AFRICA
Northern Africa
Northern Africa refers to the area ranging from Morocco on the east Atlantic coast to Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt on the Mediterranean, and Sudan. Most countries in this area are Islamic countries. Accordingly, conversion to any religion other than Islam is subject to heavy punishment, even death.
In the early days, missionaries were dispatched to this area from Japan, Germany and the United States. They were imprisoned during their missionary activity. In extreme cases, they were tortured in prison and their blood and sweat became the fertilizer through which God's will took root in this region. Only God had access to the missionaries' work here.
Although they were arrested and disturbed externally, members and missionaries received God and Reverend Moon's guidance and grace amidst the miraculous spiritual works that occurred in their daily lives.
Since the direct method of witnessing in this region is not effective and can result in persecution, the movement has tended toward engaging in social activities. Conferences have been organized under the auspices of organizations such as ICUS and PWPA. Members thus witness indirectly through seminars on the Unification movement. As of 1994, the entire region has come under the guidance of Continental Director Thomas Cromwell.
Central Africa comprises Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tom & Principe, Zaire and so on. It is showing remarkable growth.
Cameroon /
Central African Rep /
Chad /
Zaire
This region comprises Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia and Djibouti. As in the case of other regions in Africa, due to the political situation in some countries missionary activity could not be done freely. The first incidence of international martyrdom happened in this region. Masaki Sasamoto, the first pioneer dispatched to Malawi was shot to death by the military police in Tanzania while doing pioneer missionary work. Missionaries who have come here have disseminated the doctrine of the Unification Church, that contains the will of God, to the people of Africa, overcoming all manner of hardship.
Kenya
There are still many difficulties in doing pioneer missionary work in foreign countries. It is especially true in a country such as Nigeria where Christianity and Islam are subtly interwoven and several unique, traditional religions are gradually disappearing. When the missionaries of the Unification Church arrived in this region, many countries were mired in civil war. It was very difficult for missionaries to do their work.
When twenty-four foreign missionaries arrived at the western African region in 1975, it was the beginning of a dramatic adventure. During the first few years, they became very weak due to malaria, dysentery, insufficient food and so forth. They regarded wearing rags and eating food with sand or worms in it as an offering of spiritual indemnity for their mission country. During the 1980s, they were able to enjoy a new level of success and see an increase in membership.
Burkina Faso /
Cote d'Ivoire /
Ghana /
Liberia /
Nigeria
This region comprises, among others, the Republic of South Africa, Botswana, the Comoros Islands, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, R union Island and Swaziland. Missionary work here began in 1970, relatively earlier than other places, with Wouter and Susan van der Stok in South Africa. As with other places, missionary work here is proceeding slowly. In 1989, a Japanese member was killed in Namibia. Anton Sherbl, William Torrey from the United States and Hideaki Sera from Japan who came to Madagascar to do missionary work were put into prison less than three months after beginning their work in 1975. They were interrogated daily and expelled from the country by force in August.
South Africa /
Zambia
