Song - Jesus lives in Africa

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Under the beating hot sun above,

the ground is stubborn, hard to break up.

The soil is rich but the yield is slow,

and the farmers struggle to keep their hope.

The sun gives heat but it takes its toll,

drains the body, cracks the soul.

But faith still increases where the land says “no,”

because grace runs deeper than roots can grow.

[Chorus]

Jesus lives in Africa!

He's not burned out by the sun,

He pours His grace on everyone!

God moves in Africa!

Even when it doesn't rain,

the Lord His Church sustains.

From first Amen to final breath,

the Lord of life and death,

will keep His people marching on.

He lives in Africa!

Lord, keep your people strong.

[Verse 2]

Before Europe mapped the land,

or sunk their flags into the sand,

The eunuch heard and understood1,

the words were true, and they were good.

Baptised in Jesus' name,

his beautiful feet2 carried the faith

to Africa's hallowed ground,

proclaiming the Gospel sound.

[Chorus]

Jesus lives in Africa!

He's not burned out by the sun,

He pours His grace on everyone!

God moves in Africa!

Even when it doesn't rain,

the Lord His Church sustains.

From first Amen to final breath,

the Lord of life and death,

will keep His people marching on.

He lives in Africa!

Lord, keep your people strong.

[Verse 3]

In Carthage, it is sure,

the lions of the faith did roar.

Giants taught us to endure,

when faith is hard, we keep it pure.

Not every crown is won by might,

some are forged in the dark night.

Not even fire can destroy

our inconceivable holy joy.

[Bridge]

Not safe, but held

Not spared, but sealed

Not forgotten, not alone!

The stone was rolled, the tomb undone

The darkest road He’s already gone!

Savage wolves may strike the sheep,

but the Good Shepherd does not sleep.

[Chorus]

Jesus lives in Africa!

He's not burned out by the sun,

He pours His grace on everyone!

God moves in Africa!

Even when it doesn't rain,

the Lord His Church sustains.

From first Amen to final breath,

the Lord of life and death,

will keep His people marching on.

He lives in Africa!

Lord, keep your people strong.

Jesus lives in Africa.

Background

One of the most beautiful things about Christianity is the way in which it unifies people who would otherwise be divided by barriers both physical and cultural. As the body of Christ, we have members all over the world. On every continent, in almost every country, you will find believers, and if you are also a believer, these are your family. Africa in particular has a rich history with Christianity, but this has not been without its challenges. With persecutions increasing, yet being largely ignored by the rest of the world, I wanted to write a worship song to encourage my African brethren wherever they may be found.

The first verse was partially inspired by a sermon illustration given by a South African preacher in my church. He spoke about the problem of the African soil. Being such a hot climate, the ground is less than ideal for agriculture. Even before we introduce the element of corruption, persecution, and other forms of sin, nature itself seems intent on making life difficult for millions of people. But even here, there is a note of hope: "Grace runs deeper than roots can grow."

The chorus begins with the song's title: "Jesus lives in Africa". This, of course, is not literal. It's not like He owns a house somewhere in the middle of Kenya. But ultimately, Jesus lives everywhere. He is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. So what's to stop Him living with His people? As Scripture says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39).

I wanted to emphasise that He is not some passive observer. When His people suffer, He suffers with us. When we struggle, He sustains us. He acts. He moves. Africa is no exception. Because of this, from the moment a person confesses faith, their fate is sealed: The God of life and death will sustain them, allowing them to persevere until their body returns to the dust from which we were formed, and the spirit returns to the loving arms of the God who gave it.

Verse 2 briefly alludes to the origins of Christianity in Africa. There is a modern misconception that Christianity is a "white man's religion", imported to Africa by its European oppressors. In reality, Christianity was in Africa before it was ever in Europe, and we see the seeds of this in the latter half of Acts 8. Here, the Apostle Philip is guided by the Lord to meet a traveller. Specifically, a eunuch from Ethiopia, who had great authority under the Ethiopian queen, Candace, and had charge over her treasury. Philip found him reading Isaiah, and through this, Philip was able to explain to him who Jesus was, and soon after, the eunuch confessed faith and was baptised. He, of course, took the faith home, and the rest, as they say, is history. The "beautiful feet" line is also not arbitrary, it is a direct reference to Romans 10:15, which says "And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”" This, in itself, is a reference to Isaiah 52:7, which says "How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”"

But of course, this was not without its challenges. The Church was heavily persecuted, but by God's grace, it endured. In fact, it flourished, and in the first three centuries, Carthage was one of the most influential Christian centers, matching Rome and Alexandria. Facing such heavy persecution, African Christians were faced with deep questions about how to handle it, and in so doing, taught the Church what it really looks like to count all as loss for Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).

In Scripture, the lion is seen as a symbol of courage and might, with Christ Himself claiming the title "The Lion of Judah" (Revelation 5:5). As Africa is also commonly associated with lions - being home to the largest extant species - it felt appropriate to allude to certain figures, such as Tertullian and Cyprian of Carthage, as both "giants" and "lions of the faith". Many centuries ago, these men finished their race, and claimed their crowns, not by sitting in cozy buildings sitting coffee and singing pleasant songs, but by devoting their very lives to the cause in ways many Christians today cannot imagine.

Sadly, many others can. In fact, with the invention of increasingly deadly technology, the sons of Satan have many more devastating ways to wreak havoc on the children of God. Special mention should be made of the Church in Nigeria, who are currently facing a literal genocide at the hands of the "savage wolves" who "strike the sheep", as I say in the bridge. When it's convenient, the world will occasionally look up and say a few supportive words, but then the news cycle ends, the headlines drop, and once again, our brethren suffer alone.

But not entirely. Our crucified Savior does not turn a blind eye to the sufferings of His children. Thus, we are not "safe", because there is a very real danger. But we are held, comforted in the knowledge of whom we serve. We are not "spared", death is always a possibility. But the fate of the martyr is eternal life. The world can take our heads, our God will give us a new one. We are neither forgotten, nor alone, because our Lord sees all, our King keeps our tears in His bottles, and writes them in His books (Psalm 56:8).

And so the chorus repeats a final time, reminding us who our God is. He is omniscient, blind to nothing. He is omnipotent, able to do all things. He is omnibenevolent, His love has no end, especially for His Church. And He is omnipresent. Jesus lives in Africa.

Scripture references

1. Acts 8:26-40

2. Romans 10:15

AI usage

This song was produced using Mozart AI.