Probably not many more than 400-500 African-American cross-cultural missionaries exist among approximately 42 million African-Americans. While the Black church focuses upon the needs of the local congregations and community — understandably so — global missions is usually the "Great Omission." Although local ministry is essential, so the mandate to the Black church is the same as to any other part of Christ’s Body — to go to the ends of the earth to give everyone the opportunity to hear the Gospel. RMNi desires to help churches establish and pursue their global mission priorities.
The work was completed at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois in 1998. You may also download and print the dissertation yourself by clicking here.
Some Recommended Theological Schools
You can help add to this list by contacting us
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL (Evangelical Free Church, but professors are representative of various evangelical theological traditions), also other graduate schools.
Distance learning & extension school options
Columbia International University, Greenville, SC (Evangelical, non-denominational)
Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS), Jackson, MS (Reformed, obviously, and evangelical) Distance Learning at RTS
Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO (Reformed, Evangelical)
Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX, (Evangelical, dispensational)
Southern Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY (Southern Baptist, Evangelical)
Moody Bible Institute (Evangelical, dispensational)
Undergrad and graduate programs available.
Wheaton College Graduate School
Third Millenium Ministries offers solid and free online theological resources.
Bryan College Master's Degree in Christian Studies
Other Schools, with an African American emphasis:
Missions Courses
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
Here are our top choices to begin your reading, or to fill out what you have already read:
This is the sanest and most comprehensive treatment of racial differences that I've read. It puts race into an international context, and debunks and clarifies what we know, what we think we know, and what we cannot know about race. Highly recommended.
Published in 2012, lives of missionaries from the 1700s to the present are collected into this useful volume.
Buy now from the William Carey Library
Venture into the world of overseas missions from an African-American perspective. This collection of articles takes you deep into the history of missions in the African-American community. You will learn of the struggles to stay connected to the world of missions in spite of great obstacles. You will read of unique cultural experiences while traveling abroad. You will feel the heart for fulfilling the Great Commission both in the African-American community and beyond.
Buy Now from the William Carey Library
Surgeon Michael Johnson has served many years in Kenya. With honesty, irony and pathos, he describes his call to missions, his attempt to negotiate the call, and his experiences with mission agencies, missionaries and those he serves. Here is a candid, and sometimes humorous chronicle of the cost of following Christ among the economically poor. This 2008 revised edition of his very insightful and provocative book What Jesus Wouldn't Do: Making the Lame Man Blind can be purchased from Amazon by clicking here.
Also, you can read articles from Dr. Johnson here on our website and visit Those Peculiar Johnsons.
This book is an exploration to rediscover the significance of the African American church's role in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Traced is the history of the spiritual foundation laid by our pre-20th century forefathers' involvement in global missions. It also explores how we must build upon that foundation today and diligently work to fulfill the mandate of Christ.
In this book, Thabiti Anyabwile offers a challenging and provocative assessment of the history of African American Christian theology, from its earliest beginnings to the present. He argues trenchantly that the modern fruit of African American theology has fallen far from the tree of its early predecessors. In doing so, Anyabwile closely examines the theological commitments of prominent African American theologians throughout American history.
Chapter by chapter, he traces what he sees as the theological decline of African American theology from one generation to the next, concluding with an unflinching examination of several contemporary figures. Replete with primary texts and illustrations, this book is a gold mine for any reader interested in the history of African American Christianity.
We are to pray for workers to bring to salvation those God is drawing to Christ (Luke 10:2; John 6:44). God uses human means. Please read the article "Time for African American Missionaries," which appeared in the October 2004 edition The Evangelical Missions Quarterly, which has seven strategies to recruit African American missionaries. It is used by permission of EMQ.
Please also see pages 265-281 and pages 303-304 of Jim's dissertation on this subject. The page numbers refer to the orginal pagination of the document, not to the PDF pagination.
If you have anecdotes and/or suggestions for effective recruitment, please contact us.
Dr. Michael Johnson has a powerful PowerPoint presentation on Divine Dissatisfation.
Here is a 2-page overview of the African American missions picture.
Can thankfulness actually keep God at arm's length and take the focus away from missions?
Many impediments to global missions are gone or greatly reduced. Here are 13 reasons to hope for a resurgence of Black global missions.
Can people who have never heard of Christ and have not rejected him be saved? Dr. Tony Evans' has developed the doctrine of "transdispensationalism," which answers in the affirmative. Go here for the background and a reply to Dr. Evans' views on this matter.
Four articles from Dr. Michael Johnson, an African American missionary surgeon, serving in Kenya with his wife Kay, since 1990.
Dr. Michael Johnson has a powerful powerpoint presentation on Divine Dissatisfation.
Charisma magazine's Andy Butcher surveyed African American missions in February, 2000.
Many impediments to global missions are gone or greatly reduced. Here are 12 reasons to hope for a resurgence of Black global missions.
Can people who have never heard of Christ and have not rejected him be saved? Dr. Tony Evans' has developed the doctrine of "transdispensationalism," which answers in the affirmative. Go here for the background and a reply to Dr. Evans' views on this matter.
Dr. Michael Johnson is an African American missionary surgeon, who served in Kenya with his wife Kay, from about 1990 until 2011. While continuing orphan care in Kenya, they now are located in the Philadelphia area and have begun ministry to ex-offenders, to those with unwanted pregnancies, and to people needing health care. Their website is: https://thosepeculiarjohnsons.org/. Dr. Johnson can write with a scalpel, as well as operate with one, excising and bringing healing.
Dr. Johnson presented a comprehensive view of his ministry and the African American church and missions at the African American Missions Seminar at Columbia International University in January 2008. View (and download) the PowerPoint presentation from that conference, which he kindly shared with us.
The 2008 revised edition of his very insightful and provocative book Making the Blind Lame: What Jesus Wouldn't Do can be purchased at bookstores such as Amazon or by contacting Paula Kushman at World Gospel Mission, POB 948, Marion IN 46952-0948. You may also order by phone by calling 765-671-7206 Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays (or leave a message any day). The cost is $12.00 and shipping is about $3.00.
Annual federal financial information
for this ministry can be accessed at: