What's Happening in Africa?

Nigeria 

• Nigeria has approximately 10 Charis churches, the fewest among the countries where the Charis Alliance is present. 

• Nigeria is a massive country with a population of 225–250 million people, making it one of the top five or six most populated countries in the world. 

• Over 700 languages are spoken here, which presents a unique challenge, even though it is an English-speaking country.  

• The Charis work in Nigeria was initiated by Chadian churches, which organically sent evangelists. 

• Encompass is currently discerning its role, partnership, and relationship with Nigeria. We are currently consulting and providing leadership development in hopes of encouraging church planting among least-reached people groups. 

Cameroon 

• Cameroon has 100–110 Charis churches. 

• The most notable new initiative in the last decade has been the Bible Institute. 

• Other work includes a health center and a desire for more evangelist training. 

• Churches here have a long history but are not recognized by the country. The government has closed some down, but they have since reopened. 

• Most churches here are refugee and immigrant churches, home to many from the Central African Republic and Chad. We are also seeing some church-planting among Cameroonian tribes in the north and east. 

• Encompass has had a missionary presence here for almost 20 years, with the most activity occurring in the last decade or so. 

Chad 

• The Charis Alliance has been in Chad for quite some time. The number of Charis churches in Chad is broadly estimated to be from 400–800, which is two to four times the number of Charis Churches in the US! 

• Educational efforts include two Bible institutes, the School of Missiology, and the School of Evangelism. 

• Bible Institutes provide a middle-school-equivalent level of education and are well-attended by village residents. They teach literacy to wives in French and Sango. 

• The School of Evangelism was started by revered national church planter Dadje Samuel, and provides the same middle-school-equivalent level of education, but focuses on church-planting and relational evangelism. 

• The School of Missiology was started under Frank Puhl and provides university-level education both on a bachelor's level and a recently-started master's level. The bachelor's level focuses on crossing cultures (such as animist and Muslim cultures). The master's level strives to send its graduates to other countries for missionary work. 

• Other work includes health centers and several hospitals. 

• Chadians are exploring ways to support church planters through projects such as orchards that can cover one-time startup expenses and ongoing ministry support. 

Central African Republic (CAR) 

• The CAR is home to several thousand Charis churches with a long history spanning more than 100 years. 

• The Charis Alliance’s educational efforts here include four Bible institutes and a seminary that offers bachelor's, master's, and a newly starting doctoral level for training new professors. 

• Our movement has medical projects in the CAR, with the project in the far northeast city of Birao being a current focus that is looking to raise about $400,000 for wells, schools, and a health center. 

• Leadership in CAR is going to be going through a generational hand-off over the next few years, and we hope to maintain healthy partnerships with new leaders. 

• We’re praying and contemplating who will follow these seasoned leaders, noting that younger people are now being considered for important leadership roles. This is a significant cultural change in Africa.