Sunday, February 19 - 26, 2023
Bright Continent: African Christianity as a Light to the Nations
Winter 2023 Global Ministry Conference
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1)
Something has changed and it requires us to reexamine what it means to partner with the global church. Fifty-plus years ago Global Ministry meant the church in the west (Europe and North America) bringing the gospel to the rest. Hence the phrase was coined from the west to the rest. Since that time the church in the rest of the world, but especially the global south, has grown exponentially. There are now far more churches and Christians in the south than in the northern hemisphere. And Africa is a leader in that movement.
This does not mean our role is finished. We in the north are still valued as partners who bring theological training, vocational resourcing and centuries of working out what it means to be the church. But the key word is partner. Not parent. This shift is exciting in that it is the answer to the prayer and toil of thousands of workers over hundreds of years. This shift is renewing many churches and individuals in the global north as believers from the south migrate globally and bring a vibrant Christianity that awakens those it encounters. This shift calls for partnerships between churches to reach the unreached in each other’s lands.
This shift requires a change in how we understand our role and understand our partners.
This February’s Global Ministry Conference Bright Continent: African Christianity as a light to the nations (February 19-26) celebrates that shift and helps us grasp our new role. We are incredibly blessed to have an established partnership with Karen Community Church of Nairobi. It was begun over 20 years ago and has been life-giving to both congregations. This winter’s conference brings partners from Kenya to share their lives, their hearts and their words with us. We’ve invited all of our global partners in Africa to send us virtual updates, sharing ways they are partnering with this burgeoning church as well.
The passage above outlines what partnerships can look like. Attend, interact and most of all pray that God would make us a church that partners well.
Something has changed and it requires us to reexamine what it means to partner with the global church. Fifty-plus years ago Global Ministry meant the church in the west (Europe and North America) bringing the gospel to the rest. Hence the phrase was coined from the west to the rest. Since that time the church in the rest of the world, but especially the global south, has grown exponentially. There are now far more churches and Christians in the south than in the northern hemisphere. And Africa is a leader in that movement.
This does not mean our role is finished. We in the north are still valued as partners who bring theological training, vocational resourcing and centuries of working out what it means to be the church. But the key word is partner. Not parent. This shift is exciting in that it is the answer to the prayer and toil of thousands of workers over hundreds of years. This shift is renewing many churches and individuals in the global north as believers from the south migrate globally and bring a vibrant Christianity that awakens those it encounters. This shift calls for partnerships between churches to reach the unreached in each other’s lands.
This shift requires a change in how we understand our role and understand our partners.
This February’s Global Ministry Conference Bright Continent: African Christianity as a light to the nations (February 19-26) celebrates that shift and helps us grasp our new role. We are incredibly blessed to have an established partnership with Karen Community Church of Nairobi. It was begun over 20 years ago and has been life-giving to both congregations. This winter’s conference brings partners from Kenya to share their lives, their hearts and their words with us. We’ve invited all of our global partners in Africa to send us virtual updates, sharing ways they are partnering with this burgeoning church as well.
The passage above outlines what partnerships can look like. Attend, interact and most of all pray that God would make us a church that partners well.
Pre-Conference Survey
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Africa is home to ____% of the world’s Christians
Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
6. Christianity grew in Africa from ____ million in 1970 to ____ million in 2020.
SHORT ANSWER
b. _______________________________________________________________
1. Africa is home to ____% of the world’s Christians
- 7%
- 17%
- 27%
- 47%
- 19%
- 29%
- 39%
- 59%
- 11%
- 21%
- 31%
- 41%
- 8%
- 18%
- 28%
- 38%
- 19
- 29
- 39
Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
6. Christianity grew in Africa from ____ million in 1970 to ____ million in 2020.
- 50 to 250
- 75 to 500
- 100 to 700
- 125 to 900
SHORT ANSWER
- Looking at the following map, what would you suggest as two implications for the Chapel’s Global Ministry strategy
b. _______________________________________________________________
Source: Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo, World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd ed. (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2019), 4.
2. In what ways has the Chapel benefited from our partnership with Karen Community Church? (If you are relatively new, feel free to share what you
have heard if not experienced.)
a.
b.
c.
