Dr. Tshililo Liphadzi, director of Entrust’s partner More Than a Mile Deep-South Africa (MMDSA), says that 2010 is an important year because South Africa will be hosting the first FIFA World Cup ever held in the continent, something undreamed of just 10 years ago. The impossible has become possible, and this event serves as an inspiration as MMDSA looks forward to the future of their ministry. However, there are important challenges facing the country and the church that must be dealt with if future dreams are to become a reality. Liphadzi elaborates:

For one thing, selfishness is imbedded in the thinking and life of many South Africans. Corruption is rife and leaders are not driven by vision, but by what they eat, what they drive, and where they reside. Even many church leaders are not willing to be involved in ministries where they have to lay down their lives for the sake of community transformation.

Also, in the past the church was 80 percent African in her membership, but 80 percent European in her leadership. This is still the case with theological training, which in many denominations is still in the hands of Europeans. Consequently, worship styles and theological expressions in some African churches look more European than those in London and Berlin! MMDSA is sometimes looked at with disdain by those in the ‘theological monopoly,’ because of its emphasis on empowering African leaders to practice theology within their context for African churches, encouraging students to live out what they have learned.

It is the vision of MMD Global to see communities holistically transformed by mature local churches that celebrate the power of the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ. This transformation comes when local churches, through their mature members, live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life. Liphadzi continues:

Click on the links below to view more stories from the More Than a Mile Deep project in Africa.