Day 4ish: The Underground (Part 1)

(It seems rather silly to keep track of days at this point, but I promised 31 days of Africa - and there will be 31. Just maybe not consecutive.)

I was in the Charlotte 24-7 prayer room last Thursday for a prayer meeting we call KILN. It's a great group of folks who inspire discussions which draw me ever nearer to the heart of the Father. Every week we walk in without an agenda and let the Spirit lead, no small task for this control freak.

We were discussing Haiti last Thursday - the destruction, the callousness of our own hearts, and, yes, the comments made by a certain televangelist. We spoke openly, freely, sifting through our own feelings and thoughts and confusion. We questioned where forces of good meet forces of evil in this world and how to distinguish their works from each other. We read aloud from the Bible, discussing how Old Testament law has relevance for us today. And we prayed, aloud - one by one and altogether - for the brothers and sisters in Haiti who were suffering and grieving, and for the brothers and sisters in that very room.

I closed my eyes as we prayed, and wondered at how lucky I am to do that without fear. The doors were not locked, anybody could come or go as they pleased, and indeed a stranger came in at one point and stayed without engaging us. Here we were, a group of 10 or so modern-day disciples, boldly proclaiming our faith out loud for anyone to walk in and hear and we did so without fearing for our physical safety if someone should find us or know us as Christ followers.

Friends, how blessed we are to be in a country where we can state our beliefs - on t-shirts, on bumper stickers, out loud on street corners, in the quiet rooms of an urban monastery. So many Christian brothers and sisters across the world do not have that security and indeed acknowledge the possibility of martyrdom just by accepting Christ.

So today, I wanted to share some of the truths of just how hard it is to be a Christ follower in some parts of Africa. How often we forget that Christ called us to give our very lives to the Kingdom (Mt 16:25) - let this be a reminder to all of us how present a reality that is for others across the world.

*As a general rule, I do not mention names and countries when talking discussing the work of the church in restricted nations. However, the following information has been published in wide release and therefore, I feel it acceptable to continue the dissemination. All of the following information is taken directly from Voice of the Martyrs' "The Persecuted Church: Global Report 2010." It can be found online (along with many other resources) at www.persecution.com.

Algeria (restricted) - An era of relative liberty to practice Christianity ended in 2006. A new law was passed stating that house churches were not permitted. The law, ordered by the nation's court, is an effort to stop evangelism and church growth in Algeria. Even churches with licenses had to stop meeting. One contact reported their church stopped meeting briefly, seeking God's desire for their church. But they decided to keep meeting and face any consequences. The police came many times to threaten the church, but the believer reported that gathering together melted their fear and renewed their courage.

Comoros (restricted) - Persecution against Christians generally takes the form of social discrimination. There are fewer than 200 Christian nationals in this country of 750,000 people who live on three islands. There are two Catholic churches and one Protestant church, but only non-citizens may use the buildings. There are no official churches for Comorian people. Christians are forbidden to witness in public. In some areas, local authorities limit the practice of Christianity. One believer who left Islam had his travel documents revoked. In 2006, authorities arrested Comorian believers in a Bible study and discovered Christian materials. Four of the believers were sentenced to three months in prison but were released after six weeks. Christian workers report being verbally attacked at a local mosque for leading Friday prayer meetings. During Ramadan this year, one of the local believers was jailed for five days for not fasting and praying as required by Islam.

Egypt (restricted) - The country's constitution gives preference to Muslims. Christians are treated as second-class citizens, denied political representation and discriminated against in employment. On June 13, 2009, a Cairo judge denied a Christian convert's request to change his religious status on his identification card from Muslim to Christian. The man, Maher El-Gohary, has been attacked on the streets and has received death threats for legally pursuing his case. In addition, several riots have occurred between Coptic Christians and Muslims. Unprovoked, three Muslim men stabbed a Coptic Christian man as he left a wedding service, sending him to the hospital with severe internal injuries. On May 9, 2009, a car bomb exploded outside of St. Mary Church, a holy site for Copts.

Eritrea (restricted) - In 2002, the government ordered all independent Protestant churches closed. In the past three years, religious repression has escalated. At least 3,000 Eritrean Christians are currently imprisoned for their religious beliefs. Some have been held in underground cells or metal shipping containers in an effort to pressure them to recant their faith. Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42, died in solitary confinement at the Mitire Military Confinement Center on Jan 16, 2009, from torture and complications from diabetes. In October, Teklesenbet Gebreab Kiflom died while imprisoned for his faith at Wi'a Military Confinement Center. He reportedly died after prison commanders refused to give him medical attention for his malaria.

