Africa
ELCA Companion Profiles for Africa - the new version of the ELCA Country Packets
Thanks to your unrestricted offerings of
mission support dollars and your designated gifts to the
ELCA World Hunger Appeal,
ELCA International Disaster Response, and
designated projects, the ELCA engages in God’s mission in more than 90 countries around the world. In Africa, the church is at the center of society. Most African Christians look to their churches for education, health care, worship, and fellowship. From their place at the center of society, African Lutheran churches are growing rapidly. The ELCA walks side by side with African churches. As they face dilemmas and pandemics, so do we. As they identify priorities, we support them. Through ELCA personnel and grants, the ELCA accompanies African Lutheran churches in evangelism, Christian education, leadership development, literacy, health care, and women’s issues—collaborating with local churches seeking to live out the gospel in ways that change lives.
For details on the ELCA's engagement in a country, click on a particular country name on the map or list below.
Quick facts about engagement in this region are below.
Quick facts
- The ELCA accompanies churches and institutions in 20 countries across this region through the allocation of grants and /or placement of personnel, and 15 more through collaboration with companion agencies like Lutheran World Relief, the Lutheran World Federation, and Church World Service.
- There are 52 companion synod relationships between African companion churches and dioceses and ELCA synods.
- As of February 1, 2009, 75 ELCA mission personnel serve in 15 countries in the region.
- Since 1988, 382 church leaders from Africa have been educated with ELCA funds. During 2008-2009, 29 African leaders are studying at ELCA and other institutions around the world.
- The total 2009 ELCA churchwide budget for Africa is $7.6 million