Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. It covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With about 922 million people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.2% of the world's human population.  There are 53 countries, including Madagascar and all the island groups.

Africa plays a prominent role in biblical history through the stories of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and the Exodus. In the New Testament, Africa sheltered baby Jesus for a while, and was home to the Ethiopian eunuch. Alexandria, Egypt was a key city during the first few centuries of church history.

Most African nations suffer from multiple plagues - war, genocide, AIDS, corruption, famine, refugees, and poverty. The most infamous example is Rwanda, where 800,000 were slaughtered in 1994. Healthcare officials estimate that 15-20% of adults in south-central Africa are infected with HIV. Somalia and Sudan are continually devastated by radical Islam.

The major religions in Africa are Christianity (50%), Islam (40%), and Traditional Religion (10%). These percentage estimates are not at all accurate, because of rampant syncretism. Many who formally claim to be "Christian" actually practice traditional religion in daily life.

The true indigenous church in Africa faces many challenges in evangelizing their continent. The Western false gospels of "easy believism" and "prosperity" have spread like wildfire. Thousands of Africans are promised that God will shower them with health and wealth. They raise their hands, pray a prayer, and are pronounced "saved." African evangelical leaders admit the truth of the analogy that the church in Africa is "a river a mile wide, but only an inch deep." Even among genuine believers, many pastors have very little training in biblical doctrine and church practice.

In this context, HeartCry is blessed to serve with missionaries of the Zambia Reformed Baptist movement, under the gifted leadership of Pastor Conrad Mbewe and Kabwata Baptist Church. These churches display a remarkable mix of strong doctrine, sound practice, and evangelistic zeal.