God's Design for the Church: A Guide for African Pastors and Ministry Leaders

by Glenn Lyons (Foreword), Conrad Mbewe

What Is the Church? Foundational Truths from God’s Word At the beginning of the twentieth century, Christians in Africa numbered approximately nine million―by the end, that number had grown to more than 380 million. As the number of Christians continues to grow, African pastors are often overwhelmed and in desperate need of guidance. Drawing from three decades of pastoral experience in Zambia, Conrad Mbewe has written a comprehensive handbook specifically for African pastors and church leaders. Structured around twenty commonly asked questions about God’s design for the church, this helpful resource covers topics ranging from the definition of church and the role of church members to the importance of doctrine. Through this book, Mbewe aims to equip pastors and leaders with biblical principles that will “permeate the landscape of Africa and transform its churches for generations to come.” Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition and 9Marks.

Genres: Theology, Church

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2020

Reviews

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. Mbewe's years of ministry shine through, as well as a commitment to obey the Scriptures for the glory of Christ and good of his church.

Here is an excellent tonic against the assumption that practical convictions about ecclesiology do not translate cross-culturally: a man of God who has only ministered in Africa (not America), and understands the challenges of applying scripture to the life of church shaped by sub-Saharan African culture.

Mbewe is gracious in allowing room for different biblical convictions, but is adamant that the church must be led according to biblical convictions. As someone who is not African nor ministering in Africa, I found this a useful complement to many books I've read on the church written from an American or European context, in the way that looking at a gem from a different angle doesn't change the substance of the gem, but allows you to appreciate the wisdom and beauty of God's design from a slightly different viewpoint. Highly recommend to church leaders, or anyone interested in understanding how to obey what the Bible teaches about the church.