9/23/2008
Why Africa is So Important
Why Africa is So Important to the World Today
Africa can be a heartbreaking land. In spite of its vast beauty, fascinating history, and rich culture, it is also a continent struggling with famine, poverty, debt, terrorism, child abuse, and an AIDS epidemic that has killed millions of people. U2’s Bono and other media stars, politicians, and journalists have helped raise funds and focus the world’s sympathies toward Africa. But lesser known are the countless, faithful missionaries and relief workers who have given their lives, time, and resources to Africa, long before all the media attention began. They are the ones who have laid the foundation for the work being done today.
The first time I went to Africa, I witnessed the dedication of these faithful workers first hand. I knew the Lord was pulling me into what I came to know as the River of Suffering, a place God was calling me to “go deeper” in my walk with Him, and to experience what so many ahead of me already knew: that Africa is a place of extreme suffering and heartache, and yet a place where there is unspeakable joy at the work God is doing.
Some vital statistics to remember:
Over 17 million Africans have died from AIDS. Last year alone, 2.3 million died from the virus.
At least 28 million Africans are infected with HIV; approximately 1.5 million are children.
Studies predict there will be more than 15 million AIDS orphans in Africa by the end of the decade.
Because of widespread poverty, infected Africans cannot afford medication or treatment for HIV/AIDS.1
Every time one of our teams visits Uganda, Kenya, the Sudan, or any of the poverty inflicted areas of Africa, these statistics are translated into individual human lives, bearing the pain and suffering of disease, famine and poverty. It seems very “fashionable” to support efforts in Africa now, what with all the celebrity attention. But you know, Africa has always been at the center of God’s work on earth.
The origins of Christianity are primarily associated the middle east, particularly Israel . Unfortunately, many believers don’t realize the rich tradition of Christianity in Egypt and North Africa. People sometimes forget that Egypt and Ethiopia are part of Africa.
•Ethiopia is actually one of the first countries mentioned in the Bible, in Genesis 2:13: “The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush (Ethiopia).”
• Abraham journeyed to Africa (Genesis 12:10).
•After the Flood, Cush (also called Ethiopia) and much of the other major nations of Africa were repopulated by the descendants of Noah’s son, Ham (Genesis 10:6). “Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham,” Psalm 105:23 tells us.
•Moses married an African woman and was used by the Lord, on the African continent, to stage one of the greatest miracles the world has ever seen.
• Joseph, the son of Jacob, ruled in Africa.
•Jesus visited Africa as a baby! “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up…take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt…’” (Matthew 2:13).
•Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’ cross, was from a port city in Libya in Africa.
•The book of Acts records that, on the day of Pentecost, Egyptians and Cyrenians were among the crowd, and heard the apostles proclaim the Gospel in their native languages.
• The very first Gentile convert to Christianity was African (Acts 8:26-27). Christianity spread rapidly to Egypt and North Africa in the first century. Indeed, Egypt, particularly the city of Alexandria, became an important center of this new faith.
But now, centuries of spiritual warfare, political uprisings, and the greediness of men have finally taken beautiful Africa down the road to the poverty and heartache we witness today.
We are just one church, teamed up with a very effective organization in Africa, Far Reaching Ministries. Today, 23,000 people per day are receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior in Africa. A true revival is sweeping the continent! This significantly impacts our war against radical Islamic terrorists, many of whom are based in parts of Africa. We have personally witnessed miracles and experienced the joy of ministering to and learning from thousands of dear people in Uganda and Kenya.
Pastor Ray Bentley
Africa can be a heartbreaking land. In spite of its vast beauty, fascinating history, and rich culture, it is also a continent struggling with famine, poverty, debt, terrorism, child abuse, and an AIDS epidemic that has killed millions of people. U2’s Bono and other media stars, politicians, and journalists have helped raise funds and focus the world’s sympathies toward Africa. But lesser known are the countless, faithful missionaries and relief workers who have given their lives, time, and resources to Africa, long before all the media attention began. They are the ones who have laid the foundation for the work being done today.
The first time I went to Africa, I witnessed the dedication of these faithful workers first hand. I knew the Lord was pulling me into what I came to know as the River of Suffering, a place God was calling me to “go deeper” in my walk with Him, and to experience what so many ahead of me already knew: that Africa is a place of extreme suffering and heartache, and yet a place where there is unspeakable joy at the work God is doing.
Some vital statistics to remember:
Over 17 million Africans have died from AIDS. Last year alone, 2.3 million died from the virus.
At least 28 million Africans are infected with HIV; approximately 1.5 million are children.
Studies predict there will be more than 15 million AIDS orphans in Africa by the end of the decade.
Because of widespread poverty, infected Africans cannot afford medication or treatment for HIV/AIDS.1
Every time one of our teams visits Uganda, Kenya, the Sudan, or any of the poverty inflicted areas of Africa, these statistics are translated into individual human lives, bearing the pain and suffering of disease, famine and poverty. It seems very “fashionable” to support efforts in Africa now, what with all the celebrity attention. But you know, Africa has always been at the center of God’s work on earth.
The origins of Christianity are primarily associated the middle east, particularly Israel . Unfortunately, many believers don’t realize the rich tradition of Christianity in Egypt and North Africa. People sometimes forget that Egypt and Ethiopia are part of Africa.
•Ethiopia is actually one of the first countries mentioned in the Bible, in Genesis 2:13: “The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush (Ethiopia).”
• Abraham journeyed to Africa (Genesis 12:10).
•After the Flood, Cush (also called Ethiopia) and much of the other major nations of Africa were repopulated by the descendants of Noah’s son, Ham (Genesis 10:6). “Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham,” Psalm 105:23 tells us.
•Moses married an African woman and was used by the Lord, on the African continent, to stage one of the greatest miracles the world has ever seen.
• Joseph, the son of Jacob, ruled in Africa.
•Jesus visited Africa as a baby! “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up…take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt…’” (Matthew 2:13).
•Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’ cross, was from a port city in Libya in Africa.
•The book of Acts records that, on the day of Pentecost, Egyptians and Cyrenians were among the crowd, and heard the apostles proclaim the Gospel in their native languages.
• The very first Gentile convert to Christianity was African (Acts 8:26-27). Christianity spread rapidly to Egypt and North Africa in the first century. Indeed, Egypt, particularly the city of Alexandria, became an important center of this new faith.
But now, centuries of spiritual warfare, political uprisings, and the greediness of men have finally taken beautiful Africa down the road to the poverty and heartache we witness today.
We are just one church, teamed up with a very effective organization in Africa, Far Reaching Ministries. Today, 23,000 people per day are receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior in Africa. A true revival is sweeping the continent! This significantly impacts our war against radical Islamic terrorists, many of whom are based in parts of Africa. We have personally witnessed miracles and experienced the joy of ministering to and learning from thousands of dear people in Uganda and Kenya.
Pastor Ray Bentley