Ethiopia (hostile) - In Ethiopia, Orthodox Church members harass evangelical Christians. In one case, the body of a Christian baby boy was dug up in the middle of the night and placed on the steps of the evangelical church. The local Orthodox church would not allow the body of the boy to be buried on their church grounds. In addition, young people who receive Christ are sometimes driven from their Orthodox families. In another incident, a man lost his teaching job at a government school after converting to Christianity.

Part two will come tomorrow(ish). Surely your eyes are tired by now.

The information on Ethiopia made me particularly sad, the news of Christians persecuting Christians. My prayer today is that across the world, we as Christ followers will come understand the truth of this passage and join hand-in-hand to bring in the revolution of Kingdom Come:

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
-Ephesians 4:3-6

Day 3ish: A Blessing or A Curse?

So I've been less than consistent blogging this week. Part of this has to do with the fact that I overschedule myself, part has to do with the fact that I have too high of expectations when it comes to blogging, and part has to do with the fact that I've been busy with my first week of preschool.

That's right, friends. Twice a week I'm sitting in a Catholic church and learning colors, numbers, and that playdoh is NOT for eating. I can already count to 10 without help and that makes me the star of the class.

Okay, seriously - I'm attending preschool as part of my job as an aide for a little girl with cerebral palsy. She is in a classroom with 10 other 2-and 3-year-olds, all of whom are able-bodied and, so far as I can tell, completely typical. She actually had the opportunity to attend a preschool through the public school system with other children with special needs, but her parents thought she was a little young and we all thought it would be a huge advantage for her to be around typical children in an inclusive classroom setting.

It has been really beautiful to watch those 10 other children reach out to her. Part of it is curiosity, yes, but part of it is the acknowledgment that even with a walker and leg braces and eyes that don't line up - she is just like them. She loves to give hugs and play with shaving cream and blow kisses and shake the maracas in music class.

And of course they have questions - why does she have that chair? Why does she wear that? Why can't she walk? And her teachers and I answer those questions in the most age-appropriate way we can, always reminding the kids that God made all of us different and that's okay.

Of course, that's not at all the view of disabilities in other parts of the world, including Africa. Consider:

The Kiswahili word for disabled is kiwete — part of the object class of nouns, a thing, a diminutive, not a human being.

That is a line from an article from a couple of years ago about the situation that exists for disabled children across Africa. There is a movement now for inclusion of special needs children in the schools there, but for many years, they were shunned, hidden away, the skeleton in the closet.

These children are considered cursed by the gods and spirits for the sins of their fathers and mothers, a source of shame for their families. They receive few, if any, services and are often abused, neglected, or abandoned. And maybe worst of all, they are raised to believe they are unworthy of all the opportunities and advantages their siblings and neighbors enjoy.

It makes me sad for those children and just as sad for their families. In a culture where a special needs child is a mark of shame, some parents may never get past that to understand just how beautiful that child is, how full of potential. They will never understand the joy of the small gains and the way a hard-earned smile can light up a room and bless a day.

And so I encourage you to do a little research and a lot of praying.

Pray for the families with special needs children, that they might be courageous in the face of cultural beliefs to love their children wildly and radically.
Pray that legislators, parents, teachers, activists come face-to-face with these children and all the potential they embody - and that they make bold decisions and push for access for children with special needs.
And pray that all over Africa and all over the world, people with be raised up with special hearts for these most precious children of our Father.

Because once your heart is touched by these kids, you will never ever be the same.

(Me and the tiny BFF on her first day of preschool)

For further research:

Comfort the Children International - An organization with a home in Mai Maihu, Kenya that serves mothers and their disabled children

Naro Moru Disabled Children's Home - A children's home in Kenya with the goal of rehabilitating disabled children so they can be integrated into society as much as possible

Compassion International - Sponsor a child. You can even specify a child who is mentally or physically handicapped

Day 2: And You Thought Being Homosexual in America Was Tough

Let me say upfront that I don't really know where I stand on the gay rights issue. I have a Human Rights Campaign sticker on the back of my car, there before I became a Christ-follower. And to be honest, I haven't really re-evaluated my feelings on the subject - a fact that my mentor called me out on a couple of months ago.

And because this is a sensitive subject, let me make myself clearer: I don't know how I feel about the politics of homosexuality - civil unions v. marriage, health benefits, end-of-life decisions and other rights. I know exactly how I feel about homosexuals: I love you. Period. I love you whether it's nature or nurture, whether you're still in the closet or out in the open, whether you are happy or wish every day it could be different.

And because I love you, and because you are human, I believe you deserve basic respect and rights and opportunities. I believe you are entitled to life and safety and the freedom to make your choices just like anybody else.

Which is why what is going on in Uganda is particularly troubling to me. In an effort to reduce the incidences of HIV/AIDS, the country is trying to pass legislation making homosexuality illegal and, in some cases, punishable by death. (First of all, let's not overlook the wrong assumption that AIDS is a "gay disease.")

