Rev. Nelson Makanda, vice chancellor of Africa International University in Nairobi, Kenya, has set an ambitious goal to train and certify 200,000 pastors across Africa within five years.
He believes that formal theological education is crucial to combating false teachings and unqualified leadership in the church.
While speaking in New York during a Christian leadership conference, Makanda referenced Rwanda’s decision to shut down over 9,000 churches in a single year due to lack of proper theological qualifications among pastors. He expressed support for such government action, viewing it as a necessary step to uphold accountability and integrity in church leadership.
Through a partnership with the U.S.-based Church Transformation Network, AIU is already training tens of thousands of pastors across the continent. Makanda hopes this movement will lead to a more grounded, educated, and trustworthy generation of church leaders in Africa.
As Evangelical Christianity rapidly grows across Africa, Rev. Nelson Makanda is on a mission to ensure its leaders are properly trained.
