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February 25, 2005
John Lennon and the Ouagadougou Film Festival
You might not have heard of it, but Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso is the African capital of Cinema. And starting tomorrow is Africa's biggest film festival, the biennial FESPACO festival, with over 200 African films showing.
It is always hard for African filmmakers to get their movies made, let alone for them to be able to compete on the international stage, because of a lack of money. So it is good that there are some African films currently in the spotlight, such as “Hotel Rwanda”. This is the story of a real-life hotel manager who saved hundreds of lives during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. The film has been nominated for three Oscars.
There is also a lack of technical expertise for film-making in Africa. Now, Burkinabe Gaston Kabore, who won Fespaco’s top prize in 1997 for “Buud Yam”, has just started a film school, to try and foster technical excellence. It is in Ouagadougou, and is called Imagine after the John Lennon song.
Continue reading "John Lennon and the Ouagadougou Film Festival"
February 24, 2005
Christian Carnival
Each week, there's a thing called the Christian Carnival, hosted at different people's blogsites. People from a range of Christian backgrounds and perspectives send in an article from their own weblog, and they are all posted up in one place. It's an interesting opportunity to see what people are blogging on about. This week it's being hosted at Wallo World. Go and have a browse.
February 23, 2005
Food aid photos
Steve has posted some photos of the food aid beginning to arrive at schools in the area around Gorom-Gorom. This is following the destruction of the harvest by an invasion of locusts. The three boys sharing lunch in this picture are Amadou, Iisaa, and Yunusa, sons of my friend Hamadou:
These are two of the schools in the area. With the help of various development agencies, the government has built a lot of schools, but there are still many villages where classes meet under stick shelters.
February 22, 2005
Making disciples or converts?
Messy Christian is a Malaysian Christian, and talks here about the persecution she experienced as a new Christian, and the struggles she had with inadequate support in the church. Her experiences of persecution are similar in many ways to those of Fulani converts, but her story also has wider relevance.
It raises good questions about what church is supposed to be for new converts - are we just looking for "scalps", or are we functioning as the new community of the kingdom of God, where people can find love, grace, and support as they find their way into the new life of Christ? To her credit, MC avoids bitterness, and sees how God strengthened her through her experience. But at the same time, many fail to make it through those early trials because the church fails to function as the family it is supposed to be.
I want to write more soon on some of the approaches we have tried as we explored holistic discipleship and community with Muslim converts among the Fulani, and think about how some of that might transfer also to the Western context.
February 21, 2005
Refugee crisis in Burkina
How can the third poorest country in the world take in 365 000 refugees over two years, and no-one even notice?
By the way, this is not a rhetorical question. It has an unusual answer. What do you think? How can it happen?
Continue reading "Refugee crisis in Burkina"
February 20, 2005
Emerging church and multicultural society 3
From pre-modern Africa to the post-modern West.
The first two parts are here and here.
As the first Muslim Fulani decided to follow Christ, we were faced increasingly with the question of how to do church. Should we introduce them to the Mossi church, which would have severe cultural problems and consequences? Or should we start a separate Fulani church, adapted to their culture, but effectively dividing the church of Christ along ethnic lines? Thanks for those who made suggestions. This is what we did:
Part of the problem, I decided was that we still talk, think, and act about church as though it were a Sunday morning meeting, rather than the community of believers. While the weekly gathering can have an important part in the life of the church, it is only a part of that community life. For example, how many of the “one-anothers” can we do in the Sunday meeting? Love? Serve? Offer hospitality? Forgive? Honour? Be devoted to? Accept? Be compassionate? Submit? Encourage? There is not a lot of one-anothering going on in most Sunday meetings. All these require social interaction. The church is primarily meant to be a community – a community in Christ that expresses itself in worship, fellowship, and mission.
Continue reading "Emerging church and multicultural society 3"
February 19, 2005
Food aid update
Steve reports that food aid via the World Food Programme is beginning to arrive in the area around Gorom-Gorom:
"I spent the day yesterday with Victor... visiting schools in the bush which are benefitting from this aid. Overall it was an encouraging experience; I saw hundreds of children who are now being fed one meal a day in the WFP canteen project - and for some of them this is the only meal they get. The aid is not sufficient but it is significant. Photos etc to follow, when I get back to Djibo. Thanks again to all who contributed."
This is following the loss of the harvest due to an invasion of locusts.
