To Think of Africa is to Weep“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Psalm 126:5
by Philip M. Renicks, Ed.D.
In visits to various countries across Africa, from east to west and north to south, one gets an overwhelming sense of a continent in crisis. A crisis fueled by tribalism, war, famine, oppressive government leaders, the remnants of colonialism, and the AIDS virus.
Africa is a continent that demographically is very young. One half the population is less than 15 years old and yet black Africa has the highest infant mortality rate in the world. One of every eight children dies before the age of two. Only 11 percent of the age-eligible children in Africa are in school and the illiteracy rate across the continent is about 75 percent. According to the United Nations, 40 percent of African children under the age of five go through a period of malnutrition severe enough to cause mental or physical damage affecting their growth. The pre-teen child-labor force is estimated at 16 million and growing. As a Christian, and as a Christian educator, to think of the children of Africa “is to weep.” Yet the problem is that most of us are not thinking about Africa. Oh, sometimes at a meal you will hear the glib words, you better clean up your plate, “remember the starving children in Africa.”
Yes the children in Africa are starving. They are not only starving physically, but they are starving spiritually and intellectually. They are children at risk. These are children who lack the basic fundamentals of an education. They are children who know that without an education there can be no employment. Teachers tell me that the students are desperate to learn.
More than 50 or 60 children are crowded into a classroom that we in North America would be reluctant to use for 20 children. Often there are three or four children to a crudely crafted wooden desk. In most cases there are no books or libraries. The teacher resources consist of a blackboard painted on the wall of the classroom and a piece of chalk when available. Parents are required to pay school fees even to send their children to the public or government school and many children are walking the streets because they can’t pay the fees which may be as little as $1.85 per term.
Prior to 1970, most of the schools across sub-Sahara Africa were started and operated by missionary organizations or the Catholic Church. In fact many mission organizations set up schools before they built churches. Mission (Christian) schools were considered a vital part of the ministry of the mission or the church. In fact as late as the mid 1980’s almost every president of an African country was the product of a missionary education. (David Lamb, The Africans).
On one of my trips into Nigeria, I met a village elder (tribal chief) who was thrilled that a Christian school was flourishing in his community. Frank, as he was called, was in his 90’s. I asked him when the gospel first came to his village. He told the story in great detail of how British missionaries came to his village and started a mission school. It was in this school that Frank was first introduced to the Gospel and came to know Jesus Christ as his personal savior. It was in this school that Frank was educated in biblical morals and ethics. Frank told me how the education he received had helped him as a government official in guiding his people from a spiritual perspective. Frank’s teachers never had the opportunity to see the fruit of their labor. However, the fact is that they and the school fulfilled a spiritual mission.
Since 1970 the governments of most African countries have taken responsibility for the schools. However, in 30 short years they have grown weary of the increased demand for education and the financial burden to sustain it. In many countries education is in a state of meltdown. An unprecedented opportunity awaits those who will sow in tears for the children of Africa. Christian schools are the answer to many of the problems facing Africa today. Christian schools are in a position to educate children for responsible places of leadership by providing an academic program integrated with biblical truth.
A recent article in Christianity Today entitled “The Church Has AIDS” points out the fact that the church has failed in its responsibility to teach a gospel that fully impacts society and influences personal behavior in the face of cultural norms. The church recognizes its failure. I believe that education both in the church and the Christian school are needed to bridge the gap. It is a known fact that there is a “window of hope” for children ages three to fourteen that are not HIV infected even though many of them are left orphaned by AIDS victims. As a Christian school association we must join hands with Christian educators in Africa, the African church, mission agencies, and others who believe the next generation can be rescued from the current crisis.
African Leadership is about training leaders to serve, teaching communities to share, empowering individuals to grow, and transforming Africa one life at a time by focusing on physical, spiritual, and the educational needs of adults and children, by providing job training, treating those infected with HIV/AIDS and other diseases, providing clean water, medicine, housing for widows and orphans and famine relief.
I believe that there is HOPE for Africa and I also believe that this is the time for Africa. I challenge you to “sow in tears” with us for the children of Africa. Pray with us for the training and encouragement of teachers, leaders, pastors and for those with whom we partner in meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of our African brothers and sisters in Christ. http://www.africanleadership.org/
by Philip M. Renicks, Ed.D.
