African American missionaries serving overseas: A surprising numerical and demographic analysis of US-born Blacks in missions. Issue 2 (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sutherland, James W.; Coleman, Richard; Russell, Jacinta
• Is Part Of: Missiology. Volume 51:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: African American -- overseas -- Black -- census -- interethnic marriage -- missionary -- cross-cultural -- Black church -- Africa -- mission agencies -- US-born Black -- raising support -- single missionaries -- White -- salaried; Missions -- Periodicals; 266.005
• DOI: 10.1177/00918296231151612
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-8296

Abstract

A census of African American cross-cultural overseas missionaries was completed between 2020 and mid-2021, encompassing data gathered since 1998. Over 600 mission agencies listed in the North American Mission Handbook were canvassed for US-born Black missionaries, and comparisons made between data from the 21st and 22nd editions. A slight majority of the 179 African American foreign missionaries located were single, and 57% of marrieds were in inter-ethnic marriages. Almost half of these cross-cultural workers served in Africa. Not more than 10% were found in any one mission agency, and 21% of missionaries were salaried.