“Beyond Expansion: A Critical Examination of the Nature and Impact of Church Growth in Africa”

A workshop organized jointly by the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) and the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR) is taking place at Isano Guest house in Kigali, Rwanda from 28th April to 1st May 2026 under the theme: “A Critical Analysis of Church and Christianity Growth in Africa”.

The workshop is officially opened today by the EPR President, Rev Dr Pascal Bataringaya and the UEM Moderator Bishop Dr Abednego Keshomshahara. The UEM Executive Secretary/Africa Department Rev Dr Emmanuel Muhozi and the UEM Deputy Executive Secretary Rev Dr William Kadiva, church leaders and bishops, scholars, and other distinguished guests from 15 UEM Member Churches in Africa are also participating in this workshop.

In his welcoming remarks, the President of EPR and host of the event, noted that church growth in Africa is increasing rapidly, but that such growth must extend beyond numerical expansion to the quality growth, spiritual maturity and community positive transformation. He observed that despite this growth, persistent challenges such as poverty, conflicts, wars, social and economic injustice, gender inequality and migration issues continue to raise questions about its deeper impact on the community.

He emphasized that true growth should combine both quantity and quality, as reflected in the early church through apostles’ teaching, fellowship, service, relationship to God and between Christians. He further affirmed that the church is called to respond to the global challenges while making disciples, witnessing spiritual growth, promoting social justice, peace, and care for others. Because the church will not grow in numbers for long, if the members are not also growing in spiritual maturity. So, there is a need of quantitative and qualitative growth but also a positive community transformation.

In his message of appreciation, UEM Moderator Bishop Dr Abednego Keshomshahara has thanked EPR for hosting this important workshop, as well as the UEM staff at regional and Head Office for organizing the event. He stated that the church in Africa is growing rapidly, especially through the baptism of new believers, but that growth also presents challenges such as limited resources, misleading teachings, and confusion among believers. He highlighted the need for healthy growth supported by strong leadership, true Biblical teachings, and attentiveness to people’s needs. He added that the workshop offers a valuable opportunity for reflection on evangelism, service, development, and partnership, with the hope that participants will learn, share, and identify solutions to the challenges of the context for the good of their respective churches.

The UEM Executive Secretary/Africa Department indicated that church growth in Africa should be understood beyond numbers, as it includes spiritual, social, and transformational dimensions.

He noted that growth takes different forms, namely numerical, conceptual, organic, and incarnational, each contributing to a holistic growth of the church mission. He further emphasized that despite rapid expansion, Christianity in Africa continues to face challenges such as poverty, conflicts, and weak social transformation. For him, the key question is not whether the church is growing, but what kind of growth is taking place and how it transforms both individuals and society. He affirmed the UEM commitment to a holistic mission that promotes justice, peace, and sustainable transformation alongside church expansion.

Over the course of the workshop, participants will explore the following topics:

1. Critical factors driving the growth of Christianity in Africa,
2. Socio-Economic Impact and Relevance,
3. The Critique of the Church and Christianity Growth in Africa,
4. Examine the impacts of embracing false teachings and teachers within our churches and the status of Christianity in society, and
5. The alignment between academic training and practical ministry

All the participants have shown their interest for having this unique opportunity to discuss this important Topic and to reflect on the contribution they can give to the church and to the society.