3. List the names of any people you know at the Chapel who have been to Africa. (Global Ministry, military, leisure or other) Include yourself. What’s
one impression it made on them?
Name Impression
a.
b.
c.
Answers to Quiz
1.C, 2. C, 3. A, 4. A, 5. A. 6. C
2. In what ways has the Chapel benefited from our partnership with Karen Community Church? (If you are relatively new, feel free to share what you
have heard if not experienced.)
a.
b.
c.
3. List the names of any people you know at the Chapel who have been to Africa. (Global Ministry, military, leisure or other) Include yourself. What’s
one impression it made on them?
Name Impression
a.
b.
c.
Answers to Quiz
1.C, 2. C, 3. A, 4. A, 5. A. 6. C
Conference Schedule of Events
Prepare for the Conference - Why Have A Conference on African Christianity?
Sunday, February 5 & 12 African Christianity on the Move: A two-week Discipleship Course with Mark Shaw
Overview: The statistics about the size of African Christianity are impressive but may obscure an even more important story: African Christianity is on the move, transforming Africa and heading around the world. What do we need to know about this global movement and what concerns and questions do we have about its future and its impact? Pastor Mark Shaw draws on his 30 years of research, writing and teaching in and about African Christianity.
Week 1 (Feb. 5) Modern African Christianity: The Movement Begins. Christianity in Africa is ancient, dating to the first century AD. But the renewal of African Christianity in the 20th century has produced a new great awakening that is changing the face of the continent.
9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. in Room 204
Week 2 (Feb 12) Modern Africa Christianity: The Movement Goes Global. The African awakening moves to Europe, North America, and beyond bringing new forms of the faith and engaging global secularism. What does the future of World Christianity look like given the African great awakening?
9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. in Room 204
Overview: The statistics about the size of African Christianity are impressive but may obscure an even more important story: African Christianity is on the move, transforming Africa and heading around the world. What do we need to know about this global movement and what concerns and questions do we have about its future and its impact? Pastor Mark Shaw draws on his 30 years of research, writing and teaching in and about African Christianity.
Week 1 (Feb. 5) Modern African Christianity: The Movement Begins. Christianity in Africa is ancient, dating to the first century AD. But the renewal of African Christianity in the 20th century has produced a new great awakening that is changing the face of the continent.
9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. in Room 204
Week 2 (Feb 12) Modern Africa Christianity: The Movement Goes Global. The African awakening moves to Europe, North America, and beyond bringing new forms of the faith and engaging global secularism. What does the future of World Christianity look like given the African great awakening?
9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. in Room 204
The Conference Week
Sunday, February 19
8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, February 21
6:30 a.m.
Wednesday, February 22
7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 25
10:00 a.m. until 2:00 pm
Sunday, February 26
8:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
- Prayer for the conference. Room 201
- KidzMin classes hear the what and the why of our partnership
- PSM and Middle School students learn from guest speaker Nate Solder how Ugandan orphans are being cared for in Jesus’ name.
- Discipleship Course – - Folk Islam in Africa taught by Dr. Judy Wang'ombe .As partners we want to understand the important adjective folk as it describes Islam practiced by the Aweer and many people groups in Africa. Update from Dave and Sally Lott on Member Care for African partners. Host: Dave Lott Room 202
- Worship Service: Ministry Report - Ezekiel and Lucy W, Global Ministry Partners of PCC working among the Aweer for the last 30 years. You’ll sense God’s love in and through this couple. Sermon - Pastor John Paul Mugendi of Karen Community Church, Nairobi. His sermon on The What, Why and How of Church Partnerships: John 17:23 renews our vision as we prepare to sign a new 5-year commitment next Sunday.
- Halftime – Check out the display tables and Aweer Museum in the Café as well as An Aweer Village on the front lawn. Interact with our Kenyan partners in both locations.
