Pastor Rick Warren has issued a passionate call for African churches to take the lead in global mission, saying: “Africa is now the most Christian continent on Earth... The Church in Africa must lead the rest of us.”

He was speaking to Evangelical leaders at the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) General Assembly via live stream.

Warren, founder of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, addressed delegates from California, sharing his deep conviction that Africa holds the key to the future of Christianity.

With over 430 million Christians, he noted, the continent is not just a growing force, it's a present-day leader in global faith.

His message drew from a visit to a remote South African village 20 years ago where he encountered a church without electricity or beds, yet rich in compassion and service.

“That moment pierced my heart. I wept... I had spent years training leaders but hadn’t cared deeply enough about those who were suffering," he said.

Warren was further moved by a young local pastor who walked two hours weekly to download his sermons, telling him: “You’re the only training I’ve ever had.”

That experience inspired the creation of the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, a mission strategy based on proclaiming the Gospel, equipping leaders, assisting the poor, caring for the sick and educating the next generation.

"Of 700 previous plans to complete the Great Commission, not one succeeded... and not one included the whole Church," he shared.

He also challenged African leaders directly: “You are not just the future, you are the present... I believe with all my heart that God has called the Church of Africa to lead. The task is urgent. And Africa is ready.”