One of the challenges to evangelism in Africa is the chronic suffering and needs of many of
those living in African cities. Hunger, disease, poverty, poor infrastructure
and sanitation, homelessness, crime, unemployment...the struggles which so many in Africa
experience, just to make it through the day, leave your heart aching.
We do not preach an “empty” gospel, or a
rhetorical message which does not impact every aspect of our daily lives. Jesus
Christ showed us through His very life and death that the love of God is
gritty, practical and ready to give up everything, even life itself, to address
the needs of others. How can we then not sacrifice, even just a little for
others who are suffering?
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life
for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity
on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:16-18
A crucial element of an African Enterprise
city wide mission is the “social action” component. Whilst it is not possible
to address every physical need in the city, we work with the church to identify
needs in the community.This illustrates
the word which is preached to every strata in the city during the mission week.
During the November 2009 mission to Monrovia the local
churches identified a slum township area called the “Buzzi Quarter” (also known
as the Lorma Quarter) which desperately needed assistance. Amazingly, although
it is a stone’s throw from the State House, it had fallen into a stinky,
unhealthy, dirty state of disrepair.
The community of
Buzzi Quarter comprises about 20,000 people, most of whom are former and
retired soldiers, and their families. Because of its close proximity to the University of Liberia, many students also live in the
community. The majority of the residents live on less than one dollar a day. Up
until March this year, only two Government latrines existed within the
community, but these had deteriorated to a completely unsanitary condition.
People using these
facilities often contracted communicable diseases and illnesses thus increasing
infant mortality rates. They were forced to relieve themselves on the nearby
beach, or by using plastic bags, which were then disposed of into the uncovered
drains which ran between the tiny dwellings.
Because of its location at
the bottom of the city, the community was also constantly undergoing flooding
from undirected grey and waste water from make shift bath houses.
Together,
the local churches and African Enterprise, met with local community leaders and
committed to assisting them with the challenges they faced each day. Official
meetings commenced early in 2009 during which community, youth and church
leaders discussed how best to ensure community ownership of the future
developments. Church leaders and congregations led their community in a clean
up which was aimed at reversing the prevailing mindset of hopelessness and instilling
a sense of dignity.
Over
the next few months, health and sanitation training was conducted with
community leaders, who then trained others in their neighborhood to increase
their awareness of health risks. Evangelistic events were held in the community
during this time, and large numbers of residents, young and old, gave their
lives to Christ, including the community headman. Finally a ten room latrine
building was constructed, and a deputation sent to the State House to ask the
local authorities to address the needs of Buzzi Quarter.
On
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 the newly constructed latrine building was dedicated
and officially opened. Incredibly, the Vice President of Liberia, His
Excellency Dr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, walked through the slum community to the
church hall to the site of the dedication. He was surrounded by an entourage of
security staff, but took the time to express his utter dismay at the conditions
of the community. Also in attendance were AE’s Pan African Missions Director,
Rev. Songe Chibambo, heads of international and local NGOs, the Secretary
General of the Association of Evangelicals of Liberia, Mrs. Victoria Wollie,
Chairman of the Christ Mission to Monrovia,
Rev. K. Zubah Kollie, Church leaders, students and residents.
The Vice President cut the ribbon to
officially open the latrines. They were described by some onlookers as
“beautiful” – maybe an unusual description to those of us who do not live in
Buzzi, but quite possibly a description of what the latrines represent, the
deeply concerned heart of God for his people in Buzzi who no longer felt
forgotten.
Please pray for the community of Buzzi
Quarter, the churches and the government of Liberia.Please continue to support AE.Together we can uplift the poorest of the
poor through word and deed.
Yours in Love, grace and gratitude of
Christ,
David Richardson, Executive Director/CEO
African EnterpriseCanada
June 2010
Dear
Friends,
We have some
serious and exciting news to share! Once
again African Enterprise is ready to embark on an historic mission outreach in Southern Sudan.
YOU have the opportunity to impact this unique evangelistic and service
opportunity with your gift.
First let me tell
you about the situation in Sudan.
