Role of Missionaries in Africa Today

Most African countries (the exceptions being Muslim countries) have had the good news of Jesus being preached for well over 100 years now. Most countries have well established, reproducing churches and strong leadership, along with smaller, weaker churches that need good leadership – much like here in the USA.

The weakest churches are generally the ones with a recent history of foreign missionaries and foreign money supporting their local evangelists. The stronger churches are the ones that are local planted, have local leadership, and minimal interference from foreign money. Think of parenting – not cutting the apron strings makes a child dependent – not strong and independent. The same is true in mission work, whether in church planting, benevolent work or schools and other organizations. (Missionaries have often helped a village by installing a well, only to hear a year later, “your pump broke; when are you going to come fix your pump.”) Emotional ownership of any endeavour is essential to it's ongoing effectiveness.

There is a very limited role for foreign evangelists and church planters in most African countries. There is a role for westerners in Africa, but humble wisdom is needed to define it.

God has not called everyone to go to Africa. But he does still call some, and he gives them specific tasks that contribute to the growth and well-being of His people. Some are medical workers, some educators, some are farmers, some are training and encouraging church leaders, some are caring for orphans, street children, and the hungry. Some are called by God to go, some to give, and some to pray hard.

Some of the greatest needs in Africa are skills that will make life, work and church growth more effective – things like learning to plow with an ox rather than a short-handled hoe; better sanitation and hygiene to prevent diseases. But as simple as that sounds, cultural norms change very slowly. (Just look at our culture – we know that our diet causes obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, etc. But how easy is it to change our diets?)

One of the keys to effectiveness is to always go behind local church and community leadership. Begin by asking them, “what are your needs, and how can we help you meet those needs?” Channel your help and assistance through the local churches, not your own organization. Teach them to depend upon God to meet their needs – they have been taught to depend upon missionaries and foreign support.

Things that are free have no value. We work hard to teach that to our children – we need to incorporate that principle more in our mission work. Almost without exception, everyone can afford to pay something for things they need. (There are crisis situations where this is not true and that is a different matter.) Africans have learned from experience that Bibles are free. While the motivation of the donors is right, there are unintended consequences – things that are free have no value. This is true of Bibles, village wells, bicycles for preachers, and education, among others..

Pictures from our recent trip can be seen at www.picasaweb.com/meloniefudge87