Europe as seen from Africa

The perspective on Europe from Africa must begin with an economic emphasis because it determines many other factors. Although Africa is very complex due to the cultural challenges, the one denominator that still cuts through some of these complex challenges is “money” and the other is the basic need to belong.

The other day I overheard a missionary who has been in the mission field of Africa for over 25 years say  “I don’t want to plant one more church or hand out one more Bible if I cant help them economically to be sustainable”. Whether you agree with this approach or not that is besides the point - Africa can no longer wait on the western world to provide

Besides the African post-colonial sentiment towards Europe, in major parts of Africa, the European standard was still the standard to live up to.  In the last few months Africa has seen Europe struggling with its own financial demons, which not only has a direct impact on aid to Africa from out Europe but also trade relations between these two continents.

“The fact is the African continent has a lot to offer to European Christianity”

The other factor that influences the perspective on Europe is the economic interest in Africa from countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China who together with Europe are courting this African maiden for her unspoilt resources in agriculture and mining. It is evident that there is a huge economic interest in Africa, especially the southern African region(SADC),  because of its stability and strategic location in terms of trade infrastructure like ports, airport and shipping lanes.

Growing up in Africa, and to be more specific within a Christian milieu within Africa, a lot of effort was put into evangelism and church planting over the last two decades. Over this period, we have seen some remarkable transformations and testimonies coming out of the mission field. South Africa itself is a global testimony of a new African democracy going through transition of power without a civil war in 1994.

The African people have journeyed through major economic challenges and had to pioneer the Christian faith in a continent that still have strong ancestral worship and Muslim influences. The fact is the African continent has a lot to offer to European Christianity due to these struggles.

I also feel that the EU has a lot to offer in the following areas: good governance practices, education, healthcare, education, communication and technology but contextualised for an African mindset.

Just this week the U.K government announced that it will cease aid to south Africa in 2015 because it sees South Africa as a “financial powerhouse” of the region and would rather see S.A as a trade partner that a aid partner. This maybe a precursor of things to come not only in the private sector but also within relation to European and African Christianity partnering to trade recourses to the benefit of the kingdom of God.

I don’t think there are shortages of people from Africa wanting to go and help in European missions; however there might be a lack of awareness of the reality of the Christian faith in Europe within African perspectives at this stage. 

This being said I also do feel that it might be situation of confidence “what can we offer to EUROPE” and coming to a place of realising we actually can learn from and contribute to the European context,  we need processes that can help facilitate this move north and skill transfer to further God’s agenda.

Tertius Nieuwoudt

Tertius Nieuwoudt has been in full-time ministry since 1998 and served as a director on the board of Life Christian Foundation focusing on leadership and community development.  He recently moved to a new postion as a pastor to work with emerging leaders and serve at a local assembly in Klerksdorp in Central South Africa.