Contextualising Christian Mission in Northern Nigeria: Challenges and Strategies in Muslim-Majority Areas

Christian mission in Muslim-majority northern Nigeria operates in a complex environment shaped by theological conviction, historical grievances, social relations, and occasional violence. Scholarly analysis of effective and responsible contextualised mission strategies in northern Nigerian contexts is an important but politically sensitive research area that remains underdeveloped. This study analytically examines the theological frameworks, missiological strategies, and contextualised practices employed by Christian missionaries and evangelists working in Muslim-majority areas of northern Nigeria. A qualitative analytical design was adopted, with in-depth interviews conducted with 25 evangelists and church planters with at least five years of ministry experience in Muslim-majority contexts in Kano, Sokoto, and Borno States. Mission strategy documents and published reflections from northern Nigeria mission practitioners were also analysed. Results identify four dominant missiological strategy models: direct proclamation, socio-developmental witness, friendship evangelism and dialogue, and contextualised worship for background Muslims. The most effective strategies combine genuine service with respectful dialogue, avoiding confrontational approaches that trigger social conflict. The study makes an original analytical contribution to the northern Nigeria missiology literature by systematically documenting and evaluating diverse contextualisation strategies, and recommends that northern Nigeria church planting networks develop a Shared Missiological Framework that coordinates strategies and establishes responsible contextualisation standards.

Keywords: contextualised mission, Northern Nigeria, Muslim-majority communities, missiology, church planting