We had the vicar and his wife, Will and Ellen for those in the know, around for dinner last Saturday night, and the topic drifted towards missionary work.
They mentioned an article, which they gave us a copy of at church next morning, written by Matthew Parris in the Times.
It is an article that has certainly been interesting to think about while the wife and I contemplate our role in mission, development and humanitarian works.
Anyway, without any further comment, here's a couple of quotes from the Times article:
"Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good."
"The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall."
"It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in turn, influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that Christianity had taught."
