The physical signs of the Southern shift in Christianity’s centre of gravity from the Northern to the Southern continents include the rise of immigrant churches in Europe and North America. The recession of Christian presence in the former heartlands of the faith has, since the closing decades of the 20th century, coincided with the accession of different types of churches full of African, Caribbean, Asian and Latin American immigrants in those contexts. A new book on Christianity and migration by Jehu J. Hanciles concludes that the United States, for instance, would have been moving much more rapidly toward a post-Christian status were it not for the fresh infusions of believers from the Third World, particularly Africa.[1] The evangelical and theologically versatile nature of Christianity in the non-western world means that the South to North migrations of recent times has translated into the formation of new churches and Christian communities. People have moved – whatever the reasons for such movements may be – carrying their ‘ideas, beliefs and religious practices with them’.
For more information go to
‘Unwanted Sectarians’: Spirit, Migration and Mission in an African-led Mega-Size Church in Eastern Europe on the Lausanne Movement website.
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This product was added to our catalog on Monday 18 November, 2024.
