046 Kiiru, Pursuit for Self Reliance in Africa

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Pursuit For Self-Reliance in Africa

January 1997 MacMillan Kiiru

Introduction

More than ever before the Church in Africa, out of necessity, hasbecome concerned with the subject of self-reliance. The acquisition,utilization and good stewardship of all God-given resources isbecoming a major preoccupation of many church boards, councils andcommittees. On one hand, the struggle for survival in view of thescarcity of resources for ministry has become a major consideration forboth new and old church related organizations. On the other hand, wenow have churches and related organizations whose major concern ishow they will find and invest more of their resources in their ownexpanding ministries.

Background

The demand for resources to carry out God's work has never beengreater than it is at the end of the 20th Century. This has beenoccasioned by a number of factors such as the following:1.

Increasing demand for efficiency and effectiveness as well asproduction of quality goods and services.2.

Competition for and duplication of the scarce resources by amultiplicity of churches and related organizations.3.

Western donor fatigue and the increasing demand for accountabilityfrom western supporters of Christian work.4.

Increasing concern and demand for long-term sustenance of churchministries as opposed to perpetual dependency on externalresources.5.

Tremendous growth of the church in Africa and concern for churchplanting, discipleship and Christian nurture.Unfortunately the traditional focus on the west for provision of themuch needed resources for church ministries has not helped matters inthe search for locally available resources. Sadly, too, dependence on

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Missionsandmoney.euGod for material provision for Christian work has been replaced withmaterialism and greed with very little proper teaching and practice of Christian stewardship.

The new vision

Over the recent past a number of church leaders have expressedserious concerns over the issue of dependency and self-reliance notonly for their own particular churches and denominations but theentire church in Africa. This concern has given birth to serious soul-searching coupled with repentance. It also includes trust in God for anew attitude and commitment to provision of local resources forChristian work. Paul's challenge to the Corinthian churches in 2Corinthians 9:8 has never been more relevant than it is today. "AndGod is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things, at alltimes having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."I have had the opportunity to organize stewardship seminars mostly inEastern and Southern Africa where a new spirit and desire to raisematerial support for Christian work has been accompanied by verysuccessful results. The God of creation demands that we take fullcharge of this creation and that we multiply the resources that He hasgiven us in order to do His work. We are stewards of God's manifoldresources and with this realization the work of God will not suffer thelack of material support.

Strategy for self-reliance

With the right spiritual perspective on raising local support, churchesin Africa are proving they can be successful. Those who haveemphasized a right relationship with God have witnessed the desire of their members to contribute to God's work. Many of the newindependent churches in Africa today have made tremendousbreakthroughs in raising support for their ministries. The secret hasbeen teaching and challenging Christians about giving part of their"wealth and/or blessings" back to God. Their faith in God and theircommitment to His work have resulted in such projects as buildingsand community oriented programs being supported fully by localchurch members. One of the results of research conducted by DaystarUniversity in Nairobi and a number of other Christian organizations onlocal giving indicated that church members are more than willing tosupport their own churches and parachurch ministries if their pastorwill share areas of need with them. Unfortunately there are outdatedapproaches which hinder the church and these need to be replacedwith creative and exciting approaches of giving to God's work.

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