James Catford
Poor, helpless, corrupt Africa. That’s the popular perception of the ‘dark continent’ that many have today. It’s powerless against tribalism, promotes a false ‘health and wealth gospel’, and blames the West for most of its problems, right?
Wrong! My visits to Africa tell me a very different story of the new generation emerging from its sometimes tragic past. Whether the accepted view of Africa was ever true is debatable. But the reality now is that a new narrative is being created.
I’m in Addis Ababa, the bustling capital of Ethiopia, for a remarkable gathering of Christians called Africa Arise. Drawing people from 28 countries, all the speakers are African and I am the only white person in the audience.
Sitting next to me are young friends I’ve made over many years. One is a professional magazine photographer. Another is an airline executive. Another is a lawyer turned trendy ice cream vendor. All under 30.
The message I hear is both remarkable and thrilling. Gone are the rambling preachers, outof-touch pastors, and emotional calls to give yet more money to the church.
In their place are smart, educated Africans running banks and businesses, leading their nations with skill and sensitivity, and rejecting inflated salaries and ostentatious homes.
What moves me are those educated in the US who have returned to rebuild their homelands. A systems analyst has given up a lucrative career to move back to Ethiopia. A translator has returned from Egypt to stand with his own people in South Sudan.
They willingly accept that the social problems they face are for them to solve themselves. And they recognise that large state hand-outs from Western governments don’t always change things very much.
As I sit at in a state-of-the-art locally owned hamburger joint, young entrepreneurs talk about God, business and the welfare of the people. Faith motivates their hard work and governs their values in the workplace. How different this is to the popular image we hold of Africa.
Africa arise. Literacy may be woefully low, but God is calling the nations forward. Corruption may be widespread, but the Holy Spirit is at work changing hearts and minds. Christianity may be young here, but it’s still a powerful force in society.
Returning to wet Britain, real life rapidly kicks in again. The mood music is of decline and decay. We are told that Christianity is under threat, the message of the Bible is being ridiculed and money is tighter than ever. The secular media reports that our cathedrals are cutting the size of their choirs, and the church press laments more parishes being amalgamated.
Yet everything we need is within our grasp. We have a Christian heritage far greater than that of Africa. We have the architecture, the arts and the music that reflect the Bible in ways most of Africa has never even seen.
Here in Britain we have the buildings we need, the theological education we need, the Christian books that we need, the Bibles that we need, and - yes - even the money that we need. It’s just that the money is currently in the pockets of the Christians who attend our churches.
Why is Africa so full of faith in a God who is ‘able to do abundantly more than we can ask or even imagine’, and we in the West are so despondent?
Surely the difference is one of perception. It may seem bizarre, but historically the Church has always been at its best when it has the least. Surely that is what Africa teaches us.
If Africa has its demons then what are ours? Could they be apathy, petty squabbles and lack of faith? As we look to the Lord to sustain us, we too can arise with new purpose and vision.
The Bible plays a vital part in this. It is a unique source of essential knowledge about the most important things in life. Africa and Britain alike need more of it.
Before anyone says it, I’m well aware there are cathedrals and parishes up and down the country that are beacons of light and sharing the love of God in their communities. All is not lost. As our African brothers and sisters are showing us, we have the resources to face up to even the greatest of challenges. We have all we need. James Catford is Group Chief Executive of Bible Society. Email him at james.catford@biblesociety.org.uk