- KidzMin large group worship hears from Lois Shaw on the life of African children
- Discipleship Course – The Story of the Gospel among the Aweer taught by Dr. Harun Wang’ombe Karuku. Hear how God has been at work through both breakthroughs and breakdowns. Virtual update from Bible translators headed for Chad, Johan and Kathleen Pittet. Host: Charlie Carmichael Room 202
- Worship Service will be the same as at 9:00 a.m.
- Café Lunch with Ezekiel and Lucy W interviewed by Lois Shaw. Virtual update from Greg and Rebecca Moser in Nairobi. No registration necessary.
- PSM Large group activities followed at 7:00 p.m. by a panel discussion with Pastor John Paul Mugendi, Lucy W, Mark and Lois Shaw.
- Small group gatherings with our Kenyan partners. A time to get to know a partner.
- Pastor John Paul Mugendi and Lucy W at the Chapel. Host Tom Kenney. Room 208
- Judy Wang'ombe and her husband Harun Wang’ombe Karuku at the home of Bob and Carol Bryant located near the Chapel (411 Brentmeade Dr., Yorktown)
- Ezekiel W. at the home of Mike and Joy Mynes in Denbigh (113 Poseidon Dr, NN).
Tuesday, February 21
6:30 a.m.
- Prayer with our Kenyan partners. Come pray with and for our partners in groups small enough to know and be known. Prayer is the power partnerships run on. Our time concludes at 7:30 a.m. but feel free to leave whenever your schedule requires. If you can’t join us, devote some time elsewhere in the day. Hall C
Wednesday, February 22
7:00 p.m.
- Ash Wednesday Service at the Chapel. Lent begins with a look at our need for Easter. Our partnership goal is bringing light of Easter to the nations.
Saturday, February 25
10:00 a.m. until 2:00 pm
- An Aweer Village Experience. Our Kenyan partners interpret life in the village for all ages. A special focus on Life for Aweer Women happens from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and includes food samples. Observe and play children’s activities, adult crafts and living skills. The Café Aweer Museum will also have interpreters and samples. This day is invaluable for any of us who may never make it to the coast of Kenya! In case of inclement weather, join us inside at the Café Aweer Museum.
Sunday, February 26
8:30 a.m.
- Prayer for the conference. Room 201
- KidzMin classes see and hear what some of the Aweer Museum artifacts mean.
- PSM and Middle School students laugh with and learn from Ezekiel W. This hour could change a worldview for life.
- Discipleship Course – Aweer Women: Life in light of the Gospel taught by Lucy W. and Lois Shaw. Men are welcome. Virtual update from John and Kate Shaw in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Host: Jamie Kuehni Room 202
- Worship Service: Ministry Report – Partnership Agreement 2023-2027 Signing We recommit to our partnership with Karen Community Church to reach the Aweer and two people groups PCC has engaged in Central and Eastern Asia (both services). Sermon - Dr. Kyama Mugambi, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Yale University, demonstrates from Scripture and life experience what it looks like for God to use one culture (in his case African) to reach others (the world in 2023).
- Halftime – Check out the display tables and Aweer Museum in the Café as well as An Aweer Village on the front lawn. Interact with our Kenyan partners in both locations.
- KidzMin large group worship travel with Family Pastor Edward Murray on his recent trip to visit our Kenyan partners.
- Discipleship Course – KCC’s Vision for the Partnership taught by Pastor John Paul Mugendi of Karen Community Church. Virtual update from global partners Greg and Rebekah Moser in Nairobi. Host: Dave Lott Room 202
- Worship Service will be the same as at 9:00 a.m.