February 18, 2005
Update on I love Africa
My article I love Africa has just been posted on the BBC website!
February 17, 2005
Biblical advice for bloggers
I've been pondering what guidance the Bible has for bloggers. What does it say about how we should blog? what we should blog about? what we read in blogs? how we relate to other bloggers and comments? Here are a few exhortations with questions to ask ourselves for starters:
1. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your blog, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. (Eph 4:29)
Is what comes from our blogs wholesome? Is what we are writing helpful for building others up? Or does it tear them down?
2. Blog about others as you would have them blog about you (Lk 6:31)
The golden rule. If we blog about others, do we do it with love, respect, and integrity?
3. But in your blogs set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience... (1Pet 3:15,16)
Are we consciously allowing Jesus Christ to rule over our blogs? When people disagree with us, do we respond with gentleness and respect?
Continue reading "Biblical advice for bloggers"
Anastasis update
I wrote in the post Shame to dancing about some women undergoing operations on the Anastasis. Following what was already a traumatic experience, their condition, VVF, had left them often isolated and feeling unclean and ashamed. The Mercy Ships website reports:
"One by one, they spoke of childbirth that lasted 3-5 days; of reaching a hospital too late to save the baby; of returning to live with their parents when they found themselves incontinent. One woman, now aged 35, had lived with a fistula for more than 20 years after her first and only pregnancy. A slight girl, believing herself to be 14, had already borne and lost twins before the pregnancy that caused her fistula three months ago."
The operations change their lives and, when the women leave the ship, they get given a new set of clothes and have a celebration. Jenni at Vessel of Mercy, who is on the Anastasis writes of her time spent with these ladies, and has posted some photos of the women celebrating in their new clothes. For me, this is a real picture of what Christ does for us in lifting us up and clothing us in his righteousness to new life and celebration. It is a particular joy for me to see the photo of Fatmatou, one of the Fulani ladies there.
Kyoto
The Kyoto accord, which aims to reduce air pollution blamed for global warming, has finally come into force - seven years after it was agreed. It requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
141 countries have ratified the treaty. Of the major developed countries only Australia and the US, the world's top polluter, have not signed up to the treaty. The US says the changes would be too costly to introduce and that the agreement is flawed. But even there, there is increasing discussion of environmental concerns, and pressure for cleaner technology.
It is only a first step, and there is a long way to go before many of the countries who have signed the accord will even achieve the limited goals set out. But it is good that some progress is being made. Failure to act would typically have worst consequences for Africa and the developing world.
Scientific opinion now seems overwhelmingly and increasingly convinced of the negative impact of human activity on the environment and climate. A Christian attitude to the environment embraces care for and stewardship of God's creation, as well as concern for the poor and vunerable most affected by its abuse. Unrestrained pursuit of prosperity seems both unbiblical in nature, and unsustainable in its consequences. Appropriate responses are going to be difficult to work out, but must be tackled.
For the latest information, and good discussion of the issues, the BBC has many good links.
February 13, 2005
Links to Sudan
I have updated my links at the side of the page and added some new ones. All are interesting - and there are a few more cross-cultural ones there. I'd like to draw your attention in particular to these two:
Joseph Hakim is a Sudanese Christian currently working with Serv Life in Uganda, where many of his fellow Sudanese have fled from the conflict. I am so glad to see an African Christian having the opportunity to join the conversation in blogworld, which has been so dominated by white, middle class, English-speaking blokes (like me in fact...). We do need to be hearing voices such as his. He has been writing recently on the peace deal in Sudan, and on AIDS.
Two and two makes five is the blog of Steven Nicholson, a North American pastor, also with Serv Life. In a recent post, he writes challengingly about the situation in Sudan, and our need to respond. No easy answers, but as Christians we cannot ignore Sudan, and need to be praying and seeking what the Lord requires of us in a stand for justice.
February 11, 2005
I love Africa
The BBC has been doing a series on their website on "why I love Africa." Here are some of the things I love about Africa:
I love the beauty of the vast starry sky and the stillness of the night;
And I love the noise and colour of vibrant local markets, where meeting friends and sharing in the life of the community are more important than simply making profit.
I love sitting on mats under the acacias, drinking tea with Fulani among the cows;
And I love riding my motorbike across the sand dunes, through the river beds, and past villages where children run out and wave.
I love sleeping outside, gazing up at God's handiwork as I drop off to sleep;
And I love sitting inside with the door open when the rains finally come, watching silently with friends the pounding of water on the earth.
I love the sense of awe when a sandstorm blows up;
And I love the joy and relief when the harvest is safely in.
I love that there is always time to talk, that people are more important than the day's programme;
And I love it that God is central to everyday life, and a part of normal conversation.
I love the generosity, that when you arrive at meal time, you are invited to sit round the bowl and share whatever food there is;
And I love the hospitality, that when you arrive in the evening you are invited to stay the night, and a mat is laid out for you.
I love the sense of community - that when you go into a neighbour's yard, you have no idea how many of the dozens of laughing children there actually belong to that set of parents;
And I love it that family is important, and that the elderly are respected and taken care of.
I love it that when you arrive somewhere, you don't do anything until you have properly greeted everyone;
And I love it that when you leave, you are always sent on your way with the blessing of God.
And here are some of the things Steve loves about Africa.
What about you? Have you ever been to Africa? And what did you love about it?
February 10, 2005
The future of Burkina Faso
I have just had a letter from my good friend Pastor Philippe Ouedraogo in Burkina Faso. Since I first met him in 1985, he has planted a church in the capital city, Ouagadougou, which is in the main Mossi area of the country. The church has now grown to over 800 people.
But he is not just a church planter and pastor. He is also very mission-minded, and has started an organisation called AEAD (the Evangelical Association Supporting Development), which is active in Evangelism, Education, Training, Health, and Socio-Economic Development. AEAD is also a partner of the British evangelical development agency Tear Fund, which supports local initiatives such as AEAD.
Philippe says: "Our current action includes: 6 schools with 650 children; a discipleship school; 40 literacy centres; leaders seminars; children camp; health programme; food production to support families; clean water supply; and the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ..."
This is a man of God, committed to the spiritual and social development of his country, the 3rd least developed country in the world. The AEAD website is in both English and French. Please pay a visit and pray for this ministry.
February 08, 2005
Blog Award Winner!
Brazilians to Burkina
It looks like we will be getting two new missionaries joining Steve in Djibo very soon. The two are part of the "Radical Project" of Missão Horizontes, the Latin American branch of World Horizons' facilitating Latin American missionaries into the 10-40 window.
We are finding that these guys are generally excellent - passionate in prayer, zealous in evangelism, compassionate, and effective at getting alongside people and building bridges to Islam. The journal EMQ (Evangelical Missions Quarterly) did an interesting article on their training, which includes 3 years in preparation, and 2 years on the field. The plan is to send 300 more missionaries to the 10-40 window over the next couple of years.
Much of their approach is indeed radical and exciting, and reflects the reality that, as the worldwide church is increasingly "non-western," the mission force is also more and more from "non-western" and "developing" countries such as Brazil, Korea, and India. Often these countries are less hindered by the materialistic concerns of the western church, and have a passion that we sadly lack. They face their own cultural and financial issues of course, and are not able to follow old western models of missionary work, and so it is exciting to see new, radical approaches being developed.
It'll be great to have them on board in Burkina.
And forgive us our debts...
Good news: G7 finance ministers have backed plans to write off up to 100% of the debts of 37 of the world's poorest countries. Read more about it at the Jubilee website. Debt forgiveness is of course a Christian principle, building upon the concept of Jublilee found in Lev 25-26, and an expression of a Christian commitment to justice.
Currently, about 52 poor countries are in a debt crisis. They are forced to spend huge sums repaying old debts to the rich world while millions live in poverty. A child dies every 3 seconds because of preventable poverty, while every day Sub-Saharan Africa pays millions of dollars to the rich world in debt service. Many countries are forced to spend more on debt than on healthcare or education. You can read some background on the debt crisis.
So, this is a good start to the year, and is of course good news for my adopted home of Burkina Faso. There is of course a long way yet to go. As part of his proposed "new Marshall Plan" Gordon Brown is also asking the G7 to provide an extra $50bn (£26.69bn) a year in aid for the next decade. And then there is the trade issue yet to address. If you haven't yet done so, please join the Make Poverty History campaign to seek a better deal for the poor this year.
February 06, 2005
Blog Award Finalist!
