Responding to Africa by Lisa BordenLisa Borden - 19 Dec 2006

They say that there will be 40 million AIDS orphans in Africa by the year 2010. Can anyone comprehend how many children that is?  Think of it like this: 40 million is close to the same number of kids who are currently attending regular public schools in the United States. Picture every U.S. student under 18 who is not attending a private school.  Now picture each one of those children orphaned by AIDS.

How do we respond to Africa?

Beautiful, rich and powerful people are responding to Africa with big bucks and big media.  There’s Bono, Oprah, Brad and Angelina, Madonna and many more.  Frankly, though some of them may possibly be more concerned with good press for their image then they are for the lives of people on that continent, I am relieved that they are involved.  Africa needs the coverage desperately.  So “big people” doing “big things” is good by me.

But we are just regular folk.  How are WE to respond to Africa?

Here are my simple thoughts on what we can do…

Give and Go

I’m not talking about football here.  Giving and going are the two most obvious ways to get involved. Every gift, large or small, is appreciated. There are hundreds of organizations to give through. Living Generously and Opportunity International are two excellent choices.   Habitat for Humanity and Samaritan’s Purse are two world-class organizations to go with. Both send teams who make a useful and lasting difference.

Perhaps less obvious… Pray!

Whether or not you choose to give and/or go, PLEASE PRAY!  Pray hard for Africa!.  We tend to separate extreme physical needs from spiritual issues but we must not do this.  I’m not suggesting we spiritualize everything but we need to engage our spirits in an effort to see change come about.

I remember sitting in a tiny East African village about 17 years ago. On this day the desperation of poverty was so stark and clear it shocked me anew.  I looked around and saw little horrors in every corner of my field of vision.  The brutal reality of the hardship around me made me want to despair.  

Suddenly one thought clarified in my mind.  “Satan loves this,” I thought.  “He loves disease, death and despair.  He works hard to keep people living in these conditions and there is a bondage involved here.”

So please pray for Africa. Pray for leaders at every level to be moved by compassion for the people they are there to serve.  Pray against corruption, greed and the hunger for power.  Pray for organizations and individuals who have located there to be safe, effective and encouraged.  Pray against violence and war.  Pray against disease.  Pray against drought, famine and flooding.  Pray blessings on the land, the herds and the crops. Pray for the lives of children to be spared and for health and education to take root.  Pray for the good news of Jesus to have deep impact, for the Kingdom now AND yet to come!

Yes, we are just regular folk.  But as we GIVE, GO and PRAY our little efforts will do much.