- Conference concludes with a time of worship around the Lord’s Table; sharing about how the Lord used the week in our and our partners’ lives; prayers of thanksgiving and petition for the future. Enjoy a special partnership cake in the café and time to bid our partners farewell after our gathering. PSM will be joining adults. Halls ABC Childcare provided. Childcare Registration
Speakers
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Pastor John Paul Mugendi | Karen Community Church, NairobiPastor John Paul Mugendi fondly known as Pastor JP is the Senior Pastor at Karen Community Church in Nairobi, Kenya where he was born and raised. He is a graduate of Africa International University where he studied Theology and the Global Academy of Transformation Leadership (Orlando, FL) where he graduated with a master's in transformational leadership. After high school, he trained as an I.T specialist but he later heeded God’s calling, joining Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) where he served as a missionary among high school students in Uganda as well as in Nairobi and Nakuru in Kenya for 12 years. During his days at Cru, he helped reach more than 85,000 students across East Africa. After his years in Cru, he felt God calling him to pursue full-time pastoral work and was hired in 2015 at Good Shepherd Africa Gospel church– in Nairobi, Kenya. He served for 7 and 1/2 years as a pastor with the Africa Gospel Church before joining Karen Community Church where he currently serves. He's married to Beryl and they have been blessed with 4 children. jpmugendi@karencommunitychurch.org
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Dr. Kyama Mugambi | Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Yale UniversityDr. Kyama Mugambi studies and teaches African Urban Christianity. He is Assistant Professor of World Christianity with a focus on Africa at Yale Divinity School and has worked in several countries in Africa. He served as a senior researcher with the Centre for World Christianity based Africa International University where he received his PhD. Baylor University Press published his book A Spirit of Revitalization: Urban Pentecostalism in Kenya in 2020. Kyama has always been connected to local churches having served in various pastoral and leadership capacities for more than 20 years. His church planting and teaching assignments took him to nine countries in Africa, and several more in the global North. He was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. Together with his wife Wambui, they have three children. kyama.mugambi@gmail.com
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Dr. Harun Wang’ombe KarukuDr. Harun Wang’ombe Karuku (PhD), is the Missions Pastor at Karen Community Church (KCC) in Nairobi, Kenya, since July 2022. He joined KCC on staff in 2019 to serve as a pastoral assistant for missions. Before that, he served as a missionary to various unreached people in Kenya with different Churches and organizations since 1995. He graduated with a PhD in Inter-religious Studies from Africa International University (AIU), Nairobi in 2022, and an M.A (Missions) from the same institution in 2006. He also graduated with a Bsc. (Agriculture) from the University of Nairobi in 1994 before joining The Sheepfold Ministries (TSM), a Kenyan missions agency, as a missionary to unreached people in Northern Kenya. He later joined Christ Is the Answer Ministries (CITAM), a Kenyan Church, to serve as a coordinator of Frontier missions in the country. He is passionate about missions, especially to people of other faiths and cultures. He is married to Dr. Judy Wang’ombe and together they are blessed with three children, Abraham (18), Miriam (17), and Emma (10). hwkaruku2012@gmail.com
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Mr. Ezekiel W and Mrs. Lucy W | Global Ministry Partner of PCC working among the Aweer for the last 30 yearsEzekiel and Lucy are PCC Global Partners. They were born in the Central part of Kenya but eventually moved and settled down in the Kenyan coast where they worked with the Kenyan government as a public health officer (Ezekiel) and secretary to the County commissioner (Lucy). They worked with the Kenyan government for ten years before joining mission work serving under Karen Community Church as full-time missionaries from 2003-2015(Ezekiel) and 2021(Lucy). They are currently coordinating community health and development work among the Aweer people and are involved in the discipleship of upcoming believers and leaders. Their desire is to see an indigenous church among the Aweer. They have been married for 24 years and have been blessed with two beautiful daughters, Kena and Riri, ages 21 and 18. E & L wainalucy@gmail.com
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Dr. Mark Shaw and Dr. Lois Shaw | Primary Global Partners serving in Nairobi, Kenya (Based in the U.S.)Mark serves in leadership and scholastic development at Africa International University (AIU) and directs the university's Center for World Christianity. Lois hosts volunteer teams who come to Africa to impact the underserved by connecting volunteers with African women leaders who are serving in holistic development. Their focus is to invest in African Christian leaders who are changing their world and to inspire North Americans to join them in that mission” When in Virginia, Mark serves as the Director of the Via Institute and is a member of the PCC preaching team. He also spends time researching and writing on the topic of World Christianity. Lois serves on the PCC Global Ministry team and is passionate about discipling (and being discipled by) women who love God's word. MarkShaw2020@gmail.com, LoisShaw2020@gmail.com
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David and Sally LottProviding member care for the Global Ministry Partners sent from PCC.
