission knows no nationality (Views column by Carla Borja Lowe, a Mexican-born church member who has done missions in Italy)
Part 5
Post-apartheid era brings blessings (profile of Churches of Christ in South Africa, from Benoni, South Africa)
50 years of missions support (profile of Al and Donna Horne, from Benoni, South Africa)
Part 6
A supporting role for U.S. Christians (examples of U.S. missionaries taking on support roles instead of traditional evangelistic roles, from Tabacundo, Ecuador)
In Ecuador, faith reaches new heights (profile of indigenous church, from San Bartolo, Ecuador)
India and the subcontinent: A profile of churches (from New Delhi, India)
A conversation with Mark A. Noll (Christian author and scholar)
In U.S. and Africa, refugee teaches Christ to his people (profile of Sudanese church member, from Oklahoma City)
A conversation with Maria Dutton (church member in Brazil)
Part 7
Camp Cambodia: Teens in Asia serve (from Siem Reap, Cambodia)
Southeast Asia: A profile of churches (from Johor Bahru, Malaysia)
Part 8
Can Christians and Muslims coexist? (from Kokologho, Burkina Faso)
Demon possession, healings are common beliefs in Africa
Part 9
Mr. Boateng goes to Washington: Believers from Global South worship in D.C. area (from Hyattsville, Md.)
To give hope, it takes a village (profile of Village of Hope, from Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana)
Law school grad: ‘Love lifted me’ from the streets to success (profile of Ghanaian youth helped by Village of Hope, from Edmond, Okla.)
After eight years in Africa, Dr. Ellen Little comes home (profile of missions doctor to Uganda, from Abilene, Texas)
Part 10
‘Listen to what we have to say’ (Vice President of Malawi applauds church members for partnership, from Indianapolis)
Celebrating the beautiful game (Africa’s first World Cup shows emergence of Global South)
Part 11
Life, death and rebirth in The Killing Fields (feature on Churches of Christ in Cambodia, from Phnom Penh)
Singapore salvation (feature on Churches of Christ in Singapore, from Singapore)
Part 12
Should Christians in the U.S. support African preachers? (from Tubungu, Swaziland)
African schools, missions seek ways to balance support, self-sufficiency (from Tubungu, Swaziland)
Couple’s marriage ministry spans Africa (feature on Janet and Fielden Allison, from Ngwenya, Swaziland)
South African women encouraged, mentored, challenged at conference (from Johannesburg, South Africa)
Part 13
The face of Malawi: In a small African nation, Churches of Christ thrive (from Jali, Malawi)
The miracle of Malawi: After a century of dramatic growth, Churches of Christ focus on unity, urban ministry (from Thondwe, Malawi)
Part 14
Signs of love: Churches of Christ in Ethiopia serve the hearing-impaired (from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Part 15
Wanted: Leaders for Latin America (from Tegucigalpa, Honduras)
Baxter trains Latinos to reach Latin America — and the U.S. (from Tegucigalpa, Honduras)
It takes a village: After years of building trust, Christians win souls among Panama’s Kuna people (from Ipeti Kuna, Panama)
Latin America: From dirt roads to urban pavement, Churches of Christ take root (from Maczul Sexto, Guatemala)
A conversation with Hadayat Din (church planter in Pakistan
Part 16
The Gospel in South Sudan: In world’s newest nation, Africans plant churches (from Juba, Sudan)
In Sudan, believer shares story of his abduction, survival and salvation (from Juba, Sudan)
SOUTH SUDAN: Despite independence, conflicts continue
‘This is my place’ — Sudanese Christians return home to help a struggling new nation (from Parajok, Sudan)
EDITORIAL: A legacy to reach the unreached
Fifty years later, Brazilian Christians honor historic team
A conversation with Howard Norton (pioneering missionary to Brazil)
Part 17
A tale of two church plants: In Brazil, native Christians and U.S. missionaries carry on a legacy of evangelism (from Guarapari, Brazil)
Brazilian church partners in job training (from Vitoria, Brazil)
A nephew’s ‘gift’ leads to transformed lives (from Vitoria, Brazil)
VIEWS: In Africa, foreign support may rob God of his role as sustainer
VOICES: A mingling of the mission-minded (from North Richland Hills, Texas)
EDITORIAL: To reach the majority, we must decrease
The changing face of the church (series introduction, from Ukpom, Nigeria)
South goes North (Africans in Minnesota, from Brooklyn Park, Minn.)
