By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
The Africa Expository Bible Preaching Summit 2026 (AEBPS 2026)* ended in Abuja on Saturday with 332 church leaders across the continent committing to a renewed push for biblical, Christ-centred preaching as the foundation for healthier pulpits and stronger churches.
The 5-day continental gathering, convened by *Langham Preaching Nigeria* under the Langham Expository Bible Preaching Initiative, held from *12–16 August 2026* at *First Baptist Church, Area 11, Garki, Abuja*. The theme was _“God’s Word, God’s Work”_ drawn from Nehemiah 2:18.
*332 Participants, 21 Countries*
A total of *332 participants* attended — *179 onsite* and *153 online*. They included *73 registered delegates from 21 African countries* who joined via Zoom, YouTube and Facebook.
The summit brought together pastors, theological educators, seminary leaders, church planters, public servants, lawyers, business leaders, artisans and lay leaders.
In a communiqué issued at the end, participants described the summit as _“a doorway and a workshop”_ — a doorway for first-time entrants into expository preaching and a workshop for those already in the movement.
*“Not A Shortage Of Preaching, But Of Faithful Exposition”*
Speakers taught from the book of Nehemiah that _“the work of God begins when the Word of God is received, carried and believed.”_ From Nehemiah 5, delegates were reminded that _“a ruler who fears God will refuse what he is lawfully entitled to when the people cannot bear it.”_
Three main tracks were held: *The Church and the Work of God*, *The Pulpit, Politics and Governance*, and *The Seminary and the Work of God*. Practical workshops also focused on preaching Old Testament narrative from Judges, with emphasis on _“crossing the bridge from the world of the text to the world of the hearer.”
*Africa’s Growth Comes With Responsibility*In his welcome address, *Dr. Hankuri Tawus Gaya, Preaching Movement Coordinator, Langham Preaching Nigeria*, said Africa is now home to nearly *700 million Christians* — more than any other continent. Nigeria, he noted, has the largest Christian population in Africa._“Within one generation, the majority of the world’s Christians will be African. What is preached from African pulpits will shape what the global Church believes. That is not a boast. It is a weight,”_ Dr. Gaya said.The communiqué however warned of a growing gap between church growth and public life._“Africa has the most Christians and some of the least Christian public life. It is not a shortage of preaching that troubles Africa. It is a shortage of the Word of God faithfully expounded and faithfully obeyed,”_ it read.The summit also addressed current challenges including insecurity, displacement in the North and Middle Belt, economic hardship, and declining public trust in institutions.*Three Commitments Adopted*Participants reaffirmed _“the sufficiency of the Scriptures”_ and committed to three key pillars:1. *Biblical Authority and Truth* – Letting the biblical text determine the message.2. *Christ-Centred Interpretation* – Preaching Christ as the Bible’s main character.3. *Movement Sustainability* – Building _Ushirika_ networks of mentors and facilitators to sustain training across regions.
*Rt. Rev. Dr. Jwan Ntwar Zhumbes, Chairman, Langham Preaching Nigeria*, charged delegates to allow the Word to _“rebuild the broken walls within us before it sends us to rebuild the broken walls around us.”_
_“May this Summit produce preachers whose lives preach before their lips speak, and a continent transformed by the faithful exposition of Holy Scripture,”_ he said.
*A Launching Point*
Organizers said AEBPS 2026 was _“a launching point, not an end.”_ New participants were introduced to expository preaching, while graduates were recruited to serve as Ushirika members and facilitators to start new cohorts in their regions.
Dr. Gaya called on pastors, denominational leaders, theological educators and ministry leaders to study the communiqué and _“stimulate conversations and action toward healthier pulpits and stronger churches.”_
_“Our desire is not simply that this document be read, but that its convictions produce action,” he said.
AEBPS remains the flagship continental gathering of *Langham Preaching Africa*, with the vision _“To see Africa filled with preachers who faithfully proclaim Christ as the Bible’s main character, transforming communities through the power of God’s Word.”