This is heart-wrenching stuff.
Oil was found in the south by the Muslim government
based in the north. They needed to clear the way for oil extraction and a
pipeline to the north coast. Western and Eastern super-powers bought the oil
and Canadians built the pipeline. The South wanted a share of the oil revenue,
the North said no and sent Troops and helicopter gunships to bomb and strafe
the southern villages. Thousands died and many more fled. A whole generation of children has grown up
amid landmines, invading tanks and militia forcing them to become
child-soldiers.
James, now 40,
was taken as a child and taught to kill. He was “on the notorious death march
…. Where he and other young Sudanese boy’s walked a thousand miles to flee the
genocide” wrote an observer. “He spoke of drinking urine to stay alive. He
spoke of watching others die while hundreds of thousands fled to the Darfur region
of Sudan
and surrounding countries.” An estimated
3 million+ have died and it must stop!
Sadly, this – and even worse – is the
tortured story of the people of Juba in Southern Sudan.
Decades of genocidal war forced upon them by the Arab and Muslim Northern
Sudanese military have left behind trauma, bitterness and hardly any
infrastructure.
That’s why AE is staging a
Kingdom counter-invasion of Juba!
Capitalizing on a fragile peace, we will send
in our most experienced evangelists from September 12–19 to rescue the
shell-shocked residents from despair.
We are praying and believing that thousands
of Sudanese will give their broken lives to Jesus Christ and that God will heal
them and their nation, and through it be glorified!
Reconciliation-Burundi's Stories of Transformation
Antoine (“Mbawa”) Harushimana grew up in a very poor Hutu family outside of Bujumbura in Burundi. Unable to finish his studies, he decided to join the National army. After completing his army training, he left and joined the renegade Hutu Rebel group FDD. Antoine rose quickly to become the leader of training for the FDD. During the war he became a renowned and feared soldier known as ‘Mbawa’. ‘Mbawa’ became a household name in Burundi, especially within the army.
Colonel Deo Ntiyankundiye, the current Chief of Operations for the National Police Force of Burundi, grew up in a wealthy Tutsi family. His father was imprisoned unfairly by the Tutsi government of the day after being accused of corruption and was kept in jail during a number of regimes. Deo became angry and embittered. He joined the army, hoping to overthrow the President. He also excelled as a soldier and rose to a high position as an army officer. His ambition was to avenge his father’s unfair treatment by the regimes. He actively started to gather support from fellow soldiers against the President.
Looking back years later, it is easy to be amazed at these hard yet fascinating lives. Their stories are even more amazing when we learn how their paths have crossed. Over the years, Deo and Antoine have been sworn enemies. Deo almost killed Antoine in 1993.
After years of fighting, both of their stories lead eventually to transformation through an encounter with Jesus Christ and to AE’s reconciliation and trauma healing workshops. Today, having understood the implications of their faith, not only have they been healed from bitterness by forgiving one other and others who caused them pain, they now work together
in ministry and help lead AE’s reconciliation workshops in Burundi.
Over the course of this year and beyond, Antoine will join a team of people who will develop AE’s trauma healing and reconciliation work in the troubled Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As I write, the Eastern DRC is suffering under the consequences of a complex and longstanding conflict similar to the one in Burundi and Rwanda between Hutu, Tutsi and Twa.
The story of Deo and Antoine is a shining example that our call for reconciliation is not just theory. When forgiveness is truly offered, real healing can take place. Their story, and others like it, need to be told. It will take hard work and much prayer, but with God’s help, there is hope for peace in the DRC and beyond.
Asella Mission
The power of the gospel was recently demonstrated in the success of the mission to
the Ethiopian town of Asella and its surrounding area. Carried out in four locations
over three successive weekends, it drew people in their thousands.
In each city, all the churches joined hands together to partner with AE. The church
leaders unanimously appreciated AE’s motto of partnering with the church and
especially the stratified approach to evangelism and empowering leaders.
