When the Church Isn’t so Welcoming

Lamin Sanneh, the African theologian who would be pivotal in the development of missional theology, was raised in an orthodox Muslim household in Gambia. He found himself drawn to Christianity after encountering stories of Jesus in the Quran. His spiritual journey ultimately led him to convert and become a prominent missional theologian. During a vacation from school in Africa, he traveled to Germany, where he came across a sign reading, “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.”

However, upon attending a Sunday service, he…