In a recent sermon titled “The Great Commission 1: Go,” Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), issued a stern warning against immigrating to Europe, emphasizing a significant shift in global evangelism dynamics.
He contends that European nations are losing sight of the foundation of their prosperity, which will lead to their eventual collapse.
He likened Europe to a “sinking ship” on the brink of capsizing.
“God also warned the Israelites, remember when you are wealthy and strong you do not forget the Lord your God.
“They have forgotten the God who made them who they are and if you look at the Global world, Europe, and the Western world, they are going down very fast. Those of you who are running there, are running into a sinking ship. It’s going down, I mean it is just a matter of time,” he said.
Citing Matthew 28:16–20, Pastor Otabil highlighted the biblical instructions of Jesus to his disciples to proclaim the gospel.
He noted that Africa is now emerging as the new hub for spreading the Gospel, contrasting Europe’s historical role as the epicenter of Christianity.
Pastor Otabil described this shift as a phenomenon of ‘reverse evangelization,’ signaling a dramatic change in the spread of Christianity worldwide.
“We in Africa have become mostly those who have the Gospel, and they in Europe have become those who don’t have the Gospel.
“So those who brought us the Gospel are now empty of the Gospel so there is reverse evangelization taking place all over the world from Africa to the rest of the world, it is no longer from Europe to Africa.
“It’s now Africa to the world because Europe has become post-Christian. Until probably about the last 60 -50 years, Europe was the main center of Christianity, that is how all the main Christian ideas came about,” he stated.
Pastor Otabil also preached about the decline of Europe, attributing it to what he described as “apostasy” – a turning away from religious belief.
“Civilization, as we perceive it, is not the solution; rather, it’s the source of their downfall.
“America will not be the superpower again, and Europe will not be the superpower again.
“They are just going down and the main reason is they have forgotten the source of their help. We think that it is civilization, but the Bible calls it apostasy.”
He urged Africans to take up the mantle and spread the gospel across the world.
“So when we think about the Gospel, we don’t think about people bringing the Gospel to Africa, we are thinking of Africa taking the Gospel to the rest of the world…When Jesus said go to the nations he meant every group of people who do not know the Gospel, go to them.”