In the past, the mentality of missions has been “from the West to the rest.” However, there has been a huge paradigm shift, and these days the majority of Christian missionaries are going out from Asia, Latin America, and Africa. According to Dr. Howard Brant, "What used to be the harvest field has become the harvest force." Brant refers to what is taking place as "emerging missions."

Recently SIM leaders from West Africa and Europe gathered with West African mission and church leaders for prayer and worship, group discussion, and sessions on mission initiatives in West Africa. More than 40 people, representing 17 countries, attended the New Initiatives in Missions (NIM) conference in Accra, Ghana, February 4-9. Workshops covered topics such as current mission efforts and movements, personnel and finance, and effective approaches to sending and supporting missionaries from West Africa.

Guest speakers shared examples of how God is already moving in western Africa. On campuses, African students are catching the vision for missions and are mobilizing for evangelistic outreach. There is even special training available to students who are committed to reaching out to those who follow Islam, the primary religion of West Africa, through Bible studies and friendship. God is also working through professional outreach in North African and Arab countries. Marketplace missionaries who have a trade may be able to go to countries where missionaries and evangelists are not allowed, opening doors for relationships with these unreached people.

The popular book Back to Jerusalem has made many aware of Chinese Christians’ vision to carry the Gospel back to its place of origin. However, few know that missionaries from Nigeria, Korea, and Ethiopia are also advancing toward Jerusalem, sharing the Good News as they sweep across Asia and West Africa. According to Christopher Wright, author of The Mission of God, "The whole centre of gravity of world Christianity has moved south and east. The old peripheries are now the centre. The old centres are now on the periphery."

In response to the growing mission vision in West Africa, SIM’s international leadership has established a new SIM West Africa partnering and processing office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. SIM International Director Malcolm McGregor has stated, “This potentially multiplies the number of official doors into membership in SIM, as we work in strategic partnership with other sending bodies. This also has the potential of drawing in many other nationalities into SIM. In this globalized world, I continue to believe we will be further strengthened through this diversity.”

In a commissioning ceremony, participants of the NIM conference gathered together to dedicate and pray for the current SIM West Africa administration team: Younoussa Djao (Team Leader), Tim Welch (Resource Staff), and Suzanne Kouassi (Personnel Coordinator). Please remember to keep this new office and its leaders in your prayers. Pray also for continued growth in African mission vision and church mobilization.

*Note:This article was originally published in Serving In Mission Together, issue 125.