Biggest Challenge to Missions Today?

Tormented Africans Cry Out to Evangelical America!

by the Rev. Wm. Thomas Bray

Missions Editor at Large

SPECIAL REPORT/ As African hopes go up in this, their sixth decade of flames,  American evangelicals face not only a huge missionary challenge, but a challenge to our most basic humanity and compassion. What would the Lord Jesus do?  What is He calling us to do today?

This article appeared in the Spring 2003 issue of the Evangelical Church Alliance Evangel Magazine.

ONE can hardly blame the average evangelical in the USA for being frustrated and uninvolved in most foreign missions programs today. The truth is, there is little American evangelicals can do except pray and send finances!  Missions in the so called “10/40 Window” lands are rightly reserved to the indigenous missionaries of China, India and the Middle East.  Americans are not wanted nor needed.

However, this is not the case with the humanitarian crisis in sub-Sahara Africa. In Africa we see the other side of missions – the urgent need for aid to desperately needy believers in already established churches and missions.

In Africa, millions of sick, starving and suffering people are literally crying out for us to come over and help them.  Unlike in the “10/40 Window” lands, in Africa we have a choice.  We can do much to make a difference in the lives of fellow Christians there -- IF we choose to take action.

It has been nearly six decades since western colonial rule ended in Africa.  During this time the continent has literally gone up in flames – sinking into a sea of anarchy, poverty, pandemic diseases, famine, and tribal warfare.  Millions have died and continue to die as we speak, often as part of the legacy of 19^th and 20^th century imperialism.  Since independence, most African nations have tried various forms of Communism, democracy, secular humanism and foreign aid.  All have failed – mostly because Africa’s problems remain essentially moral and spiritual.

The truth is, only Christians have the answer for Africa. (Not that we don’t need to pour out compassion on Africa’s suffering millions.  We still need to do that and the good news is we can do it if we want.  In fact, American evangelicals have enough wealth to make the difference both physically and spiritually.)

Because of this, Africa’s suffering millions have become one of the greatest missions challenge to us as American evangelicals in the 21^st Century.  Perhaps the greatest next to the challenge of Islam.  African missions are a uniquely appropriate test to our evangelical Christian hearts because:

First, modern Africa is a challenge to our biblical and historic understanding of missions.  We as American evangelicals often choose to forget that Paul made many of his missionary journeys with a two-fold purpose.  First, to establish and plant pioneer churches.  Second, to raise up emergency relief for the suffering saints in Jerusalem.  Paul’s fundraising efforts went beyond gathering his own missionary support.

Second, the African crisis is a challenge theologically.  In the 20^th Century, we evangelicals succeeded so well in countering the “social Gospel heresy” of the 19^th century that we have lost the compassionate heart of the Lord Jesus.  In fact, we need to rediscover the fundamental doctrines of Christ relating to clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and healing the sick.  African churches are calling out to us from the valley of death and we won’t hear them because we have become so skilled at preaching away the primary lessons of Matthew 18: 5-10 and 25:31-46 or of Luke 6:20-38 and 9:25-37.

Finally, Africa is a challenge in our personal discipleship to the Lord Jesus. Our crisis in fundamental holiness and obedience has caught up to us.  Where is the evangelical fervor that goes out in the name of Jesus to do the “greater works” which He promised would be ours?  We who call ourselves evangelicals have lost the full meaning of the Great Commission. If ever there was a continent in need of teaching and discipleship, it is Africa.  Yet how can we go to “teach them all things whatsoever I commanded you” when we are not obeying the simple commands of Christ ourselves?  To answer the African call, we need a revival in our own hearts and minds.

Never in Christian history has one continent been so rich and the other so poor!  Many areas in Africa are worse off now than they were 60 years ago.  Even sponsorship support for a small project in Africa can mean the difference between life and death for a village.  We can do this as churches and as individuals.  Africans need the bricks to rebuild the foundations of their emerging nations. We Evangelicals have them. American Christians are at the crossroads.  If we don’t respond to the African crisis, who will?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Rev. Bill Bray and his wife Ivy serve on the missionary staff at Christian Aid Mission, Charlottesville, Virginia.  In October, he will help lead a mission to Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa.  He has been a full-time missionary for 38 years and has been on assignment in 44 countries.  His current position involves assisting 700 indigenous mission agencies with 90,000 missionary staff. He also serves as Vice President of Program for World Children's Fund and Medical Mission International.