The global
Church project

The Global Church Project videos
YouTube

The Global Church Project books
Amazon & Barnes & Noble

The Global Church Project blogs
Recent posts

Introducing The Global Church Project

See all The Global Church Project filmed interviews

See the full suite of 152 videos with Majority World, Indigenous, and diaspora Christian leaders recorded for The Global Church Project on YouTube by (1) Going to my YouTube channel and scroll down to the video category “World Christianity”) – CLICK HERE or (2) Scrolling down to the video links at the end of this page.

Why this Project is Important

While every statistic available today shows that the church in the West is in multi-generational decline, the opposite is true almost everywhere. Non-Western cultures are now the Majority World.

The churches of these cultures have seen extraordinary (and sustained) growth for decades. Places like Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, First Nations and Indigenous communities, diaspora, and immigrant Christian communities are also experiencing growth and revitalization.

Insights from churches in these cultures can help renew the worldwide church. They can invigorate other Majority World churches as they learn from each other. They can invest Western mission, worship, and discipleship strategies with new vibrancy.

World Christianity: An Introduction

My book “World Christianity: An Introduction” provides an accessible introduction to the discipline, methodology, and field of world Christianity. In this book, Graham Joseph Hill engages with more than one hundred high-profile Majority World and First Nations Christian leaders to learn what they can teach the West about mission, leadership, hospitality, creation care, education, worship, and more. Hill challenges the Western church to move away from a Eurocentric and Americentric view of church and mission, and he calls for the church to engage with crucial paradigm shifts in world Christianity. The future of the global church—including the churches in the West—exists in these global exchanges. World Christianity is an indispensable guide for the church as it navigates the unique global experiences of the twenty-first century.

Learning from World Christianity

What does all this mean for the mission, theology, worship, and church communities worldwide? And what does it mean, especially for the Western church?

I recently interviewed Professor Lamin Senneh at Yale Divinity School. In that interview, Lamin offered a striking challenge to the Western church. Here’s my paraphrase of what he said:

“We in the West are confident and articulate people. Theology has served us well as a vehicle for our aspirations, desires, and goals. There is no shortage of theological books on all sorts of imaginable subjects. There are how-to manuals instructing us about effective ministry. These manuals tell us how to fix our emotions. They affirm our identity and promote our choices and preferences. They tell us how to change society by political action. They show us how to raise funds and build more prominent churches. They teach us to invest in strategic coalitions. All this language leaves us little time or space to listen to God. What if God has something else to say to us? What if that something else challenges what we want to hear? Yet, without reciprocity in the moral and spiritual life of listening and responding to the intimations of the Spirit, it is hard to see how God can be salient in the lives of modern men and women.

The Gospel suffers from a form of cultural captivity in the West. But, the renewal of World Christianity has lessons to teach us all. The de-Westernization of Christianity may, if we allow it, help us address the Western cultural captivity of the Gospel. Thanks to the grace, power, and sovereignty of the Spirit of Christ, this de-Westernization of the global church may help us find freedom from our cultural captivity. The astonishing growth and vitality of movements in World Christianity will make this truth even more evident over the following decades.”

Cultivating a New Narrative

A missional church commits to diversity and multi-ethnicity. It is enriched by Indigenous, Western, diaspora, and Majority World peoples.

We need a new narrative. The vast majority of the global church today isn’t white, Western, and middle-class.

And the astonishing growth of World Christianity isn’t happening in those places. It’s happening in cultures outside of the West. It’s happening among women, children, and people of colour. Where there is growth and vitality in Western settings, it’s usually among the diaspora and immigrant churches. Stephen Bevans says: “Today, the average Christian is female, a person of colour, and living in Africa or Asia.”

We must turn to the churches of Majority World, Indigenous, and diaspora cultures. Christians in these cultures help us rediscover what it means to be salt, light, and a city. They invite us into local-global missional conversations. To do this, we, as Western Christians, must enter into discussions with Majority World, diaspora, and Indigenous Christians. They have much to teach us. Listening to others helps us grow in our understanding and practice of mission, church, and theology. For far too long, we’ve been Eurocentric and Americentric. And we’ve marginalized or ignored Majority World and diaspora and indigenous voices.

