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|  | AFA JournalChristian missionsThe dark continent sees The LightBy Randall MurphreeAFA Journal Editor AFA Journal, February, 2003 edition For an advantaged American growing up with limited contact beyond my own comfortable U.S. borders, to visit a Third World culture is at once exhilarating and exhausting. For a month last fall I taught and traveled in Kenya and Uganda, two small African nations where poverty is still rampant, society’s infrastructure is substandard, health care is elusive, and political corruption has taken a terrible toll. Statistics for many African nations are sketchy and may vary widely depending upon the source of the numbers. But one thing is certain: Most Third World nations, even those now recovering from a difficult past, are still victims of various national crises. In Kenya, 42% live below the poverty level, and more than two million people (of a 30.8 million population) suffer from AIDS. Life expectancy at birth is 47.5 years, and 42% of the population is under age 15. Across the border in Uganda, 35% live in poverty, and the Uganda AIDS Commission estimates that 9.5% of adult Ugandans – 1.9 million – are HIV positive. Life expectancy at birth is 43.8 years, and 51% of the people are under age 15. (These statistics came from the World Factbook 2002 at www.cia.gov.) When will we ever learn? AIDS has been a frightening threat around the globe for two decades. Unfortunately, health care professionals are often intimidated by the politically correct culture gurus, subsequently touting the “just use protection” argument to guard against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). At Kenya’s Discipleship University where I taught, one student wrote of how AIDS had impacted her family after a relative was diagnosed HIV positive. At present, the man’s wife and children are still free of the virus, but her whole family – like that of countless African families – will never live outside the shadow of AIDS. The AIDS epidemic has ravaged numerous African nations, none worse than Uganda, where almost one million have died of AIDS. The experience of these societies devastated by AIDS should be instructive for the American health care community and for our politicians. Yet, the great majority of them continue to toe the politically correct line that AIDS and other STDs are preventable by using condoms, promiscuous sex is a responsible personal choice, and homosexual behavior is a normal lifestyle. I am reminded of former homosexuals we have met at AFA. Stephen Bennett is one who left the homosexual lifestyle and later founded a Christian ministry. His story bears a common thread with many others in that they were seduced, not just by another person, but by a lifestyle promoted and validated by our culture at large. When will we ever see? Personally, I could easily be overwhelmed by the hopelessness implied by statistics. The numbers are certainly not encouraging, yet there is more to the story. People in both Uganda and Kenya appear infused with optimism and hope. From the continent once called “dark,” there is a light shining from the faces of the people. Meet the Africans in their own setting, and they act as if they are people with a future. I began to understand this paradox only as I discovered how the Gospel has made major inroads in recent years. Christianity is the dominant faith. In Kenya, 64% of the people claim Christianity, 26% indigenous beliefs and 7% Muslim. Similarly, 66% of Ugandans claim Christianity, 18% indigenous religions and 16% Muslim beliefs. American believers often take pride in calling ourselves a Christian nation. A recent Pew Research Center report said, “Religion is much more important to Americans than to people living in other wealthy nations.” As it turns out, 59% of Americans say religion has an important place in their lives. Contrast that with 30% in Canada, 33% in Great Britain and 11% in France. However, the startling contrast occurs when these affluent nations are measured against Third World nations. Of those polled in Kenya and Uganda, 85% said religion is important in their lives. Eight other African nations ranged from 80% to 95%. Six of eight Latin American countries polled also surpassed the U.S. in how important religion is in their lives. There may be truth in the idea that affluence breeds spiritual apathy while poverty breeds spiritual depth. A major factor in the rapid growth of the Christian faith in Kenya and Uganda is the strategy of their missionaries. Those I visited in both countries exhibited a servant’s attitude toward the work they are there to do. From children’s homes to a seminary and a university campus, American missionaries demonstrate the love of God as they serve, educate, motivate and challenge the African people. Their message is taking deep root in African hearts – that real hope is found only in Jesus Christ, that He desires and deserves to be a daily priority in our lives as believers. It was good for me to be reminded of that message. When will we ever go? It is my prayer that AFA Journal readers will respond with a new commitment to spreading the Gospel. There are many things one can do. And once we become involved, more creative ways to help missionaries are bound to arise. First, commit to pray for missionaries – individually and collectively. Choose a missionary your church supports for special prayer focus. Find out how your church is involved in missions and know what to pray for. Second, give of your financial resources; a little or a lot, whatever you can do will give you a vested interest in spreading the Gospel. Finally, go on a short-term missions trip. Most denominations have opportunities for members to go on missions trips from a few days to several weeks. Consider it. But beware – you’ll probably be hooked. In my case, the money I’d saved for a new kitchen floor has already been spent on air fare for another missions trip, this one to South America. A missions trip could change your life. And it could change the life of someone else – for eternity. |