Foreign aid has poured into Africa for decades, yet the continent remains the poorest. This mindset, unfortunately, has also trickled down to the church, with many congregations sustained by foreign donations. But is this really healthy for the local church?In this thought-provoking article, we delve into the surprising scarcity of self-supporting churches in Africa. We explore the "three-selfs" of church autonomy and challenge conventional thinking on what it means for a church to truly stand on its own.