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No research documenting African American overseas missionaries has been available for over 20 years, of which we are aware. That research in 1998 was in an unpublished doctoral dissertation, also available on this website. An article summarizing some of that earlier research, primarily to assist mission executives in recruiting African Americans, can be downloaded here (PDF).  Prior to 1998, systematic research by Wilbur Harr (1945) and Sylvia Jacobs (1982) focused upon Black missionaries in Africa. We hope this work will inform, assist, and motivate toward realizing the huge potential of the African American church for global Christian mission!

This is the accepted manuscript for the (very slightly updated) article appearing in the April, 2023 edition of Missiology: An International Review. We deeply appreciate the assistance of many in the African American mission mobilization community, as well as significant help from mission executives. Walt Robertson, our webmaster, posted research surveys and oversaw data-gathering since around 2000. We’re grateful for invaluable critiques of peer reviewers, and encouragement provided by Missiology. Unusually, we credit the assistance of intercessors who prayed for years that this work would reach the academic and, hopefully, the general missions community.

While the authors hold the copyright, and while you may freely download and print the article, Sage Publications controls reproduction beyond personal use—please see the text box on p. 1 for permissions.

https://rmni.org/files/afam/HistoryandResearch/African-American-Missionaries-Serving-Overseas.pdf

South Sudan is the world’s newest country, having gained its independence in 2011. Sadly, in that short time it has become a study of a nation’s collapse.

Though South Sudan is oil-rich, pervasive corruption and nine years of tribal warfare have left it the world’s poorest country. Heavy inflation has critically reduced food production, leaving 7 million people on the edge of starvation. Almost 60% of the population are refugees of one category or another.

I will turn our attention to the widows of South Sudan. We know God’s eye is on the fatherless, so his compassion touches the widows who hold the fatherless. They are the ones left with babes in arms, with makeshift “homes” in the vast UN camps, with distress for their own safety, and grief for the losses which their children suffer.

The following analysis will reveal how widows suffer the most and in the worst ways.

I have been in Kenya 14 years now. My current title is Assistant to the Director and Founder of PACE Ministries. I do a lot of things, but teaching is probably my best description. I help with staff chapel as well as lead the Sunday worship and teaching for our primary and secondary students. I have a hand in developing partnerships; I mentor students. Our ministry sponsors two schools and I am a part of the administrative team.

Cross-cultural expatriate missionaries pay a price for their calling. They must learn a new language and culture, leave their family, and develop a new circle of friends. They generally have to wait years to raise financial support. Depending upon their adopted location, they may be liable to exotic diseases, dysfunctionad is necessary—but is most of the extra for ministry, or for the missionary and the agency? Missionaries are ultimately accountable to the Lord, not to my standards of what is “reasonable.” However, I am accountable to the Lord for the use of funds entrusted to me, so must make a value judgement as to whether or not a figure makes sense to me.

Was Jesus packing?  I only asked because inquiring minds want to know.  Was He strapped?  Was the Lord carrying a concealed weapon?  Was the  Christ armed?  I know these may seem like heresy and to say the least undignified questions.  However, the matter came up as I was reading a passage of the Bible that referred to the advice the Lord gave to His
disciples, just shortly before His arrest. Here it is as recorded in Luke's gospel.

Lu 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Lu 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Lu 22:38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Now I have not had the privilege of Biblical study in a seminary.  I have yet to hear a sermon preached on this.  I have read a few commentaries on this passage.  To say the least, I am as confused as ever.

In the early 1980's I sat on the forth row of my college church. Little did I know that a young lady would speak that day and share words that would change the course of my life forever. It must have been providence that our paths would cross at that moment, for I’ve never seen her again, yet her message haunts me even to this day.

She was just returning from a short-term mission trip to South Africa. In that day, she had to be declared an “honorary white” to travel and minister with her colleagues. What really struck me was this comment: she said some South Africans were resistant to accepting the gospel message because they had never seen a Black missionary spreading the news. Hearing that, I was knocked out of my comfortable space as I soberly realized that our absence on the mission field was actually hindering the spread of the gospel. Since that time, one of my great desires has been to see more African Americans respond to the Great Commission.

What is so exciting is that these days, our involvement in cross cultural missions seems to be growing. I have been overjoyed meet other African American missionaries. I have been Excited (with a capital E!) to talk to several this year who are preparing for long-term assignments in other parts of the world. I believe God is moving and stirring us up! I have long awaited such a time as this. Could the time be now?! One pastor said, "Only God can make a wave, let's just be ready to ride it!" Do you see a wave of the Spirit moving among us?

“You should be ashamed to die until you’ve made some contribution to mankind.” So spoke the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he quoted his predecessor pastor, Rev. Vernon Johns, of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. In the 21st century, taking the gospel of Christ to all the world is the greatest contribution to mankind that the African American Christian community can make. If we don’t make this a priority, we should surely be ashamed to die.

We have to start letting go of some of our long-held ideas about church and ministry. Especially when it comes to evangelism and outreach. But it’s not always easy.

Here’s a true story that illustrates that reality. (I’ve kept some details vague, and adjusted others slightly to protect the identity of the pastor and church in question.)

Recently, I was talking with a small church pastor who was upset at his deacons.

"I have five deacons," he told me. "And they help out everywhere but at the church. One of them builds houses for Habitat for Humanity, the others volunteer at the senior center, the homeless shelter, the food bank, and as an assistant coach for the high school football team. That last one makes me especially angry."

"Why is that?” I asked.

Continue reading at ChristianityToday

The Smokin' For Jesus event was a great time for over 100 volunteers to join in loving our friends at the Westside. The first picture below is of volunteers praying before the event--a shot which omits those at the serving lines. We had a lot of fun together, with excellent ministry, music and the message of Christ going out. Nine churches, including charismatic Baptists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Bible Church and Independent churches came together as one, together with a half-dozen parachurch ministries. The Bride of Christ looked great! Be sure to visit the FaceBook page of Westside Network. 

Did you know there is actually a manifesto for African Americans and missions?!

I have talked to Christians who have never met an African American missionary. I have been to churches where members don’t remember ever having a cross-cultural missionary share at their services. And while it may not seem that a lot is happening among African Americans and missions, God is reviving a rich legacy in missions among those who are seeking to serve!

The Bible says, “seek and ye shall find.” A group of mission seekers came together to ratify the African American Missions Mobilization Manifesto. It crystallizes the vision and passion for global missions. It also includes some important history and statistics.

Here are a few quick excerpts: