by Jorge

As we stopped at a village in the bush in the North of Mozambique… as we went out of the car to relax, we pulled out our soccer ball and kicked it around a bit until several villager children gathered around us to play too… As I watched their joy I thought about the approach of church denomination missions in Africa and how it needs to change…

Playingball

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imagine coming to Africa to promote Barcelona or Manchester United… and encourage people to attend or watch their games, or opening branches and appeal for membership to these clubs …. rather than bringing the “ball” and teach and encourage the practice of the “sport” – where everyone can benefit from the activity  and exercise… well, I  felt quite strong about this – the church denominational approach to evangelization in Africa [and maybe in other parts of the world] has been more like instituting the club and making members… creating spectators [and division or club-ism] rather than bringing the ball [the Bible?] and letting people enjoy it, use It for their fun and recreation, health, strength and unity – also guidance, light, and most of all Salvation in Jesus Christ. (the analogy is lost here but nevertheless the truth worth mentioning)

village in Mozambique

The point is that I think the Christian life is worth living and worth living all the way… not half way, with some visits to the church on Sunday and sometimes only for weddings and ceremonies … and I do believe the  central point, the focus of the Christian life is the Word of God…without It there is no life. I feel
that Christians, by and large, promote the denomination and that needs to change. The Christian should promote Christ, His Word, not a particular denomination, whatever that may be, anywhere, anytime and all the time… Every Christian has been given that challenge. “And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me….”