Why Africa?

Lately, Antioch has really gotten involved in the Africa Great Lakes region – specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In all of it, I’ve started to run across something pretty strange… the question, “Why Africa?”

At first, the question really caught me off guard. How could we not care about or be involved with our brothers and sisters in Africa? How can we not labor to help the vulnerable – the orphans and the widows?

I’ve begun to realize, however, that the question is a fair one. There are hurting people around the world – why Africa? There are hurting people in our own backyard – why Africa? Can we really make a difference in a place so big with problems so deep – why Africa? It is so far away and not everyone in the congregation will be able to go or really wrap their arms around it – why Africa?

My own answers are pretty simple:

• when you come up on an accident you should naturally help the neediest cases first – likewise, when trying to get involved in the messiness of this world, we should seek the neediest people first – that’s why Africa.
• the Congo is arguably the worst place in the world to be a woman or a child. More people have died there unnecessarily than any other place in the world since WWII – that’s why Africa.
• we have great connections and opportunities in the Africa Great Lakes region to help make sure our energy and passion is a good investment – that’s why Africa.
• many of the key leaders at the core of Antioch have felt a calling to Africa since the very beginning of the church – that’s why Africa.
• and, most importantly, it is not an either / or situation – either Africa or our backyard. We can and should be involved both in our backyard and in the world beyond. Africa is an opportunity, not a liability – that’s why Africa.