The church is not American. Its origins are not American and it’s growing stronger outside of America than inside it. 

A century ago, the average Christian in the world was likely to be living in Europe or of European ancestry. Today, the average Christian in the world is a non-white woman living in the Global South, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. As they state, “If 100 Christians represented all of global Christianity, 67 would live in Asia, Africa, Latin America or Oceania, while 33 would live in Europe or Northern America.”

In most of these countries, the church exists as a cultural minority, without influence or advantages. Believers are often socially isolated, economically disadvantaged, and politically persecuted. As the church in America shrinks in number and influence, we have much to learn from our brothers and sisters around the world. 

When American Christians think about the global church, we tend to think in terms of its deficiencies. As a result, we approach the relationship trying to provide what is lacking in resources. We send them books, trainers, and other resources. But the church in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East is overflowing with spiritual gifts from which the church in the West stands to benefit.

We have more to learn from our brothers and sisters around the world than they have to learn from us. They have something that we should desire for ourselves: a simple dependence on God and his Word as they seek to follow Christ amidst great pressure. They know, believe, and worship God with a depth and sincerity often lacking in more affluent contexts like our own. 

What can Christ’s disciples in America learn from the global church? Next week, you’ll hear from contributors who have lived and served on the front lines of the global church as they share from their firsthand experience. 

• Lloyd Kim, coordinator of Mission to the World, will speak to the value of learning from the church outside our own context.
• Neal, who serves in a majority Muslim context, shares what we can learn from Christians who are coming out of Islam. 
• Steve Robertson, director of Latin America for Mission to the World, encourages us with lessons from his time serving in South America.
• Collin Jennings, campus minister at Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, provides perspective from the church in West Africa.
• Ryan Zhang, who serves as translation manager for China Partnership and fellow at the Center for House Church Theology, reminds us of what we can gain by observing the growth of the church in China. 

The more you interact with the global church, the more you realize that Christ is building his church, and nothing will prevail against it. As we listen and learn from our brothers and sisters from the Majority World, we will be better equipped to walk by faith in our time and place.