In the last fifty years great ministry has been accomplished in Africa, through vibrant partnerships between Africans and foreigners. God has been uniting people in new cross-cultural relationships, bearing fruit for the Great Commission. Regarding these partnerships, we’ve already written about the cultural realities and challenges and appealed for more reciprocal collaboration efforts. Those were the topics of the first and second articles, respectively. In this article, the third and last of this series, we want to look at the role of appreciation in ministry partnerships.
Know the History and Context
Learn to appreciate the culture and the context of the place where you are working together. Take an interest in learning about the historical contexts and experience of both Africans and foreigners. How has God been at work in their country? What can you appreciate about the historic ministry of different churches and other institutions in that region? What strides in development have been made recently that you can rejoice together about?
We don’t do our mission work in a vacuum.
As you learn the history of a nation, if applicable, take time to learn about the impact of colonialism and the slave trade. The evil of colonialism has left an emotional scar on African people. For it denigrated their culture and decimated many African people economically, leaving them dependent on foreigners, not to mention very angry. Colonialism has also left many foreigners feeling deep guilt, which can lead to them patronising Africans. On the other hand, some foreigners are woefully ignorant of the evils committed in Africa and don’t realise how this quite recent history informs Africa’s current cultural, political, and economic context.
It is important to recognise how certain colonial structures in the realm of education or government have remained largely in place up to the present in many African nations, with African rulers taking the place of the colonial masters in subjugating their own people. It is also important to recognise how there are forms of neo-colonialism taking place today where foreign nations are indirectly still plundering Africa’s resources for their own ends, and influencing African political and economic decisions. We do not do our mission work in a vacuum. Even as we do our small projects and programs, we need to be aware of the bigger context and also bold enough to challenge or discourage some of these practices.
Avoid Stereotypes and Slander
As we get to know new people, we need to avoid assumptions and generalisations. For example, we know of foreigners who were lied to by an African ministry partner and where funds were misused. This resulted in a bitterness heard in statements like, “they are all corrupt.” We sympathise with the painful experience of being deceived. But statements like this aren’t only unhelpful, they’re also sinful. You cannot slander a group of people, based on a couple of bad experiences.
We also know of a foreigner who got funding to come and establish an orphanage to support street children but instead she would visit different orphanages to take photos and send them back to her church supporters claiming that these were the homes she constructed. This created a negative attitude and suspicion towards some foreigners coming to work in Africa.
The action of one person shouldn’t be taken to define the behaviour of a whole group.
Our experience with one foreigner, African, or one country in each continent does not in any way fully give a true picture of all Africans or all foreigners. Just as there is incredible variety among people within our own nations, the same is true in foreign nations. And the action of one person or a group of people should not be taken to define the behaviour of a whole group.
Assumptions and stereotypes have in many cases broken partnerships, and caused harm and mistrust in relationships. Foreigners come to Africa for different reasons; some may be sent by their churches to preach or to uplift the poor, others come on their own for business or work opportunities, while others could have come to move away from broken relationships back in their home country. Likewise, Africans also move to different foreign countries for different reasons including being sent as expatriates, better employment opportunities, and running away from war or conflicts as refugees, among others.
There is a common unhelpful assumption among Africans that most foreigners that come to Africa are wealthy, especially Westerners. Likewise, there is a common unhelpful assumption among foreigners that Africans are poor and may have nothing to offer. The entry approach of many earlier and some current missionaries, individuals and international organisations in Africa has sometimes created an impression that white people are in Africa to hand out money and solve all problems in Africa.
Recognise Individuals
We need to get away from such assumptions. While many foreigners may be wealthy and want to give generously to help in Africa, there are many others who may not have a lot to give and depend on the funds they get from their churches, organisations and well-wishers to come and do ministry or give support. Some have come to Africa to learn. Some have come to teach but without a lot of resources. Others are here as volunteers and are not paid and are living on their savings and others come for different employment opportunities. Likewise, Africa has a lot of skilled and experienced people, and it is not always necessary to require foreigners to come in to teach certain skills.
Learn to appreciate the uniqueness of each person and church you are working with.
Stephen Omoko from Uganda shares about what he learned about assumptions from working with a British missionary. “The missionary was my supervisor and we were drilling wells. I started with assumptions about how rich he was as a white man. I became annoyed that he was paying me very low. Maybe this is a very mean man. But then I learned about the organisation, and I discovered the people who work in that organisation are all volunteers and had to raise their own support from donors for their upkeep, and it was only me who was being paid. That was a learning experience for me. I changed my attitude and he became a life-long family friend. I even organised his wedding!”
Learn to appreciate the uniqueness of each person and church you are working with. What gifts has God given to them? Do they have skills that you don’t? What can you admire about their character? Take time to learn about people beyond the work that they do. Learn about their family relationships, their community, and their specific interests.
Don’t Overlook the Sacrifices Made
We can take our cue from Paul, as he describes his heartfelt appreciation for the Ephesians. “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).
In most cultures both in Africa and other continents, showing gratitude or appreciation is crucial in building healthy relationships. We need to be intentional to give thanks regularly. Many times, we take others’ sacrifices for granted. We are quick to say or appreciate and value those that have brought in funds. Only we can forget or ignore those that have invested their time, skills and space.
We need to be intentional to give thanks regularly.
For example, many foreigners travel far away from their country, some leaving family members behind to come and support the work of development in Africa, help the needy or do different ministry work as an act of love and care. Some contribute their own resources while others are supported by their respective churches, organisations or governments. On the other side, many Africans have also supported their fellow Africans, both within their communities and beyond them. Make no mistake, Africans have lifted other Africans out of poverty. They work hard to care for destitute people, share the gospel and also provide skills, time and space to enable the work or partnership to move forward.
These efforts made by both parties should not be taken for granted but rather appreciated and encouraged, especially if they are bringing sustainable transformation to communities. Mutual appreciation will strengthen partnerships and help everyone to move forward together in a joyful spirit.
Appreciate Your Partners
Listen to how Steve and Debbie Nutzmann, American missionaries in Uganda, express appreciation for their partnerships. “We are in business and ministry with two Ugandan couples. One couple is a financial contributor and owns 50% of our publishing company. We have been friends with this couple for about six years, during which we have collaborated on ministry and business in Uganda as well as the US. It was through conversations and many activities together that we decided to raise capital to start a business in a 50/50 partnership. In this partnership we make plans together; share the financial burdens; solve problems collectively; and bring creative ideas for mutual benefit.”
Let us continue to strive together for gospel proclamation.
The Nutzmanns continue, “The second couple has been our friends for over four years. We met through ministry work on the islands. Because we appreciate their dedication to marriage and family counselling, we donated a water filtration business to them to help raise funds to support their ministry work. In return, they provided us with land for our publishing office, rent-free for the next five years. We are equal partners with both couples because we have built trust and respect. If we take the time to learn about another culture, we come to learn others’ integrity, intent, capabilities, competence, and history. Only then can we be fruitful and honour God through our partnerships. Cross-cultural partnerships are vital to the very nature of our work in Uganda, and we want to do it well.”
Let us continue to strive together in ministry and for gospel proclamation, biblical teaching, and care for those in need across Africa. As we do so, let’s pray for God’s grace and wisdom to navigate difficult cultural challenges; to treat each other in reciprocal and accountable ways; and to learn how to appreciate one another in our unique contributions in ministry.
