All Ethnē to All Ethnē The African Americans’ Rightful Place in God’s Reconciling Work

This paper examines the underrepresentation of African American missionaries in global missions and contends that the disparity reflects deeper theological and historical fractures within the Church’s missionary structures. Drawing on sociological research, wealth-gap studies, church history, and biblical theology, the study situates contemporary participation within the legacy of slavery, segregation, economic inequality, and the missional priorities of the Black Church.Engaging key biblical texts, including Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 2:14-16, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, and Revelation 7:9, the paper argues that the Great Commission demands not only proclamation to all nations but representation from all nations within the sending Church. Reconciliation within the Body of Christ is presented as essential to credible global witness. The study concludes by proposing structural and relational pathways to affirm, equip, fund, and send African American missionaries as indispensable participants in God’s reconciling work among the nations.Originally presented at the Evangelical Missiological Society Annual Conference (October 7, 2022).