True empowerment in Africa

In my last post I announced a new series of blogs and provided a summary of our mission work. In today's post, I want to address the issue of colonialism in mission work in Africa.

            The colonialism of the past caused big problems in Africa. When a Western power left an African region, it was often the case that an ill-equipped African leader came to power. Many of these leaders were simply not ready to lead. They had neither the character nor capacity to lead well. This often created chaos and/or corruption. (Witness Idi Amin of Uganda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe or Charles Taylor of Liberia.) This dynamic has happened in government, but this also happens on a smaller (but no less important) scale in the realm of mission work. In Sierra Leone, missionaries of the past quite often led everything and nationals were given little responsibility. When Sierra Leone’s civil war broke out, many (but not all) white missionaries left and this created a leadership vacuum.

Bill Roberts (a missionary who did not leave during the war), talks with David Musa.

            The problem with a colonial style of leadership is that it is crippling, rather than empowering. Today there is much talk about “empowerment” in Africa. At the same time, however, people from the West are flocking to Africa to “help.” Are we really helping? If we’re still doing everything for Africans rather then helping create an environment in which they themselves lead, the problems will persist. Such help, while well-intended, often makes people dependent rather than creating ownership and an attitude of taking it upon their own shoulders when it comes to their countries, their hospitals, their ministries and take responsibility for the success or failure of these entities. We believe a better style of leadership, and one which is more morally responsible, is one which empowers others to lead. Leadership which is truly life-giving raises others up so that they are ready to lead. Needless to say, the style of leadership we promote is therefore diametrically opposed to colonialism.

            We speak of “experts,” often in the context of those we would like to bring to Sierra Leone from the West to teach or serve as leaders in their field. Its tricky to talk in such terms, since this can easily be misunderstood in colonial or paternalistic terms, as if those from America or Britain or Europe are morally or ethnically superior to Sierra Leoneans. Such a notion, of course, is a stench in God's nose since God values all people and is partial to none (Acts 10:34-35).

            We do recognize, however, that there is a high concentration of experts in the West upon whom to draw for resources. Our bottom line is that we draw upon the best, most qualified people—whether they are American, Sierra Leonean or otherwise—in order to build up and empower Sierra Leoneans who, generally speaking, currently have a low concentration of leaders and experts.

Meeting with established leaders Donald Manley and Emerson Thomas.

            Our motive and mentality, then, is to give to, encourage, and build up Sierra Leoneans so they can stand on their own two feet rather than take from, oppress or keep Sierra Leoneans dependent as forms of colonialism in the past have done (including evangelical missionaries).  Such empowerment creates dignity. I want those in Sierra Leone to be able to stand tall and be able to choose whom to partner with rather than being forced into dependence upon the charity of others. Creating such capable and confident leaders is true empowerment.