Here is an excerpt from a really great article, which sums up the Ugandan legislation better than I could ever hope to:

The Ugandan legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. "Serial offenders" also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

Anyone who "aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage in acts of homosexuality" faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with "religious, political, economic or social authority" who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.

I encourage you to read the entire article HERE. It is particularly interesting and troubling to note that Uganda is not the first to consider or pass such legislation, and it will certainly not be the last.

I think I've certainly gotten in over my head again in terms of subject matter. In short, I don't know if it's God's perfect will for anybody to be gay. I do know, however, that condemning people and threatening death is never going to be a way to show them God's love.

I think all we can do is pray, friends. For the legislators in Uganda and across Africa who see these laws as a way to regulate disease or morality or both. For the people in those countries who are affected by these laws. And for the Christ-followers who come into contact with them every day with the opportunity to show them love and respect and compassion.

And maybe we should do a little searching of the Father's heart ourselves on this. Because when it comes to loving and redeeming and freeing people, no one does it better than Him.

Day 1: A (Really) Brief Look at How Imperialism Shaped Africa

I was in the middle of a blog about Darfur, about to explain the history of Sudan when I realized that what I was going to say would apply to a lot of Africa. I decided that perhaps starting day 1 with a history of imperialism in Africa would be more appropriate. It seems a good introduction and very necessary background for the rest of the month.

The first reaction a lot of people have had upon hearing that I want to go to Africa is, "Is it safe?" This is not an altogether unfounded question - the history of Africa in the 20th century has been, generally speaking, one of violence, upheaval, and tragedy. However, one would have to look a little further back to understand the true reasons for this.

European exploration began in the late 1700s, and a fair portion of northern Africa was mapped by the early 1800s. It didn't take long for Europeans to realize that the continent was ripe with resources (think gold, copper, diamonds, rubber and more). That, coupled with medical and technological advances that made the travel through Africa possible, created what is known as the "Scramble for Africa."

In 1884, The Berlin Conference was called with the intention of setting guidelines for African Colonization. (And as I'm sure you guessed, Africans weren't invited.) The Conference, among other things, set up "spheres of influence" where major European powers could exert their claim to African territories. Their agenda for splitting the continent was absurd. Lines were drawn with no consideration for indigenous people groups, the majority of whom had already drawn their own lines and worked out their own peace accords.

African colonies began their fights for independence after World War II, with the majority of Africa gaining independence by the late 1960s (there were a few stragglers). It is here that the long-term effects of imperialism are seen.

In some cases, civil wars erupt because countries that Europe created involved vastly different cultures and European rule had only exacerbated the differences (see: Sudan). In some cases, civil wars erupt because European rule actually involved creating upside down power structures, where ethnic minorities were given all the power and opportunities, while ethnic majorities were oppressed (see: Rwanda), creating all sorts of animosity and trouble when Europe pulled out.

And those countries lucky enough to have stable governments post-colonialism struggle to feed their citizens and watch as their countrymen die in famines. These famines occur because of drought, certainly, but also because Africans were forced into growing cash crops such as cotton and tobacco, to the detriment of their own food crops. Even after European rule was gone, African farmers continued to supply Europe with their "needs," while maintaining only small subsistence plots for themselves - and growing food that they hardly learned to cultivate during the prior 100 years.

In short, the history of Africa has played out like the history of most of the developing world: The First World (that's us, folks) was built on the blood, sweat, and tears of the Third World. Every major "gain" for industrialism and capitalism was at a great cost for those we considered to be inferior.

Do I consider this to be an exhaustive look at how imperialism shaped the Africa we know today? Certainly not. In fact, I'm a little embarrassed at how little it really dives into the issues. Luckily, we have another 30 days to dive in deep. At the very least, I hope this gave you a little more insight into how modern Africa was formed and will make the next 30 days a little easier to understand.

Until tomorrow, friends. Love.

31 Days of Africa: A Few Disclaimers Before We Start

I'm really no different than you - just a kid who is trying to figure out what is going on in Africa. Trying to figure out how so beautiful a continent became so troubled, trying to figure out where my place is in all of it.

That said, this blog shouldn't be your sole source of information about Africa. I'm guaranteed to make mistakes, misinterpret evidence, omit citations, and let my own feelings get in the way of objectivity. If you're expecting college-style essays with peer-reviewed sources, you will be sorely disappointed. I really just want this blog to be a jumping-off point for all of us - something to highlight our misconceptions and ignorance and push us into a better understanding of our African brothers and sisters.

It is in that understanding that compassion can be fostered, passions can be ignited, and change can occur.

Thanks for taking the journey with me, friends.