It seems that this site is now a finalist for the Blog Awards in the category "Evangelical Missionary Blogs." You can go to the Evangelical Underground site for more information. Go here to see the list of finalists and links to their sites. Joe Missionary, who I link to is also in the running, and he always has interesting stuff to say. To vote, send an email to eblogawards@gmail.com in the next day or so.
February 05, 2005
Latest on famine relief
Steve informs us here that the distribution of grain for famine relief in Djibo and Gorom-Gorom should be going ahead next week. This is following the destruction of 90% of this year's harvest in the north of Burkina Faso by locusts.
Benin photos
I have begun uploading a few photos from my Benin trip. Click on the photos here to enlarge, or go to Flickr to see more.
February 03, 2005
Blog Awards
This site has been nominated for the category "Best Evangelical Missionary Blog" in the "1st Annual Evangelical Blog Awards" at the site Evangelical Underground!
Voting starts on the 5th (I think).If you want to vote for my site, feel free! Just visit here for more information.
A witness for Christ
"Bring the child here," said Ali, and the boy's mother led him submissively to sit in the dust before us. He had been suffering with bad headaches for some time, and was unable to sleep. She knew Ali was a man who knew the Quran, and had asked Ali if he could heal the boy.
I first met Ali a few weeks before. He called to me as I was passing by his sewing machine at the market, and asked me to come and see him. When I visited him, he explained the dream he'd had of a shining white figure, holding out his arms to him. We read the description of Jesus at the start of the book of Revelation, and Ali recognised the man from his dream. Over the following weeks we had begun reading the Bible together. Ali was keen to know more about this Jesus, of whom the Quran spoke so highly, and who had now appeared to him personally. But he was a respected older Muslim in the tight community of this small Fulani town in West Africa, and had not yet decided what he was going to do about it.
He reached out his hand and gently placed his thumb and one finger on the boy's forehead. He began quietly reciting verses in Arabic, pausing occasionally to spit lightly on the boy's head. When he had finished, he sat back: "Bismillah!" he said, indicating that I too should pray. So I too laid my hand on the boy's head, and prayed in Fulfulde for healing in the name of Jesus. When I had finished, the boy got up and went back to his mother, and Ali and I continued our discussion.
The next day, Ali told me the boy was healed.
Ali and I continued to meet, and finally he confessed his faith in Christ. But Ali was reluctant to identify himself publicly as a Christian. He knew the cost would be high, that people would not understand, and he would lose the friendships and influence he had. So he continued to read the Bible, to pray in the name of Jesus, and to go to the mosque. But now, when his Muslim neighbours came to him to ask him for religious or spiritual advice, he would start in the Quran, and lead on to the Injil - the Gospel - one of the holy books of Islam.
I have no doubt of the genuineness of Ali's faith in Christ. I have no doubt too, that if he publicly confessed Christ, he would suffer as a result. If he were able to stand, and integrate into the Mossi church there, I am sure he would grow firmer in his faith. But that presents its own challenges - and he would also lose his opportunities to share Christ among his neighbours. I have laid it all out before him. He knows the choices and the consequences, and has made his decision - for now - about how to work it out.
Please pray for my friend Ali, that God will continue to lead and strengthen him. His story raises many questions. But above all, I'd like us to see that Christ is continuing to reach out in love to the many Muslims who love God. And our response should be one of love, friendship, and encouragement as they seek Him.
Tags: burkina faso africa emerging church burkina church fulani mission church and culture
February 01, 2005
Untie the purse-strings
This weekend is the meeting of the G7 finance ministers. I know, it sounds boring, doesn't it?
But these people hold the purse strings. As part of this year's effort to get a better deal for the poor through the Make Poverty History coalition, let us call them to make good decisions. Every three seconds a child dies from a preventable cause. Justice and compassion must provoke Christians to pray, but also to speak up, and call our leaders to act.
If you are British, will you please take a few moments now to send an email to Gordon Brown to let him know that you expect him to deliver a result for the poor. We need the finance ministers to prepare the way for a breakthrough on aid and trade justice at the G8. And we want a result on debt agreed before they leave the meeting room.
Have you got your White Band yet? They are only £1, and are a simple statement of your commitment to the Make Poverty History campaign for this year. You can buy them online or at a nearby Oxfam shop.
If you want to be more informed about some of the issues, I have written more about Christian responses to injustice and Third World Poverty, and the issues of trade, aid, and debt.
And finally...is there any similar movement to this going on elsewhere in the G7 nations? I'd be interested to hear about it.
