Africa

Nelson Mandela dreamt “of an African that is at peace with itself”. So do we. And we know that is only possible through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. And we know that the primary way that He comes to African’s is through planting and strengthening churches. This is what we do.

Africa is the world's second-largest continent, covering 20% of the earth’s total land area. Africa contains well over 1 billion people - about 15% of the world's human population. And significantly, Africa's population is the youngest among all the continents with 50% of Africans aged 19 years or younger.

We are currently most active in South Africa and Tanzania, and are currently planning a significant church plant into Kenya. We also partner with other like-minded movements in other African countries.

Below you can find out more about upcoming events and in the future we will have a list of partner churches throughout Africa.

Leadership

PJ Smyth, Rigby Wallace, Steve Van Rhyn and Stephen Jack give a lead to our partnership in Africa.

Hubs

The New Testament shows various places such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus and Thessalonica emerging as hubs for church planting and strengthening. It seemed these hubs emerged mostly due to the calibre of the leadership in these places, although their locations may also have played a contributory role. In keeping with this biblical model, we try to help suitable leaders in suitable geographical locations to develop their hubs.

We define a hub as “a group of churches working together to plant and strengthen churches.” This group has a leadership team help facilitate their mission. The scope of a hub might be as focused as a certain town, city or county, or it could cover a nation(s) or continent(s). The larger and more widespread a hub gets, the more likely it is that a new hub will emerge. For example, our work in South African began with just one Hub consisting of a handful of churches scattered across the nation. But as the years are going by, different Hubs are emerging in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal. Within these are Hubs are some even more focused groups of churches in certain cities.

Our work in the UK and North America are currently at the stage South Africa was a few years ago, where although the distances between some of our churches are significant, because they are “working together to plant and strengthen churches” we call them a Hub.

We give significant energies to equipping Hub Teams, as we believe that healthy Hub life is the best way to sustainably plant and strengthen churches.

Although the main action is in the Hub, we also do various national gatherings including ACPC (Advance Church Planters Course) and leadership training of various sorts.

Advance Church Planters Course

Read out more about the Planter’s Course in the Africa or contact direct.

Contacts

Gauteng: PJ Smyth or Stephen Jack

Western Cape: Rigby Wallace or Steve Van Rhyn

Eastern Cape: Greg Heasley, Arno De Bryn or Matt Francis

KZN: Steve Rothquel or Gareth Bowley

Giving To Our African Mission

For giving to both our Global Mission and your Hub Mission, please use the following account

GIVE TO ADVANCE

Church Plants in Africa

Tanzania: Dar es Salaam

In 2012 Sheshi and Trudi Kaniki relocated from Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam to plant a church. Calvin and Belinda Massingham also relocated from Cape Town to be part of the church plant team. Although still very much in church plant mode God’s Tribe Church is making good progress. Reinforcements (whether short, long or middle term) are most welcome! Please contact for more information.

Kenya: Nairobi

Nairobi is a vibrant and innovative African city, with a tremendous amount of influence on the rest of East Africa. Three families have embarked on the adventure of planting the church and have it on their hearts to bring the gospel to life for this generation of Nairobians! Your prayers and support are greatly valued in these early days. Please also let us know if you know of anyone within or moving to Nairobi who may be interested in joining the team! For more information please contact the Nairobi leader, Mbonisi Malaba, on 

South Africa: Cape Town: Table View

In Jan 2015 Common Ground Church in Cape Town planted another congregation in Table Although this will be a congregation of Common Ground Church, we consider congregation plants and autonomous church plants as the same thing in terms of wanting to mobilize people, prayer and finance. If you would like to relocate to be part of this exciting new church, or require any other information, please contact

South Africa: Johannesburg: Ivory Park / Tembisa

GodFirst Church in Tembisa led by NK and Tumi Mahlanyane is planning a plant into the nearby area of Ivory Park. Please contact  if you would like to be part of the planting team, or help out in anyway including giving financially or receiving the prayer letter.

South Africa: Johannesburg: Braamfontein / Downtown

Being in striking distance of two main universities and the rejuvenating downtown area, this is vital part of the city in which to plant churches. We have two church plants in this part of the city, one starting in Jan 2016 and the other in Jan 2017. Please contact for more information.

South Africa: Johannesburg: The Greater ‘Parks’ Area

‘The Parks’ are a conglomeration of suburbs strategically positioned between Sandton and Joburg CBD. Our two partner churches in that area have plans for a third church plant in The Parks in 2017. Please contact for more information.

South Africa: Johannesburg: West Rand

The West Rand is a massive area of Joburg, and we only currently have one partner church, The Journey Church, on the northern edge of the West Rand. Plans are afoot for a church plant into the heart of the West Rand early 2017. Please contact for more information.

South Africa: Johannesburg: Northern Suburbs

With several Advance partner churches already in this area, it is no surprise that there is the appetite and opportunity to plant more churches in this large and strategic part of the city. We are building towards another plant in Jan 2016. Please contact for more information.

South Africa: East London

Sterling Baptist have recently re-planted a congregation into the suburb of Sunnyridge. Although this will be a congregation of Sterling Baptist Church, we consider congregation plants and autonomous church plants as the same thing in terms of wanting to mobilize people, prayer and finance. If you would like to relocate to be part of this exciting new church, or require any other information, please contact