Abraham Johan Meintjes: The Valuable Contribution of Christian Missions to Africa
Much of the world’s history is either being denied or being re-written to conquer and manipulate the minds and the focus of God’s people on this earth. Mostly, - it would seem, - with great success. Similarly the history of the church and missions in Africa is being ignored, distorted, belittled or denied.
It would seem that such as Communism and New Colonialism are keen to win the battle for our minds and thoughts, introducing concepts such as humanism, globalism, political correctness, one toothless world faith and entirely distorted impressions of truth and history.
It might benefit every clear thinking and visionary citizen of Africa to thoroughly study history from as many recorded angles as possible, - as we should also be thorough in our study of our Christian faith, church history, Bible translations, relevant peripheral information and our practical faith in action stewardship duty.
The fact that mistakes are made in ignorance in the history of the Church and Missions, as mistakes are made in governments and economic development initiatives in Africa, are certainly so. Mistakes must be learnt from and corrections must be made.
However, to for example, allege that there was peace in Africa before the “white man”, or the church or missionaries had arrived is simply and grossly untrue. Such allegations are entirely misleading and incendiary to say the least.
What might be the case is that the arrival of the European context and reference in Africa showed up the development challenges that would have to be faced then, now and up ahead.
To continually berate the “white man’s courage” to explore new frontiers, also in Africa and mostly in Christian conviction and challenging perseverance of the Great Commission, would be like harping on the statement that challenges Africa, as an alleged cradle of mankind, for its lack of historic development and modernization. Both arguments are meaningless, probably unconstructive and ignore a number of relevant and practical realities.
Personal experience in Southern-Africa, as far as to the Congo River and Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had resulted in most edifying and constructive development efforts, which albeit small, make a continually progressive difference, as had many dedicated missionary efforts before and to date.
Congo River Mission alone, since 2004, had helped to bring the effect of undeveloped regions and lack of facilitated development opportunity to the fore, in Africa and beyond.
This specific example of missionary work in Africa helped to bring a growing awareness in Southern-Africa and beyond, of aspects which include the following:
1. Infrastructure and logistic problems, hence severely hampering free, open and spontaneous economic trade and development, between Cape Town and Kisangani.
2. The paralyzing and isolating effect of the rebel controlled conflict mineral zones between Lubumbashi, Kalemie, Uvira, Bukavu, Beni and Kisangani.
3. The continued isolation of Kisangani, which hampers potential of regional economic progress and hinders the development of Kisangani as a central Africa hub port.
4. The systematic withdrawing of the international Christian church, and for example the BMS that planted four (now deteriorated) mission stations along the Congo River, on the pretext that the Congo must now assume responsibility. This however, remains an impossibility, while the DRC is manipulated as a colony to be severely exploited by the new colonial policies of the First World which deliberately keep the population and critical infrastructure development paralyzed and hidden form the world.
5. Displaying the selective gospel of the international and national church community in the DRC and central Africa regions, - while seeing no evil, hearing no evil yet doing evil by omission, for many years already.
6. Denying central Africa and the DRC the opportunity to fully develop, utilize and benefit from the commercial potential of the Congo River, whether for electricity generation, transport and regional agricultural and industrial infrastructure, as well as rural development co-operative production networks.
7. Encouraging the establishment of guest houses, the refurbishment of hotels, improvement of roads and a general awareness, also in the churches, that if Kisangani wants to meet the world, it would have to invite the world, offer a place to stay and eat and offer some tangible development opportunities.
8. An ignored awareness that an open North-South SADC development road route and access to the isolated communities of the North-eastern DRC are urgently required if Southern-Africa is at all serious about greater stability and its contribution to the development of a sustainable local economy in a last continent that undeniably convinces international and national investors that a reliable and certain ROI is possible.
Perhaps lies, distorted truths, ignorance or innocence are indeed bliss to all of Africa, to an apathetic Christianity and to highly manipulative world government ambitions.
To blame missionaries that came and come to Africa, or to accuse them for the unfortunate exploitive actions that might now follow where no roads existed before, is submitted to be entirely short-sighted and in denial of much, - if badly managed, - benefit derived to date.
Furthermore, a “white man’s saying” goes; - “it takes two to tango”. It takes iniquity and corruption to meet and contract with similar, for ill to manifest and prevail in and from Africa.
Missionaries, by their personal faith-based conviction, often difficult journeys, and serious obedience to the Scriptural Great Commission of The Messiah from Nazareth, very seldom come to Africa well-endowed or equipped for mining, subversion, rape and pillage or purposeful destabilization. Such are not the intent, purpose or fruit of the true Christian spirit.
Would Africa have known right from wrong, good order, progress and developments such as the value of Christian faith communities, education, local commerce, technology and international exposure if missionaries did not venture to the unique continent of Africa over the years.
It must perhaps be considered that the workers of iniquity, the holders of big money bags and rich businessmen do not poses the conviction, courage, backbone or commitment to face the risks and adversity that greet pioneering missionaries, - although, most lamentably, the slave trade had reached regions such as the Congo in the 15th century already, then followed by Coca Cola.
Fortunately and by God’s infinite grace, pioneering missionaries such as Dr. David Livingstone exposed the slave trade in Africa, - albeit that both the church and governments turned on him for doing so.
True, now the church in Africa had grown. African Christians do not have an excuse anymore. Good stewardship and good fruit can now also manifest in and from Africa.
To my few missionary friends in Africa, I would plead, - do not be accused or compromised in lending your convictions, calling and purpose to merchants with big money bags, smiling politicians, locals with gems, - or empire building Denominations towards New Colonialism.
The mature Christian Church worldwide faces great and urgent challenges to be revived, reformed again, transformed and restored anew, to return to the fully functional, pure and Full Gospel of Good News, – also in Africa.
Abraham Johan Meintjes is a voluntary Social Entrepreneur and Encourager of sustainable Local Development in Southern-Africa, who cooperates with the church and applies principles called Business as Mission. Reliable and win-win partnerships as well as voluntary co-operative ventures are favoured, - if scarce. Abraham (known as Johan by family and friends in South-Africa) is currently researching sustainable agricultural models for rural communities and recently achieved a Diploma in Herbal Medicine. Johan is married to Marí and resides outside Pretoria, with four Schnauzer dogs. Christine, our daughter is a State Vet in Vryheid, KZN.
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