Africa Rising to Lead: Pastor Rick Warren Challenges AEA Leaders to Finish the Task

At the 13th General Assembly of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) nn May 20-24, 2025, Pastor Rick Warren delivered a powerful virtual message that stirred the hearts of leaders representing over 180 million believers across the continent. Held in Nairobi, Kenya, this historic gathering united 40 national evangelical alliances under the theme “Unity for the Transformation of Africa.”

Hosted by the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, the Assembly gathered under the theme “Unity for the Transformation of Africa.” Dr. Goodwill Shana, outgoing president of AEA and Executive Chair of the World Evangelical Alliance, called the Assembly a “kairos moment” for the Church in Africa—a time of deep spiritual reflection and strategic repositioning.

In his message, Pastor Rick offered a bold vision for Africa’s role in the future of global missions. “I believe the Church of Africa must lead the rest of us,” he declared. “I believe that with all of my heart, and I will do everything I can to serve you and your churches, your networks and your alliances, and your denominations in Africa.”

Pastor Rick outlined the global shift in Christianity over the past century—from a Church centered in the Northern Hemisphere to one now flourishing in the South. Today, Africa is the most Christian continent on earth, with over 430 million believers, surpassing even Latin America. “There are more Christians in Africa than there are people in the United States,” he emphasized. “That’s not just a statistic—that’s a responsibility.”

Finishing the Task, Pastor Rick explained, exists to mobilize local churches of every size to fulfill the Great Commission by the 2,000th anniversary of the Church in 2033. The vision is simple but transformative:

“Helping pastors turn consumers into contributors, turn an audience into an army, turn spectators into participators, non-believers into members, members into maturing disciples, disciples into ministers, and ministers into missionaries and messengers.”

Whether a church has 10 members or 10,000, every congregation can participate in completing the task. “This is being done all around the world. The Great Commission Allies are literally global—and we’re using the strategy of Jesus to complete the Great Commission.”

Pastor Rick painted a picture of the Church’s future—Southern Hemisphere, urban, and young. With half of the global population under 30, the need to reach the next generation in growing cities is urgent. He challenged African leaders not only to evangelize their own nations, but to re-evangelize the Northern Hemisphere as missionaries to Europe, North America, and beyond.

“Revival is breaking out everywhere around the world as people give fresh commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,” he said. “I believe that the Church, and churches specifically of Africa, are going to have to lead this final advance to complete the Great Commission in our lifetime to finish the task by the 2,000th birthday of the church, which will be on Pentecost Sunday, just eight years from today.”

Pastor Rick reminded delegates that the task of the Great Commission—to go and make disciples of all nations—is not a suggestion, but a command Jesus gave to every believer and every church. Drawing from Acts 20:24, he echoed the Apostle Paul’s conviction: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may complete my race and finish the task the Lord Jesus has given me.”

His message outlined how Jesus modeled five key tasks—Preaching, Teaching, Healing, Praying, and Building the Church—and challenged the African Church to continue this work through what he called the P.E.A.C.E. Plan: Proclaiming the Good News, Equipping believers, Alleviating suffering, Continually praying, and Establishing healthy, reproducing churches.

This General Assembly marked not only a strategic gathering, but also a rallying point for the future of outreach in the churches these leaders represent.

Click here watch Pastor Rick’s message “Finishing the Task God Has Given You”