Would you read a book on ministry from a pastor in Zambia? Perhaps you should ask whether a pastor in Zambia would read a book on ministry written in the United States.

Many common challenges for ministry in Africa simply don’t arise in books published in the West. That’s why Conrad Mbewe wrote God’s Design for the Church: A Guide for African Pastors and Ministries, published by Crossway with TGC and 9Marks. Mbewe has served as pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, since 1987. And he’s become one of the continent’s most widely respected church leaders. He’s a senior lecturer at African Christian University, founding Council member of TGC Africa, and past keynote speaker for The Gospel Coalition National Conference.

I talked with him on Gospelbound about the unique strengths of African churches. And Mbewe also offered clear-eyed analysis of their particular weaknesses. I especially appreciated his observations about why we need these kinds of conversations between Christians across the oceans. And why we need books going to and from both directions. If Mbewe can benefit from books written about ministry and the West, we can learn about ministry from a book written by an African for Africans.