Augustine Institute Expands Mission for the
New Evangelization Through Partnership with
Church Life Africa
Formation initiative equips Nigerian laity to meet the growing needs of the Church in Africa
The Augustine Institute is announcing a strategic, multi-year partnership with Church Life Africa (CLA), a nonprofit apostolate dedicated to forming lay Catholic leaders across Africa. This collaboration marks a significant expansion of the Augustine Institute’s worldwide efforts to help Catholics more deeply understand, live, and share their faith.
At a time when Christianity in Africa is often framed through the lens of persecution, the continent is also experiencing extraordinary growth and vitality. Nigeria alone is home to more than 35 million Catholics, with an estimated 94% attending Mass weekly. Yet this rapid growth has outpaced access to structured catechesis and ongoing theological formation for the laity, many of whom have long viewed theology as reserved exclusively for priests.
“Since our founding in 2022, we have seen firsthand a deep hunger for formation in the truths of the Catholic faith,” said Fr. Ken Amadi, co-founder and director of CLA and a priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja. “From our first Summer Conference in Abuja—where we were only able to accept half of those who applied—to a growing network of more than one thousand participants, the Lord has continually confirmed this mission. Lives are being renewed, confidence in the faith is being restored, and a new generation of lay leaders is emerging. The Augustine Institute plays a critical role in this mission. Through its world-class theological resources, including Formed and the Amen App, as well as graduate-level coursework and mission collaboration, we are helping form the next generation of African Catholics for the global Church.”
CLA’s primary goal is to close the formation gap for the laity in Africa by training and deploying theologians, catechists, and mission leaders for the New Evangelization.
As part of this initiative, the Augustine Institute’s Formed platform is already being implemented in parishes and schools across Nigeria. In addition, CLA and the Augustine Institute are co-developing the Theology for Service Leadership (TSL) program, a two-year postgraduate certificate that integrates:
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Online theology courses developed and delivered by the Augustine Institute
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In-person summer intensives in Nigeria
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Mentorship-based internships for emerging lay leaders
“The Church in Africa is energetic, vibrant, and deeply faithful,” said Dr. Tim Gray, president of the Augustine Institute. “Through this partnership, we are extending our mission globally by equipping lay Catholics with necessary theological formation. This work reflects our core commitment to building up men and women who can share the Catholic faith in every corner of the world.”
The institutional base of CLA is located on the Augustine Institute’s campus near St. Louis, where Fr. Amadi also serves as Assistant Professor of Theology—further strengthening the academic and missionary collaboration between the two organizations.