Melisachew Mesfin, AE’s Ethiopian team leader, reports:
“The power of the Gospel was witnessed. More than 100 people were freed and counseled. There were 67 first time commitments and also many recommitted theirlives to the Lord. This is only the first fruit of the mission. As it happens in manyinstances the effects of evangelistic activities will bear much fruit long after the firstseed is sown.
An exciting sign of the optimistic future of the Ethiopian church was the large proportion of children and youth who attended – in some venues nearly half were under 18 years of age. Many of these young people are studying inthe nationwide student discipleship program initiated and run by AE in partnership with the church.
A pastor said“it is miraculous to see such city wide evangelistic mission done by the alliance of churches in a city where the churches had a history of persecution and internal strife.
Thanks to AEE for bringing us together for such wonderful work”. Another pastorsaid “I have never seen a partnering ministry that has been as empowering and supportive as AEE”.
Once again we have seen the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Glory be to God!
In His service
Melisachew”
GOD IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF LIBERIA (PHIL. 4:18-19)
JUNE 2009
GOD IS MEETING THE NEEDS
OF LIBERIA (PHIL. 4:18-19)
The poverty in the city of Monrovia is almost overwhelming, and yet the people press on. There are young children everywhere, roaming the streets by themselves and helping with the family business. Although there is now peace in this city, there is certainly not prosperity for the vast majority.
The city is littered with the shells of gutted buildings, punctuated with bullet and shell holes and squatters have taken up residence in some. They create a bit of an eerie atmosphere, though it seems only the newcomer really notices them now. The NGO and UN presence is inescapable.
Monrovia is African Enterprise’s major mission focus for 2009. In preparation for this mission, AE has been working alongside the church leaders in Monrovia, recently conducting a Healing and Reconciliation Consultation, in anticipation of the Pan African Mission (PAM) which will take place from 16th – 23rd November.
The Christian leaders we are working with are peaceful, joyful, warm and welcoming. They exhibit enthusiasm, strategic thinking and a passion for the Kingdom of God. This enthusiasm has consistently encouraged all involved in the African Enterprise PAM team. Many of them have significant influence, not just among local churches, but also amongst secular leadership. These leaders are good stewards; meticulous with resources, reliable and humble. They have been working together for months now. All of them have had experiences which, when recounted, leave you aching inside. But God is working His purpose out in Monrovia.
The Consultation focused on indications of trauma, receiving and extending forgiveness, and practical steps individuals and churches could take to implement reconciliation in their communities. Participants were enthusiastic to hear about how they too might be agents of peace, having been healed by the Lord of longstanding and painful emotional wounds which had burdened them for so long.
During the question time, some very difficult questions were asked, revealing the complexity of some participants’ situations. Some of the questions included: “How can I reconcile with someone who is not honest with me?”, “I want to reconcile with my offender but I am afraid of him/her, how do I reconcile?”, “ I have forgiven my offender from my heart but I have not told him/her this. Is this true reconciliation?”.
Antoine (“Mbawa”) Harushimana grew up in a very poor Hutu family outside of Bujumbura in Burundi. Unable to finish his studies, he decided to join the National army. After completing his army training, he left and joined the renegade Hutu Rebel group FDD. Antoine rose quickly to become the leader of training for the FDD. During the war he became a renowned and feared soldier known as ‘Mbawa’. ‘Mbawa’ became a household name in Burundi, especially within the army.
Colonel Deo Ntiyankundiye, the current Chief of Operations for the National Police Force of Burundi, grew up in a wealthy Tutsi family. His father was imprisoned unfairly by the Tutsi government of the day after being accused of corruption and was kept in jail during a number of regimes. Deo became angry and embittered. He joined the army, hoping to overthrow the President. He also excelled as a soldier and rose to a high position as an army officer. His ambition was to avenge his father’s unfair treatment by the regimes. He actively started to gather support from fellow soldiers against the President.
An exciting sign of the optimistic future of the Ethiopian church was the large proportion of children and youth who attended – in some venues nearly half were under 18 years of age. Many of these young people are studying inthe nationwide student discipleship program initiated and run by AE in partnership with the church.