David and Sally orient and teach people more awareness about how to care for and support those living and working cross culturally. They help cross cultural workers cope and adapt and thrive amidst the differences and stresses of cross-cultural living. They provide some of this care through visits to global partners where they live and work and facilitate this care and support when the global partners come to the local area. David currently serves on the Global Ministry Team. David and Sally work together to serve as Global Ministry Care Task Force Chair. David and Sally were sent from PCC in 1998 and lived and worked in Botswana and Zambia Africa for 21 years. dave-sally-lott@usa.net |
Virtual Global Ministry Partners
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Greg and Rebecca Moser | Associate Global Partners serving in greater Nairobi regionGreg and Rebecca Moser serve in the greater Nairobi region. They offer support to Global Workers, national Christian leaders, and Third Culture Kids by providing community, hospitality and pastoral care. Greg is a businessman who uses his position to mentor younger workers. Rebecca is in training for serving as a spiritual director for expat and national gospel workers.
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Jonathan and Kate Shaw | Associate Global Partners Serving in Goma, Democratic Republic of CongoOur Ministry: Entrepreneurship, Education, and Community. Through multiple BAM initiatives and educational avenues we seek to make a kingdom impact in our community here by providing life-changing energy access to thousands of citizens and small businesses, supporting and mentoring young change-makers and entrepreneurs, improving educational options and outcomes for Congolese young people, and providing hospitality ministry to our extended team and community. Our BAM initiatives include Nuru solar energy company (www.nuru.cd), and Cafe Kivu Coffee company (www.cafekivu.com) which provide over 100 jobs locally. Educational initiatives include ABC school (Congo Christian Bilingual Academy in Beni (www.congoinitiative.org/abc/). jonathan.e.shaw@gmail.com, kateshawcongo@gmail.com
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Johan and Kathleen Pittet | Primary Global Partners serving in Chad in AfricaJohan and Kathleen serve with TEAM in Chad, where they help facilitate health, outreach, well-drilling, and translation ministries through practical and administrative work at the TEAM station in the capital, N'Djamena. They also have the vision to work along a people group called the Runga through translation and well-drilling specifically as God opens doors in timing and logistics to make the move. kkathleen622@gmail.com
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Kenya Task Force Members: Ask how you could be involved in our African partnerships?
Mike Mynes msmynes@gmail.com, Joy Elliott joyelliott1974@gmail.com, Mark Shaw markshaw2020@gmail.com, Lois Shaw loismshaw2020@gmail.com, Charlie Carmichael charlieandlinda79@gmail.com, Betsy Willard jbkt1@verizon.net, Jessie Frayser jessiefrayser@gmail.com
Next Steps
So, God spoke to you during the conference. He’s nudging you to somehow be a part of what He is doing in and through the exploding African church. Following are a few steps you might take to join His work. Contact a Kenya Task Force or pastoral staff member or one of the Global Ministry Team members for details on how you could participate.
- Second Sunday Prayer for Africa - 10:45 in Room 202. You’ll hear the latest updates and reasons to celebrate. Then you’ll join a team that takes them all to God in prayer.
- Consider going or sending someone else on a short-term trip to Kenya. Trips have opened back up after Covid and we anticipate various offerings in the coming years (medical, educational, sports, etc.). Our teens are going this summer and could use your support.
- Commit to praying for a global partner you met or at least heard during the conference. Their contact info is in this brochure. Ask for regular updates and write or call them monthly for one year.
- Support an Aweer child’s education. Tuition is often free but there are other expenses like uniforms, books, transportation and sometimes lodging that are not. Some children we began supporting 15 years ago are now leaders in the Aweer community.
- Mobilize your Home Group, Bible study, family or group of friends to make a year’s commitment to one of the partners you heard from or about at the conference. Keep them informed on ways to pray, give or encourage. Host a zoom party
- Invite Mark and Lois Shaw over to learn more about their ongoing ministries in Kenya.
Questions? Want to help with conference events? Contact our Global Ministry pastor, Tom Kenney at tkenney@pccyorktown.com
Global Ministry Conference - Winter 2023 Brochure (pdf)