New, Majority World voices are rising and redefining our understandings of theology, church, and mission. Many Majority World, diaspora, and Indigenous churches have extraordinary missional and theological vitality. Openness to these voices needs to happen now. It’s time for Western churches, theologies, and missions to mature. Only through global conversations and exchanges can they reflect God’s global mission.

Over the coming decades, I hope we’ll listen to the thoughts and practices of African, Asian, Caribbean, Eastern European, Oceanian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, First Nation, and indigenous thinkers. These dare us to examine our theologies, missions, and churches. They inspire us to renew the worship, community, and mission of Jesus’ church. They stir us to think in fresh ways about what it means to be salt, light, and a city. They help us become a global missional church—a truly global church.

Filmed Interviews

Here are links to 152 filmed interviews Graham has done with Christian leaders in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Oceania, western countries, and among Indigenous Peoples. (Click on the person’s name to go to the video).

* Adam R. Taylor (Mobilizing hope – faith-inspired activism and following Jesus Christ)
* Ai Nohara Tetseo (Faith and mission in Okinawa and Japan today)
* Ajith Fernando (Jesus-driven ministry)
* Al Tizon (Shaping missional preaching, & mission as transformation)
* Alan Hirsch (Joining with God in mission)
* Alexander Chow (Learning from public faith, theology, and witness in China today)
* Ali Abu Awwad (Seeking a lasting and just peace in the Holy Land)
* Alvin Tunstill Jr. (Shaping thriving local African-American churches)
* Amal Nassar (The Tent of Nations – reconciliation and peacemaking in Israel and Palestine)
* Amos Yong (Pentecostalism, the Spirit, and Asian-American Christianity)
* Amy Williams (Urban youth ministry today)
* Areej Masoud (Any hope for Palestine, now or ever?)
* Ash Barker (Serving Jesus among the urban poor)
* Barbara M. Leung Lai (The Book of Daniel and multicultural and minority faith)
* Bonny Resu (Taking the whole gospel to the whole person in the Asia Pacific today)
* Bradley Noel (Pentecostal mission and witness in the West)
* Brooke Prentis (Honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices)
* C. René Padilla (Pursuing integral mission)
* Carol Kingston-Smith (Pursuing justice, advocacy, and reconciliation)
* Center for the Study of Global Christianity (the shape of World Christianity today)
* Charles Ringma (Missional spirituality – reintegrating prayer and mission)
* Charlie Abou Saada (Palestinian Christians are living stones in the Holy Land)
* Christopher J. H. Wright (The mission of God and the mission of God’s people)
* Cory Ishida (Growing and planting healthy and disciple-making Asian American churches)
* Craig Stewart (Helping local churches see transformation in their communities)
* Daniel Bourdanné (Renewing humility, mission, discipleship, and passion)
* Daniel Jeyaraj (What Indian Christianity teaches us today)
* Daniel L. Wong (Developing the art of multicultural preaching)
* Darrell Jackson (Mission shaped by love of God and neighbor, and by the Spirit)
* Dave Bookless (Being planet wise – caring for creation)
* David Ro (How God is working in and through Chinese Christians today)
* David W. Congdon (Rudolf Bultmann, Karl Barth, and the future of missional theology)
* Donald Goertz (Missional innovations in worship and leadership)
* Ed Brown (Caring for creation is a gospel issue)
* Elias Chacour (Blood brothers: Blessed are the Palestinian, Israeli, and other peacemakers)
* Elisa Padilla (Pursuing mission and practicing hospitality)
* Elisabeth Sophia Lee (Interview with Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Elisabeth Sophia Lee)
* Emil Jonathan “Jon” Soriano (Returning to simple church and integral mission)
