Wow, great article. How come the news media is only smart about overseas Christianity?
Kevin Jones | Homepage | 06.30.06 - 2:16 pm | #

Add to this the fact that Nigeria's Anglican Primate Peter Akinola has, for all practical purposes, replaced Rowan Williams as the most important figure in world Anglicanism and you've got the makings of a Christian powerhouse.
Christopher Johnson | Homepage | 06.30.06 - 3:40 pm | #

In Nigeria, which dominates West Africa economically and politically, the church is growing at 4.7 percent per year, one of the fastest rates in the world.

That come out to nearly 50% increase each decade, which is better than the historical rate of growth of Christianity in the first three centuries, according to historians, and better than the Mormon growth rate.

Remarkable.
Peter Sean Bradley | Homepage | 06.30.06 - 5:26 pm | #

"That come out to nearly 50% increase each decade,"

And people doubt things like whether a saint really brought so many as 40,000 people back to the faith centuries ago, while shockwaves like Africa go unnoticed.
Kevin Jones | Homepage | 06.30.06 - 6:01 pm | #

David Barrett estimates that Catholicism will reach 1.3 billion by 2025 which would mean a 500% increase in the 125 years since 1900. The Church's population will have doubled since 1970. All of which is impressive.

But global Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity has multipled 81 times since 1900 and has multiplied 11 times since 1970. Which is staggering.
Sherry Weddell | 06.30.06 - 6:40 pm | #