When companies set out to design a new product, one of the first questions the product team asks is, “What is the product’s “unique selling proposition (USP)”? In essence, they are determining what value the product will have in the market, what problems it will solve for the customer, and strategically, how it will help grow the company. The answers to these questions will set the course for determining if the company proceeds forward and how the team will market the product. And while this is a blog about missions and ministry, we asked some of these same questions before we decided to launch Biblical Ministries South Africa. The answers we found were highly motivating! Let me share some of them with you.
South Africa is uniquely positioned to impact the continent of Africa
Joshua Project is an organization that researches where needs exist around the world for missions focus. They define an unreached or least-reached people group as “a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance.”[1] This is typically measured as “less than or equal to 2% Evangelical Christians and less than or equal to 5% Professing Christians.” [2]
Joshua Project research reveals the immense opportunity to bring the gospel to unreached people groups in Africa alone.
- There are 975 unreached people groups just in Africa.[3]
- 11 of the 100 largest unreached people groups are in Africa.[4]
- Second only to Asia, these unreached groups require the largest number of mission workers to reach them. It’s estimated that another 9,000+ missionaries still need to be sent out! [5]
These facts demonstrate a huge need and a strategic opportunity for South African churches to help fulfill the Great Commission within their own continent. So, when asking ourselves about the value, solutions, and strategic growth South African churches can provide on behalf of the Kingdom, it was crystal clear they are not only contributors – but are exceptionally positioned to have a major impact on the people of Africa.
Here Are 5 Reasons Why:
#1 YOU UNDERSTAND AFRICA
South Africans understand the culture and complexities of various nations. As the rainbow nation, there is a unique blending of cultures from all over Africa found within this country. It takes less cultural adjustment for South Africans to go to Africa than it would for most other cultures around the world. South Africans also understand the world’s religions. We live among most, if not all religions, including animism and ancestor worship, which characterizes much of Africa.
#2 YOU ARE ALREADY MULTILINGUAL
One of the major challenges of being a missionary is learning another language. It is found that a person who has already learned a second or third language finds it much easier to learn another language. Many South Africans already speak several languages so adding one more is not as challenging as it is to others from mono-lingual countries.
#3 YOUR PROXIMITY
Most countries in Africa are within easy reach of South Africa. Multiple countries are within driving distance and many others have direct flights. This is good stewardship and makes economic sense for South Africa to focus on the needs of Africa.
#4 YOU UNDERSTAND CHURCH PLANTING
Church planting is in the DNA of South African churches which gives them a great advantage in planting new churches elsewhere. Many of the people in these churches remember when the church was started and participated in the establishment and growth of the church. They know what it’s like to start in someone’s home as a Bible study, move to temporary facilities, and then build buildings. They helped disciple new believers and saw pastors trained for ministry. Many potential missionaries from South Africa don’t need to take courses on church planting, because they have lived it!
#5 YOUR ECONOMIC CLOUT
South Africa has the largest GDP on the continent[6] and is the 36th largest economy in the world. [7] While our churches may not feel financially affluent, we are compared to many others around us. The next largest economies in Africa are Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt. Nigeria is already a missionary-sending country but the other two have only a small Christian population, so they need missionaries to go there.
So, consider these five points as just the start of defining South Africa’s “unique selling proposition” for taking the gospel to Africa. This is only part of why we launched Biblical Ministries South Africa! This mission agency aims to help South African churches send South African missionaries to Africa and throughout the world. What a special country this is indeed, to have been lavished with the blessings of the Lord. With such tremendous impact and potential, comes responsibility. Let us seek to be good stewards of the distinctive opportunities granted to our generation. Go, preach, disciple, send!
If you’d like to learn more about partnering with Biblical Ministries South Africa as a missionary, sending church or financial supporter, contact us and let’s get the conversation started.
REFERENCES
[1] https://joshuaproject.net/help/definitions
[2] https://joshuaproject.net/help/definitions
[3] https://joshuaproject.net/global/regions
[4] https://joshuaproject.net/unreached/1
[5] https://joshuaproject.net/global/regions
[6] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1120999/gdp-of-african-countries-by-country/
[7] https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/516596/the-richest-countries-in-the-world-and-where-south-africa-fits-in/