Africa: A century later, church membership tops 1 million (region-by-region feature, from Kumasi, Ghana)
A conversation with Wendell Broom (former missionary to Nigeria, from Abilene, Texas)
The new demographics of faith (editorial)
Part 2
Dream for Christian college materializes (education and Africa, from Accra, Ghana)
He takes notes, shoots photos — and preaches (Inside Story column about Ghanaian church, from Amsterdam)
Christianity’s southward shift demands new history (review of “The New Shape of World Christianity” by Mark A. Noll)
Part 3
Whom shall we send (U.S. missionaries versus indigenous workers, from Kakinada, India)
Burkina Faso: New life in a land of wooden crosses (example of American missionary team working in Global South, from Ur-gawn, Burkina Faso)
To reach Togo (example of African indigenous mission work, from Kpalime, Togo)
A conversation with Joyce Hardin (former missionary to Korea)
Part 4
Ghana goes global (How African immigration is changing churches in Europe, from Antwerp, Belgium)
U.S. churches look south to meet Spanish demand (from Quito, Ecuador)
God’s call to mission knows no nationality (Views column by Carla Borja Lowe, a Mexican-born church member who has done missions in Italy)
Part 5
Post-apartheid era brings blessings (profile of Churches of Christ in South Africa, from Benoni, South Africa)
50 years of missions support (profile of Al and Donna Horne, from Benoni, South Africa)
Part 6
A supporting role for U.S. Christians (examples of U.S. missionaries taking on support roles instead of traditional evangelistic roles, from Tabacundo, Ecuador)
In Ecuador, faith reaches new heights (profile of indigenous church, from San Bartolo, Ecuador)
India and the subcontinent: A profile of churches (from New Delhi, India)
A conversation with Mark A. Noll (Christian author and scholar)
In U.S. and Africa, refugee teaches Christ to his people (profile of Sudanese church member, from Oklahoma City)
A conversation with Maria Dutton (church member in Brazil)
Part 7
Camp Cambodia: Teens in Asia serve (from Siem Reap, Cambodia)
Southeast Asia: A profile of churches (from Johor Bahru, Malaysia)
Part 8
Can Christians and Muslims coexist? (from Kokologho, Burkina Faso)
Demon possession, healings are common beliefs in Africa
Part 9
Mr. Boateng goes to Washington: Believers from Global South worship in D.C. area (from Hyattsville, Md.)
To give hope, it takes a village (profile of Village of Hope, from Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana)
Law school grad: ‘Love lifted me’ from the streets to success (profile of Ghanaian youth helped by Village of Hope, from Edmond, Okla.)
After eight years in Africa, Dr. Ellen Little comes home (profile of missions doctor to Uganda, from Abilene, Texas)
Part 10
‘Listen to what we have to say’ (Vice President of Malawi applauds church members for partnership, from Indianapolis)
Celebrating the beautiful game (Africa’s first World Cup shows emergence of Global South)
Part 11
Life, death and rebirth in The Killing Fields (feature on Churches of Christ in Cambodia, from Phnom Penh)
Singapore salvation (feature on Churches of Christ in Singapore, from Singapore)
Part 12
Should Christians in the U.S. support African preachers? (from Tubungu, Swaziland)
African schools, missions seek ways to balance support, self-sufficiency (from Tubungu, Swaziland)
Couple’s marriage ministry spans Africa (feature on Janet and Fielden Allison, from Ngwenya, Swaziland)
South African women encouraged, mentored, challenged at conference (from Johannesburg, South Africa)
Part 13
The face of Malawi: In a small African nation, Churches of Christ thrive (from Jali, Malawi)
The miracle of Malawi: After a century of dramatic growth, Churches of Christ focus on unity, urban ministry (from Thondwe, Malawi)
Part 14
Signs of love: Churches of Christ in Ethiopia serve the hearing-impaired (from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Part 15
Wanted: Leaders for Latin America (from Tegucigalpa, Honduras)
Baxter trains Latinos to reach Latin America — and the U.S. (from Tegucigalpa, Honduras)
It takes a village: After years of building trust, Christians win souls among Panama’s Kuna people (from Ipeti Kuna, Panama)
Latin America: From dirt roads to urban pavement, Churches of Christ take root (from Maczul Sexto, Guatemala)
A conversation with Hadayat Din (church planter in Pakistan
Part 16
The Gospel in South Sudan: In world’s newest nation, Africans plant churches (from Juba, Sudan)
In Sudan, believer shares story of his abduction, survival and salvation (from Juba, Sudan)
SOUTH SUDAN: Despite independence, conflicts continue
‘This is my place’ — Sudanese Christians return home to help a struggling new nation (from Parajok, Sudan)
EDITORIAL: A legacy to reach the unreached
Fifty years later, Brazilian Christians honor historic team
A conversation with Howard Norton (pioneering missionary to Brazil)
Part 17
A tale of two church plants: In Brazil, native Christians and U.S. missionaries carry on a legacy of evangelism (from Guarapari, Brazil)
Brazilian church partners in job training (from Vitoria, Brazil)
A nephew’s ‘gift’ leads to transformed lives (from Vitoria, Brazil)
VIEWS: In Africa, foreign support may rob God of his role as sustainer
VOICES: A mingling of the mission-minded (from North Richland Hills, Texas)
EDITORIAL: To reach the majority, we must decrease
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