From 1965 to 1999, church collaboration underwent significant changes. The book illustrates, through examples from East, Central, and West Africa, how African churches sought to carve out an independent and self-determined path following the political independence of their countries. Did the connections and ties to churches, missions, and development services in the Western world facilitate, influence, or distort this path? How did the churches respond to the partly catastrophic political and economic setbacks that quickly dampened the initial euphoria? The focus is initially on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, with its international cooperation network and missionary efforts. What explains this church's missionary commitment that led to the establishment of churches in neighboring countries? The situation in West Africa is different. The churches there strive to address the spiritual, political, and ecological challenges in their region through national and regional collaboration. The author traces these processes based on personal experiences as a missionary in Tanzania and through regular visits, encounters, and meetings in many African countries, where he has contributed to church collaboration for several decades.