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Overview of Africa
Africa is home to over 600 million people who
speak more that a thousand languages and are citizens
of some 52 nations. Africa’s religious expressions
are similarly diverse. Indeed, perhaps the
defining feature of modern Africa is the increasing
differentiation among countries and communities
of believers. The truth is that there is no single
Africa but a multitude of Africas.
That having been said, there are some hopeful
trends to be seen in today’s Africa. Positive
changes are taking place. Violent struggles and
wars have given way to reconciliation and nation building.
Closed economies are becoming more
trade-friendly. Intra-Africa cooperation is on the
rise. African churches are taking on increasingly
significant roles as peacemakers, reconcilers and
advocates for the poor and disadvantaged. As a result,
talk about Africa these days focuses on a triad
of engagement — aid, trade and investment.
A debate has emerged on the continent and in the
United States as to whether aid is a help or
hindrance to self-development. Should it continue,
and if so what modifications are necessary in
order that the desired goals of peace, stability
and mutually beneficial development can be
achieved? An important voice in the debate is that
of Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and
particularly churches. The Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), with its historically community-based
involvement, has played a significant role in improving
the lives of countless millions of people
in neighborhoods, villages and towns throughout
Africa. The problems of Africa will be overcome
only through cooperation among a variety of governmental
and nongovernmental sectors; we have
a great stake in the aid debate.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has long understood
that ministry and mission with Africa (and
elsewhere) must be built upon a foundation of dialogue
rather than dictation. That mission, if it is to
be successful, sustainable and mutually beneficial,
must be God-inspired and -directed and based on
two-way partnership. If we follow the will of God,
we can teach and we can learn from our sisters and
brothers.
Education — leadership development, skills enhancement
and capacity building — are the keys
to a brighter future in Africa. From water development
projects in Malawi to theological education in
Ethiopia, our journey with Africans is bearing fruit
and preparing a new generation to take advantage
of the opportunities the 21st century portends. At
the same time, there are lessons that Africans can
teach us and our children that will help us be better
Christians and world citizens. For example, the
emergence of a non-racial democratic South Africa
and its President Nelson Mandela, as a world statesman,
appear to have captured the hearts and minds
of Americans and people around the world as universal
symbols of hope, human progress and racial
justice. In a similar vein, the facility with which
many African Christians articulate their personal relationship
with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, which
is so much a part of and the cause for the phenomenal
growth among churches like those in Sudan
and Mozambique, can be a gift to the PC(USA) as
we seek to bring new souls to the saving grace of
Christ and to turn around our membership decline. |
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