* Emmanuel Katongole (Rwanda as a mirror to the church worldwide)
* F. Douglas Powe Jr. (Transforming evangelism and moving from “just us” to justice)
* Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta (Working together across religions to build societies)
* Fernando R. Carvalho (Shaping a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual church)
* Fernando Segovia (Connecting Christians in the Global South and Global North)
* Franco Ferrer (Making disciples of all nations)
* Frank D. Macchia (Global Pentecostalism and the Spirit-baptized church)
* Frank Paul (Vulnerable mission)
* Gary Nelson (Leading in disorienting times)
* George Wieland (How God is transforming church & world through global movements of people)
* German Galvez (Shaping a vibrant and growing Latino church)
* Grace Ji-Sun Kim (Listening to the wisdom of diaspora women and communities)
* Graham Joseph Hill (Lessons from World Christianity)
* Greg Lake (Responding to asylum seekers, refugees, and global movements of people)
* Grishma Parajuli (Hearing the voice of Nepal’s church)
* Harvey Kwiyani (Missio Africanus – the global church on mission in Europe)
* Hyun Mo (Tim) Lee (Shining the light of the gospel in Asia today)
* J. Dudley Woodberry (Sharing the love of Jesus with Muslims today)
* Jack Sara (Serving Christ in Palestine, Israel, and globally)
* James Bartle (Working together across religions to build societies)
* James Bhagwan (Love God, love neighbor)
* James Bryan Smith (Becoming an apprentice to Jesus)
* Janice Nguyen (Blessings the children and church of Vietnam)
* Jayakumar Christian (Following the God of the empty-handed)
* Jim Oehrig (Curing and caring for people with leprosy and bringing an end to this ancient disease)
* Jo Saxton (Empowering women in leadership and creating missional churches)
* Joel Edwards (Rehabilitating “Evangelical” and pursuing spiritual and social transformation)
* Johannes Reimer (From Red Army to leading a global missions movement)
* John Bond (Apostolic ministry: Multiplying the next generation of leaders)
* John M. Perkins (Radical love, justice, and reconciliation)
* Joseph Nyamutera (Healing and reconciliation in Rwanda and worldwide)
* Joshua Bogunjoko (Joining with God in local and global mission)
* Joshva Raja (Developing a theology of media)
* Julie C. Ma (Mission in the Spirit)
* Karina Kreminski (On gender and the reign of God, and missional spirituality)
* Ken Kamau (Developing leaders and planting churches)
* Ken Tang-Quan (Forgiveness, spiritual growth, and becoming like Jesus in ministry)
* Kevin Doi (Building churches that value neighborhoods, justice, and mission)
* La Verne Tolbert (Teaching like Jesus and renewing Christian education in the church)
* Lamin Sanneh (Engaging Islam and the post-Western Christian awakening)
* Lisa Rodriguez-Watson (Responding to undocumented migrants and refugees)
* Lisa Sharon Harper (Shalom is the “very good” in the gospel)
* M. L. Daneel (African-initiated churches and earth-keeping movements)
* Madezha Cépeda (Honouring and including people with disabilities)
* Mahendra Bhattarai (The vitality and loving service of the Nepalese church)
* Mandy Marshall (Ending violence against women in church and society)
* María Elena Mamarian (Addressing domestic violence in church and society)
* Mark Galpin (Nepalese Christianity and fullness of life in Jesus Christ)
* Mary Alice Trent (Modelling an inclusive love and a biblical vision of diversity)
* Melba Padilla Maggay (Transforming society)
* Michael Frost (Faith and mission in a disengaged world)
* Michael Goheen (A light to the nations: Renewing our passion for local and global mission)
* Michael Krause (Launching pioneering church plants and Christian leaders)
* Miroslav Volf (Overcoming conflict, hatred, and indifference)
* Mitri Raheb (We are Palestinian Christians)
* Munib Younan (Seeking peace in Jerusalem and the world)
* Ngwedla Paul Msiza (The Baptist World Alliance: A global movement displaying the love of Christ)
