Question: What’s
missing in many American churches?
Answer: Could it be
that we have forgotten about God?
In this article, reprinted with permission from the Chattanooga
Resource Foundation publication "Intercessors," Ugandan pastor Jackson
Senyonga reveals 5 key differences he has seen between many African
churches and the church in America.
My reaction was "Ouch!" What’s yours?
A Global Perspective on the American Church From an African Pastor Who
Spends Time in Chattanooga
Jackson Senyonga of Kampala, Uganda is a founder and pastor of
Christian Life Church, one of the largest congregations in Africa, with
40,000 members. About 18 months ago, God supernaturally called Pastor
Senyonga to invest himself in Chattanooga and Cleveland as part of his
ministry. He has been to both Chattanooga and Cleveland
on several occasions. He is a man of remarkable faith.
Uganda is a nation that has seen spectacular Kingdom growth and many
miracles have been documented. It is the only nation in sub-Saharan
Africa that is seeing a decline in HIV-AIDS. Rev. Senyonga is a leader
in the Ugandan prayer movement that recently involved 25,000 pastors who
mobilized three million Christians to pray in 50 stadiums—one in each
district of the nation. They prayed for their nation and for global
harvest to cover the earth. Jackson says in the coming years they expect
13 million, or half the population of Uganda, to gather for such annual
prayer meetings. They are seeing many Muslims come to faith in Jesus.
The Lord has shown them there must be six levels of prayer so that
God can harvest a nation to Himself: 1) prayers in homes, 2) prayers in
churches, 3) prayers in communities, 4) prayers in cities, 5) prayers in
a nation, and 6) prayers for the nations. These six waves create an
atmosphere where God can dwell.
In the January edition of Charisma Magazine, Jackson writes:
There are several key reasons why the American church has not grown
as rapidly as the churches in Africa.
1. The American church is more program-oriented than "presence
oriented." In Africa, the people are not drawn to programs. It is God’s
presence that overwhelms hearts, changes lives and empowers people.
2. In the American church, the people rule. They come to church on
their terms while the pastors serve those terms rather than God. The
terms that the people set are cultural comforts that defy principles of
holiness and the fundamentals of Christianity: sacrifice, service and
surrender. Here in Africa, I believe God’s Spirit leads.
3. In the American church, the obedience level is too low. In fact,
it seems the church is educated past her level of obedience. In Africa,
the formula for the church is simple: "hear, believe and obey."
That always produces results. In America, the formula seems to be,
"hear, think, analyze, compare, research and maybe believe—if the goal
includes lots of personal benefits." That kind of formula results only
in religion.
4. America has no time for God. In nations where church growth is
evident, the people don’t go by their watches. If the Lord is not
finished, the church event is not over. In America, however, people will
abandon God because "it is time to go." The attitude seems to say,
"Lord, I love You, but You have five minutes to touch me."
5. The American church suffers from prayerlessness. The African
church exists in a realm of the miraculous because of ongoing, fervent
prayer. When prayer meets God’s presence it creates a miraculous
atmosphere in which anything is possible.
For a different perspective of what we should expect from our church,
read this article:
"Why Should I Become an Active Member of a
Church?" (Dr. Steven Riser
