AFRICAN AMERICANS AND GLOBAL MISSIONS: THE GREAT OMISSION
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African Americans and Global Missions: The Great Omission
Why So Few ?
Of 35 million African Americans, perhaps as many as 400 are cross-cultural
missionaries today. The Great Commission has been the Great Omission in the
Black Church for particularly the last 20 years. Until 1980 there may have been
700+ “foreign” African American missionaries, mostly to Africa, so presently more
are serving now than ever before1. Still 400 is far less than 1 percent of the
North American Protestant missionary force, while Blacks are 12 percent of US
population. Why?
Give the Black Church a Break !
First, American slavery didn’t end until 1865. It’s difficult to go to another country
with the Gospel when a pass was sometimes required for a slave to travel in his
own county. Slaves had to gain access to the Gospel, then gain freedom. Even
so, men such as Lott Carey gained Christ, freedom and the mission field—of
Liberia.
Most black denominational mission structures were not in place until about the
1870s3. About half of black missionaries served with black denominations4.
During the Reconstruction Period, after Emancipation of the slaves, gaining
simple civil rights was high on the black agenda. The right to vote and use public
facilities was temporarily gained. White “Jim Crow” backlash against black
emancipation took the form of lynchings by the hundreds, rescinding of voter
rights and segregation by states5. As if dodging the KKK wasn’t enough, the
Great Migration of 5,600,000 blacks from rural South to industrial North occurred
between 1910 and 1950, during which families and churches were disrupted6.
Violence was returned with riots in the 1943-1969 period. The Civil Rights
movement, which retrieved at tremendous price the rights taken away after
Reconstruction, lasted until the late 60s7. Racism existed in the white
evangelical Christian community in the forms of denying blacks entrance into
many evangelical mission organizations and colleges. Between 1920 and 1960,
few blacks were accepted by white missions, due in part to colonial powers and
dominions in Africa (such as the Congo and South Africa) refusing entrance to
African American missionaries to keep their hegemony over Africans8.
Economically, the Depression hit the black community powerfully from 1930 until
the start of WWII. Recessions also hit the community in the 70s until 1983.
Since that time median black household income has risen sharply to $30,4369. If
the above periods are layered over one another, the strong impression emerges
that, in all fairness, the black church did well to send even the few it did send until
1983.
This is Now
Since 1983 there appears little justification for the failure of most of the black
church to engage the Great Commission. The past twenty years contain the
widest and best opportunities blacks have ever had to enjoy economic prosperity,
and they are. Household giving has declined from 1.9% in 1998 to 1.3% in 2000,
despite an income increase of 103 billion10. Vast numbers of black churches
ignore global missions entirely. Outstanding exceptions exist, generally among
independent churches. A Disciples Of Christ church in Memphis gives
$125,000/year to missions. The inner city Rock of Our Salvation Church in
Chicago has given $1,000,000 for missions over the past ten years.
The messages I hear in black churches usually underscore God’s blessings and
provision, not personal service to God or to others. Is God the Servant, to bless
us? One church budget analyzed spent more on the copy machine and the
annual men’s breakfast than upon any evangelistic activity, confined to local
ministry to black college students. Now is the time for the black church, the
“sleeping giant,” to take her part as a full sister church to evangelize and disciple
to the “uttermost” parts of the earth. Not to help the white church—it’s not her
idea, but to obey God.
African Americans and Global Missions: The Great Omission
Why So Few ?
Of 35 million African Americans, perhaps as many as 400 are cross-cultural
missionaries today. The Great Commission has been the Great Omission in the
Black Church for particularly the last 20 years. Until 1980 there may have been
700+ “foreign” African American missionaries, mostly to Africa, so presently more
are serving now than ever before1. Still 400 is far less than 1 percent of the
North American Protestant missionary force, while Blacks are 12 percent of US
population. Why?
Give the Black Church a Break !
First, American slavery didn’t end until 1865. It’s difficult to go to another country
with the Gospel when a pass was sometimes required for a slave to travel in his
own county. Slaves had to gain access to the Gospel, then gain freedom. Even
so, men such as Lott Carey gained Christ, freedom and the mission field—of
Liberia.
Most black denominational mission structures were not in place until about the
1870s3. About half of black missionaries served with black denominations4.
During the Reconstruction Period, after Emancipation of the slaves, gaining
simple civil rights was high on the black agenda. The right to vote and use public
facilities was temporarily gained. White “Jim Crow” backlash against black
emancipation took the form of lynchings by the hundreds, rescinding of voter
rights and segregation by states5. As if dodging the KKK wasn’t enough, the
Great Migration of 5,600,000 blacks from rural South to industrial North occurred
between 1910 and 1950, during which families and churches were disrupted6.
Violence was returned with riots in the 1943-1969 period. The Civil Rights
movement, which retrieved at tremendous price the rights taken away after
Reconstruction, lasted until the late 60s7. Racism existed in the white
evangelical Christian community in the forms of denying blacks entrance into
many evangelical mission organizations and colleges. Between 1920 and 1960,
few blacks were accepted by white missions, due in part to colonial powers and
dominions in Africa (such as the Congo and South Africa) refusing entrance to
African American missionaries to keep their hegemony over Africans8.
Economically, the Depression hit the black community powerfully from 1930 until
the start of WWII. Recessions also hit the community in the 70s until 1983.
Since that time median black household income has risen sharply to $30,4369. If
the above periods are layered over one another, the strong impression emerges
that, in all fairness, the black church did well to send even the few it did send until
1983.
This is Now
Since 1983 there appears little justification for the failure of most of the black
church to engage the Great Commission. The past twenty years contain the
widest and best opportunities blacks have ever had to enjoy economic prosperity,
and they are. Household giving has declined from 1.9% in 1998 to 1.3% in 2000,
despite an income increase of 103 billion10. Vast numbers of black churches
ignore global missions entirely. Outstanding exceptions exist, generally among
independent churches. A Disciples Of Christ church in Memphis gives
$125,000/year to missions. The inner city Rock of Our Salvation Church in
Chicago has given $1,000,000 for missions over the past ten years.
The messages I hear in black churches usually underscore God’s blessings and
provision, not personal service to God or to others. Is God the Servant, to bless
us? One church budget analyzed spent more on the copy machine and the
annual men’s breakfast than upon any evangelistic activity, confined to local
ministry to black college students. Now is the time for the black church, the
“sleeping giant,” to take her part as a full sister church to evangelize and disciple
to the “uttermost” parts of the earth. Not to help the white church—it’s not her
idea, but to obey God.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Henry Joseph on
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Thank you Scott for keeping this issue out there. I am one of those 400 on the field ministering the gospel in Africa and Pakistan. We are blessed by what the Lord is doing through us in the nations but we could do more if we had more support from our African American brothers and sisters. We praise God for those exceptions that support global missions. We continue to pray and have hope for those hundreds of other AA churches that have multi-million dollar budgets with no line item for missions and those churches that have hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings waiting for the next building project.
Wake up men and woman of God. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Go, send or support the gospel being preached to the unreached, the widow, orphan and refugee. We have been blessed to do great exploits for the Lord but the greatest part of mission work is what God does in you.
I am available to anyone who is desiring to set up a functioning gospel mission program in their church or is looking for a ministry partner in Africa or who is interested in a vision trip to Africa.
Henry Joseph
hjosephiii@gmail.com
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Permalink Reply by Peter Gara on
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Brother, praise God for you and the great work He is doing through you. I am a missionary presently in USA from Africa and will soon return the mission field. Which country are you have work now is Africa? Perhaps we can be communicating.
Many blessings as you reach out to the nations.
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