* Nikki Toyama-Szeto (On earth as it is in heaven: Making love visible)
* Noel Castellanos (Serving with Christ among urban and undocumented neighbors)
* Norberto Saracco (How the Spirit creates visible unity in the church)
* Omar Djoeandy (Crossing barriers to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ)
* Oscar García-Johnson (Latin American and Latino faith and theology)
* Oscar Muriu (Raising a legacy of African leaders for the church of Christ worldwide)
* P. Bonny Resu (Taking the whole gospel to the whole person in the Asia Pacific today)
* Pablo Martinez (A church planter reflects on multi-ethnic church, renewal, discipleship, and family)
* Paul Cook (Helping local churches put compassion into action)
* Paul Rattray (Sacrificial succession and releasing pioneering Christian leaders)
* Perry Shaw (Transforming theological education)
* Peter C. Phan (Christian faith and mission in an Asian key)
* Peter Dickens (Leading in DisOrienting times)
* Peter Kuzmic (Embracing peacemaking and reconciliation)
* Peter Seeberger (Integral mission and sustainable development)
* Purevdorj ‘Puje’ Jamsran (The growth and vitality of the church in Mongolia)
* Quang Nguyen (Blessing the children and church of Vietnam)
* Randy Woodley (Ethnic diversity and learning from Indigenous peoples)
* Ravi Jayakaran (Transformation as progressive, permanent, and God-intended change)
* Ray Minniecon (Authentically Indigenous, authentically Christian)
* René August (Ubuntu – Discovering bonds of community)
* Robert Cousins (Mobilising the intercultural church)
* Rosalee Velloso Ewell (Dwelling deeply in neighborhoods and communities)
* Ruth Padilla DeBorst (Pursuing mission and practicing hospitality)
* Sam Marullo (Releasing missional and transformational churches)
* Sami Awad (Seeking a lasting and just peace in the Holy Land)
* Samuel Chetti (Developing healthy, multi-ethnic churches and denominations)
* Sebastian Kim (On theology in the public square and World Christianity)
* Seforosa Carroll (Addressing climate change and building interfaith relationships)
* Shaul Judelman (Fostering a grassroots nonviolence movement among Israelis and Palestinians)
* Siu Fung Wu (Participating in Christ’s sufferings and transformation of humanity)
* Soong-Chan Rah (Freeing the church from Western cultural captivity)
* Stephen Owino (Passion for prayer, mission, and the Bible in the African church)
* Steve Bartlett (Renewing church planting and leadership development)
* Steve Chong (The RICE movement: Pursuing discipleship, evangelism, and renewal)
* Steve Scott (Art, mystery, and mission in the globally connected world)
* Terry Casiño (People movements around the world, and the future of Christianity)
* Thir Bahadur Koirala (Serving with local communities to overcome poverty, suffering, and injustice)
* Tim Costello (Embracing God’s justice)
* Timothy Hyunmo Lee (Shining the light of the gospel in Asia today)
* Tite Tiénou (What is Jesus doing in African theology, prayer, and mission?)
* Tony Campolo (The positive prophet of Red Letter Christianity)
* Tracy Trinita (A supermodel’s journey to faith, wholeness, and sharing the love of Jesus)
* Vee Tetseo (Faith and mission in Okinawa and Japan today)
* Victor Rembeth (Humanitarian and interfaith cooperation witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ)
* Vítor Westhelle (Listening to postcolonial voices and our scandalous God)
* Viv Grice (Healthy and Christ-glorifying pastoral ministry)
* William Ouma (Sharing the gospel in word and deed throughout Africa)
* William Thurmond (Lessons learned from almost 60 years of pastoral and spiritual leadership)
* Wong Young Soon (Being the visible expression of the holistic mission of Christ)
* Wonsuk Ma (Mission in the Spirit)
* Xiaoli Yang (Chinese poetry, Christian faith: intercultural conversations)
* Xiyi (Kevin) Yao (On the growth, struggles, and future of the Chinese church)