The Need is Real
There has been a tectonic shift in where Christians reside in the world. In 1910, approximately 83% of all Christians lived in the Western world, with 17% living in the Global South. Today, that number has shifted dramatically, with only 31% now residing in the Global North and 69% in the Global South.
The geographic Christian landscape has shifted
Source: Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo, World Christian Encyclopedia, 3rd edition (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2019), 3.
This Shift Highlights A Pressing Need
NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF MAJORITY WORLD PASTORS HAVE NO THEOLOGICAL TRAINING
The reason for the inversion in the center of gravity of world Christianity is multifactorial. One of the key factors was a century (1910 - 2010) of mission activity from the West aimed at the Global South, which was rooted in the “going,” “proclaiming Jesus,” and “baptizing” aspects of the call. While people coming to Christ is always cause for celebration, a sobering reality remains: Over 95% of pastors globally have no theological training or access to resources. This fact highlights an urgent need to prioritize two equally vital mandates—the call to “make disciples” and to “teach them to observe everything I [Jesus] have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20)
One of the Pressing Mission Needs of Our Time
The lack of theological training among 95% of the world’s pastors—and an even greater percentage of church leaders and missionaries—is widely recognized by missiologists as one of the most pressing mission needs of our time.
