When Christian Mungai speaks about missions, his words carry the weight of family history, theological reflection, and lived experience across continents. His story embodies collaboration in the mission of God—a testimony that when people come together across cultures and generations, the gospel advances in unexpected ways. He recently shared his story at the Africa Missions conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2025. The goal of the conference was to harness the African missions movement for global impact.
A Family Shaped by Mission
Christian’s story begins long before his birth, with Scottish missionaries who arrived in East Africa in the 19th century. They encountered villagers who worshipped the majestic snowcapped mountains, seeing in their grandeur evidence of divine power. The missionaries took this as an opening to share the story of the Creator of the mountains, introducing the Bible to the community.
The hand of begging has become the hand of blessing
One young villager who served as a cook for the missionaries became a Christian and raised his twelve children in the faith. Among them was a son who later became a Presbyterian pastor. That pastor was Christian’s grandfather. In honour of the missionary who had discipled him, he took the name Harrison. Years later, Christian’s father also became a Presbyterian pastor, and when Christian was born, he too was named Harrison—a living reminder of how one act of cross-cultural mission shaped generations.
Rethinking the Why of Mission
For Christian, collaboration begins with rethinking the purpose of missions. Why does missions exist? Many Christians start with Matthew 28, the Great Commission, or Matthew 25, the call to serve ‘the least of these’. But he suggests going further back, to Genesis 1, where God created humanity in His image.
‘If we are made in the image of a God who is a community—Father, Son, and Spirit—then our mission must also be communal,’ he explains. ‘We will never be our fullest selves until we are a “we” and not just a “me”.’
Indigenous Leaders and Catalysts
Collaboration in mission also means valuing indigenous leaders. Christian himself is the fruit of missionary faithfulness in Kenya, yet he is clear that Africans do not need outsiders to start work for them. Instead, missionaries can act as catalysts, sparking growth, accelerating momentum, and leaving no residue of themselves.
‘A catalyst speeds up a reaction but does not remain behind as the focus,’ he says. ‘In the same way, we should not go and leave our churches behind in other countries. We must stand with local leaders and strengthen what God is already doing.’
Global Shifts: Missions in Reverse
One of the most striking aspects of Christian’s ministry is how it reflects global shifts. For centuries, missionaries came to Africa. Today, Africa is increasingly sending missionaries to the world—including to the very nations that once sent them.
As an international student in America, Christian experienced this reversal firsthand. While Westerners told him of their plans to travel to Kenya for mission, few ever stopped to ask him, a Kenyan, how best to engage his homeland. This oversight convinced him that mission strategy must adapt to global realities of migration, diaspora communities, and cultural exchange.
Reframing Poverty and Wealth
Christian also challenges traditional mission postures. Too often, Africa is defined by material poverty, but he insists the deeper issue is biblical poverty: the absence of shalom—peace with God, with self, with others, and with creation.
‘Some people are so poor,’ he recalls hearing from an Indian believer, ‘that all they have is money.’ Living in the United States, Christian saw immense material wealth alongside profound loneliness and spiritual emptiness. Who, he asks, is truly poor?
This insight reframes collaboration in missions: every culture has both needs and gifts to offer. Africa may lack in resources, but it abounds in community, faith, and resilience. The West may have wealth, but it needs renewal of relationships and hope. Together, the global church can address each other’s gaps.
Collaboration in Practice
For Christian, mission collaboration takes many forms: servant leadership modelled on Christ, who came vulnerable as a child; long-term partnerships that focus on sustainability rather than dependency; and shared transformation where both ‘goers’ and ‘receivers’ are changed.
Today, at Mariners Church in California, he gathers believers from many nations into ‘convening communities’ that disciple the next generation of globally minded leaders. He describes the American church as the ‘thumb’ of the body—able to touch every other finger. Its convening power, when combined with the vitality of the African church and the voices of other global believers, creates a powerful witness.
His father, who passed away in 2018, used to tell him:
‘Money can make you rich, but it will never make you wealthy. You are only as wealthy as the people you have around you.’
For Christian, this is the heart of collaborative mission: wealth is not measured in resources but in relationships. People, not programs, are the true riches of God’s kingdom.
Africa’s Moment
Christian’s story shows that mission is no longer one-directional; it is polycentric. It is a global exchange, where Africans, Asians, Latin Americans, and Westerners join hands to share Christ across borders. For Africa in particular, this is a pivotal moment. The continent that once received missionaries is now sending them—not only across Africa but to Europe, North America, and beyond.
The challenge, Christian emphasizes, is for Africans to see themselves as missionaries, not just recipients. God is raising leaders across the continent with vision, resilience, and deep faith. By stepping out, they can carry the gospel back to places where churches are declining and hearts are growing cold.
Conclusion
The story of Christian Mungai is not just about one man’s journey. It is about the web of faithful connection and collaboration—missionaries who came to Kenya, families who passed on faith, churches that nurtured leaders, and global communities now working together for the gospel.
The future of missions will not be built by isolated efforts but by partnerships that honour the gifts of each culture and generation.
It reminds us that mission has always been God’s work, but He delights in using people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The future of missions will not be built by isolated efforts but by partnerships that honour the gifts of each culture and generation.
And as Christian’s life demonstrates, when the global church embraces collaboration, the hand of begging truly becomes the hand of blessing.