The Role of the African Church in the 21St Century Global Mission: a Case Study of the Eecmy Global Mission Venture and Economic Mindset
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Concordia Seminary - Saint Louis Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary Master of Art Theology Thesis Concordia Seminary Scholarship Fall 12-18-2020 THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY GLOBAL MISSION: A CASE STUDY OF THE EECMY GLOBAL MISSION VENTURE AND ECONOMIC MINDSET WONDIMU M. GAME Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ma_th Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation GAME, WONDIMU M., "THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY GLOBAL MISSION: A CASE STUDY OF THE EECMY GLOBAL MISSION VENTURE AND ECONOMIC MINDSET" (2020). Master of Art Theology Thesis. 92. https://scholar.csl.edu/ma_th/92 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Concordia Seminary Scholarship at Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Art Theology Thesis by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Resources from Concordia Seminary. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY GLOBAL MISSION: A CASE STUDY OF THE EECMY GLOBAL MISSION VENTURE AND ECONOMIC MINDSET A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Department of Practical in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts By Wondimu M. Game January, 2021 Approved by: Dr. Benjamin Haupt Thesis Advisor Dr. Douglas L. Rutt Reader Dr. Joel Elowsky Reader 1 © 2020 by Wondimu M. Game. All rights reserved. ii I dedicate this work to my lovely wife Tsigewengel Bekele Uddo who played a vital role in my life journey and study. To our three girls Doxsa Wondimu Mathewos, Hadassah Wondimu Mathewos and Naomi Wondimu Mathewos. To Mekane Yesus international missionaries, and to rising missionary churches and missionaries of Africa. iii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... v ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ viii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 KEY TERMS ........................................................................................................................ 4 THE THESIS ........................................................................................................................ 6 THE METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................... 8 THE STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS ............................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................................................... 11 THE MISSION MANDATE AND AFRICA ..................................................................... 11 BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL MANDATE OF THE CHURCH FOR MISSION ... 12 THE MANDATE OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH FOR GLOBAL MISSION ................. 22 CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN CHURCHES ROLE IN GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY ................................................................................................................ 25 The African Church’s Role in Global Christianity .................................................... 29 CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................................... 36 THE MISSION SHIFT AND A PARADIGM SHIFT ....................................................... 36 THE MISSION SHIFT ....................................................................................................... 36 A PARADIGM SHIFT ....................................................................................................... 38 THE MISSION SHIFT AND A PARADIGM SHIFT IN AFRICA .................................. 41 WESTERN AND AFRICAN SCHOLARS’ PERSPECTIVE ON AFRICA’S ROLE IN 21ST CENTURY GLOBAL MISSION ............................................................................... 43 iii AFRICAN DIASPORA AS A MISSION FORCE ............................................................ 46 Brief Background of Diaspora and African Diaspora as a Mission Force ................ 46 African Diaspora’s Role in Mission .......................................................................... 54 The Diaspora Churches’ Struggles ............................................................................ 59 THE WORLD VIEW, ORIENTATION CHALLENGES AND LACK OF CROSS- CULTURAL COMMUNICATION ................................................................................... 59 Lack of Understanding of Their Missional Call ........................................................ 61 Language and Ethnic Barriers ................................................................................... 62 CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................................ 65 BRIEF BACKGORUND OF ETHIOPIAN CHRISTIANITY AND EECMY AT A GLANCE ............................................................................................................................ 65 EECMY AT A GLANCE ................................................................................................... 68 CHALLENGES THAT LIMITED THE GLOBAL MISSION MINDSET ....................... 73 THE ECONOMIC MINDSET AND ITS IMPACT TO BE A MISSION FORCE ........... 74 FACTORS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE ECONOMIC MINDSET ................................ 79 CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................................................... 83 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.................................................................. 83 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 83 RECOMMENDATION ...................................................................................................... 86 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................ 88 VITA ............................................................................................................................................ 97 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Above all, it is God who brought me this far, and I would like to give all glory and thanks to God almighty. I thank and appreciate the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus leaders and Human Resource Development department for giving me priority and endorsing me to study at Concordia Theological Seminary St. Louis. I am grateful for Mr. Paulos Shune, Rev. Dr. Berhanu Ofgaa, Rev Teshome Amanu, and Rev Dr. Bruk Ayele Asale for their recommendation and walking alongside me. Also, I thank Mekane Yesus International Mission Society board and staff for allowing me further study and continuous prayer support. I would like to express my deep thanks to my thesis advisor, Dr. Benjamin D. Haupt. His advisory role and friendly encouragement was vital. My in-depth thanks also go to the thesis readers, Dr. Douglas L. Rutt and Dr. Joel Elowsky. Their incredible insights refined the thesis and shaped my writing skills. I also want to express my gratitude to Dr. Dale Meyer for certifying me and my wife for the President’s scholarship and covering tuition funding for the last 18 months. Likewise, I thank the CSL grad-school and professors who impacted me with their lectures and exemplary life. Thank you Dr. Gerard Bode for believing in me and encouraging me; thank you Dr. Beth Hoeltke for keeping me in the track and assistance. Thank you librarian Mrs. Donna Church for being available and resourceful in my study journey. I thank Pastor Bruce and Nelda Cameron for editing and proofreading my thesis and commitment to walk alongside me. Moreover, I owe my in-depth thanks and appreciation to Pastor Michael Lange (CNH District President) and his wife Kristi Lange who coordinate my scholarship. Next to God, my acquaintance with him was the pivotal point for my coming to Concordia Theological Seminary. He visited Ethiopia as God’s messenger, and an answer to prayer for me and my family. God led him to walk alongside us sacrificially as a sponsor, a good friend, and a mentor in our study and ministry journey. As well, I am wordless to thank my longstanding friend and mentor Rev. Dr. Tillahun M. Mandedo MBC President. His bridging role was indispensable in my ministry and study journey. Likewise, I thank the MBC treasurer Dr. Michael Wyss for his generosity and contribution of MBC. Furthermore, I am indescribably grateful for Mr. Craig and Jane Olson who donated the greatest amount for our family scholarship and keep walking alongside us and EECMY. Next to God, his generous donation and walking alongside us and sustained our study, thank you again. I also owe