Movement of African National Initiatives
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[edit] Movement of African National Initiatives
The Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) is deeply rooted in the history of the African Church. The emergence of national movements over the past four decades has paved the way for this strategic continental movement.
[edit] History
During the 1960s, the surge toward independence among African nations catalyzed a parallel shift toward indigenous leadership within the African Church. Two national saturation evangelism movements emerged during this era. The Evangelism in Depth movement in Zaire was the first to emerge, followed by the New Life for All movement in Nigeria. Both streams represented large-scale evangelistic partnerships within the Body of Christ.
In the 1970s, the Ghana Evangelism Committee (GEC) took partnership to a new level, drawing major denominations together in a multi-pronged national strategy of renewal, church planting, church growth and missions. Their collective effort resulted in a net gain of 8000 new churches in ten years. The following decade, the GEC fueled mobilization efforts through a national survey which revealed 14,711 towns and villages lacking a church presence.
During the latter 1980s, sixty Zimbabwean denominations launched the Target 2000 saturation church planting movement with the goal of planting 10,000 new churches by the year 2000.
Concurrently, the Finish the Task Movement was launched in Nigeria resulting in an outpouring of indigenous missionaries targeting the least evangelized within and outside the country.
Throughout the 1990s, the AD2000 & Beyond Movement amplified the need for national movements to reach the least-evangelized peoples and places. The Love Southern Africa movement and the Swaziland Evangelism Task flourished within this context. At GCOWE 97, 1200 African leaders from 46 countries gathered to consider the challenge of National Initiatives.
This catalytic event led to the proliferation of numerous national movements, such as WENSA, Finish the Task Kenya and Disciple Namibia. That year African National Initiatives was adopted as the basic strategy of the Evangelism and Missions Commission of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA).
In 2001, delegations from 36 African nations gathered in Jerusalem for the African Millennial Consultation. Recognizing that the AD 2000 & Beyond Movement was ending, and that much remained to be done, the delegates resolved to establish a continuing African movement to encourage the development and networking of National Initiatives across the continent. Thus MANI was born. The Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) is deeply rooted in the history of the African Church. The emergence of national movements over the past four decades has paved the way for this strategic continental movement. MANI is facilitated by a continental team consisting of Dr. Reuben Ezemadu (newly appointed Continental Coordinator) and seven regional coordinators. As a movement, it is committed to help denominations, ministries and organizations work together in strategic partnership and to serve as a network of networks for the mobilization of the African Church for the Great Commission.
MANI serves as a strategic point of interface with global networks. Members of the MANI team relate closely with the WEA Missions Commission, the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Great Commission Roundtable, the Third World Missions Association and with global organizations such as Joshua Project and Operation World. Flowing from history, MANI is an expression of the dynamic growth of the African Church and a launch pad for Africa’s rapidly expanding role in global mission.
[edit] Current
MANI 2006 inspired us with stories of the progress of Christianity in Africa and the world. Churches are being planted in unprecedented numbers – often in difficult situations. The Gospel is burning brightly in the face of hardship and adversity, as evidenced by the growth of the Church in places such as Sudan and Burkina Faso.
Yet the job is far from complete. We were confronted by the brutal reality that some 1000 Unreached People Groups and innumerable unchurched communities on our continent currently remain beyond the reach of the Gospel. Clarion calls were issued from Francophone West Africa, North Africa and the Horn for an outpouring of new missionaries from nations where the Church is strong. Further, where the Church is present we have often failed to live out a holistic and authentic Gospel capable of transforming communities.
Each country delegation met to consider the challenge of discipling their nation. Armed with in-country surveys and Joshua Project lists, we grappled with the necessity of multiplying the number of leaders and churches to bring a healthy church to every community – among every kind of people - in their nations. In countries like South Africa, this includes the challenge of reaching the millions of foreigners who have come to live as neighbours.
[edit] Leadership
Continental Coordinator:
- Dr Reuben Ezemadu, Nigeria
- CC@MANIafrica.com
Continental facilitator for MANI in Europe
- Dr John Abraham Godson, Poland, e-mail: godson@pielgrzym.org
[edit] Africa’s Contribution to the World
Global delegates affirmed the crucial role that the African Church has to play in the completion of the Great Commission worldwide. It was acknowledged that the Global Day of Prayer originated in South Africa and now resounds around the globe. African Anglicans are leading the way in the re-evangelization of the West. Millions of African believers are dispersed in Diaspora and represent a formidable mission force.
Africa is producing high quality, innovative leaders with the passion, resilience and sacrificial spirit to serve at the tip of the spear in taking the Gospel to the remaining unevangelized peoples of the world. Nigeria is leading the way with 5000 missionaries currently engaged in cross-cultural ministry. Other countries are aggressively taking up the torch of missions and are sending their sons and daughters into the Harvest.
[edit] African National Initiatives
An African National Initiative is “a nationwide strategy and process designed to mobilize the Body of Christ in such a way that it is effectively functioning together as a body toward the completion of the unfinished task of evangelization in its own country, and making a significant contribution to the evangelization of the least evangelized peoples and countries of the world.”
At MANI 2006, there was a sense of convergence as national delegations each took a major step forward in their efforts to mobilize the Body of Christ. In countries with a pre-existing national initiative process, fresh momentum was exerted toward finishing the task. Countries new to the process are taking the first steps toward a country survey and mobilization process.
[edit] Diasporas Consultation
Diasporas Consultation taking place in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2008.
[edit] MANI Resources
The MANI video has just been released and the MANI 2006 Handbook will soon be available in CD form. This is an excellent supplement to the MANI Research CD distributed in Kenya containing the latest harvest information from Joshua Project, Operation World, Global Mapping and Inserv.
A MANI website, www.MANIafrica.com, provides first rate resources to African church and mission leaders. The website supplies updated information on African National Initiatives and furnish links to a wide variety of national initiatives and ministry networks. Leaders will be able to download information on least-evangelized peoples and discover training resources to enhance their ministry.
[edit] Address
- Movement for African National Initiatives
- Private Bag X09, Suite 168
- Weltevreden Park
- South Africa 1715
- Email: info@MANIafrica.com
- Web: www.MANIafrica.com
[edit] Conclusion
MANI 2006 underscored the reality that the centre of Christianity is indeed shifting from the Global North to the Global South. The vitality and growth of the African Church is reshaping the face of the Church worldwide and will increasingly set the standard for 21st Century faith. MANI is an African vehicle through which God is drawing leaders together, focusing our efforts and stimulating innovation as we work to complete the Great Commission.