In visits to various countries across Africa, from east to west and north to south, one gets an overwhelming sense of a continent in crisis. A crisis fueled by tribalism, war, famine, oppressive government leaders, the remnants of colonialism, and the AIDS virus.
Africa is a continent that demographically is very young. One half the population is less than 15 years old and yet black Africa has the highest infant mortality rate in the world. One of every eight children dies before the age of two. Only 11 percent of the age-eligible children in Africa are in school and the illiteracy rate across the continent is about 75 percent. According to the United Nations, 40 percent of African children under the age of five go through a period of malnutrition severe enough to cause mental or physical damage affecting their growth. The pre-teen child-labor force is estimated at 16 million and growing. As a Christian, and as a Christian educator, to think of the children of Africa “is to weep.” Yet the problem is that most of us are not thinking about Africa. Oh, sometimes at a meal you will hear the glib words, you better clean up your plate, “remember the starving children in Africa.”
Yes the children in Africa are starving. They are not only starving physically, but they are starving spiritually and intellectually. They are children at risk. These are children who lack the basic fundamentals of an education. They are children who know that without an education there can be no employment. Teachers tell me that the students are desperate to learn.
More than 50 or 60 children are crowded into a classroom that we in North America would be reluctant to use for 20 children. Often there are three or four children to a crudely crafted wooden desk. In most cases there are no books or libraries. The teacher resources consist of a blackboard painted on the wall of the classroom and a piece of chalk when available. Parents are required to pay school fees even to send their children to the public or government school and many children are walking the streets because they can’t pay the fees which may be as little as $1.85 per term.
Prior to 1970, most of the schools across sub-Sahara Africa were started and operated by missionary organizations or the Catholic Church. In fact many mission organizations set up schools before they built churches. Mission (Christian) schools were considered a vital part of the ministry of the mission or the church. In fact as late as the mid 1980’s almost every president of an African country was the product of a missionary education. (David Lamb, The Africans).
On one of my trips into Nigeria, I met a village elder (tribal chief) who was thrilled that a Christian school was flourishing in his community. Frank, as he was called, was in his 90’s. I asked him when the gospel first came to his village. He told the story in great detail of how British missionaries came to his village and started a mission school. It was in this school that Frank was first introduced to the Gospel and came to know Jesus Christ as his personal savior. It was in this school that Frank was educated in biblical morals and ethics. Frank told me how the education he received had helped him as a government official in guiding his people from a spiritual perspective. Frank’s teachers never had the opportunity to see the fruit of their labor. However, the fact is that they and the school fulfilled a spiritual mission.
Since 1970 the governments of most African countries have taken responsibility for the schools. However, in 30 short years they have grown weary of the increased demand for education and the financial burden to sustain it. In many countries education is in a state of meltdown. An unprecedented opportunity awaits those who will sow in tears for the children of Africa. Christian schools are the answer to many of the problems facing Africa today. Christian schools are in a position to educate children for responsible places of leadership by providing an academic program integrated with biblical truth.
A recent article in Christianity Today entitled “The Church Has AIDS” points out the fact that the church has failed in its responsibility to teach a gospel that fully impacts society and influences personal behavior in the face of cultural norms. The church recognizes its failure. I believe that education both in the church and the Christian school are needed to bridge the gap. It is a known fact that there is a “window of hope” for children ages three to fourteen that are not HIV infected even though many of them are left orphaned by AIDS victims. As a Christian school association we must join hands with Christian educators in Africa, the African church, mission agencies, and others who believe the next generation can be rescued from the current crisis.
African Leadership is about training leaders to serve, teaching communities to share, empowering individuals to grow, and transforming Africa one life at a time by focusing on physical, spiritual, and the educational needs of adults and children, by providing job training, treating those infected with HIV/AIDS and other diseases, providing clean water, medicine, housing for widows and orphans and famine relief.
I believe that there is HOPE for Africa and I also believe that this is the time for Africa. I challenge you to “sow in tears” with us for the children of Africa. Pray with us for the training and encouragement of teachers, leaders, pastors and for those with whom we partner in meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of our African brothers and sisters in Christ. http://www.africanleadership.org/
