How Can I Help Missionary Work in Africa?

Missionary work in Africa is an ongoing venture, as laborers work to share the good news with millions of people in need on the continent. There are 1.4 billion people living in Africa, accounting for 17.62% of the world’s total population.[1][2] Africa is the world’s second largest continent after Asia. Even as more people move from rural areas into cities, much of the continent is still rural.

The standard of living for most of Africa is well below international averages, with life expectancies way under 60 years in most cases.[3] Many people also lack proper sanitation and medical care, and the water supply is inadequate for large portions of the population.[4] In 2020, about 282 million people in Africa were experiencing hunger, and worldwide events in recent years have only intensified the problem.[5]

GFA World has over 45 years of ministry experience in South Asia and is now expanding its work into Africa. The African headquarters are being established in Kigali, Rwanda. In this city, the first GFA church has already been launched, and several hundred believers are meeting and worshiping together.

Besides the church, we have also set up a new branch of our child sponsorship program in Kigali. This program helps make sure poor children get an education—one of the main keys to breaking out of the cycle of poverty. This is an amazing ministry because 32 million children do not attend school in sub-Saharan Africa.[6]

GFA’s African ministry is highly focused on meeting the tangible needs of people and bringing the Gospel to those who need it most, just as it is in South Asia. This focus includes addressing vital needs such as inadequate healthcare and a lack of available clean water.

GFA is in the process of training national missionaries—such as the women of the Sisters of Compassion, who are specially trained to serve in areas of crisis like slums and leprosy colonies—to address these and many other needs.[7]

This is extensive work that has been initiated, and there are many resources needed to continue the growth of the ministry. GFA World is continuing to work on getting further established in Rwanda and making plans to spread out across neighboring countries like Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.[8]


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