As you have been there, what do people in Africa do when tragedy strikes? I would assume there is no government assistance, but what would the “average Joe” do, rely upon neighbors and friends, become resourceful? I often fear we have become enablers, however I also want to be compassionate to those in need. I often try to mentally put myself in those situations and ask myself what I would do? I also wonder if budgeting is considered? When he gets support, which I also assume he is probably better off than most in his community because they do not have “outside resources” to ask for assistance from, does he put aside for incidents such as this? Lastly, can we verify? We should “trust, then verify”. It’s a real struggle for me.
American Response (Clint McBryde, Ash Flat, Arkansas, USA)
I do not pretend to know all the difficulty and adversity that brethren face in other places in the world. I do know the history of brethren here in the State of Arkansas and how churches were established and functioned without any assistance from anyone outside their town. I am going back in history at least 100 years when many churches began in my area. The meeting houses were built and functioned without electricity or running water or toilet. The church was typically started within a family or a collection of local families that were converted by a traveling gospel preacher. The preacher would hold a Gospel meeting and often convert 50 or more people. The converts would organize themselves as best they could according to scripture and establish a church in a township or other place. They met in their converts homes or rented facilities as they had opportunity, ability, or need. If and when they could afford a separate building, then they would build one. There was typically only one Bible in a home or only in the church building. The meeting house was built by local members hands with their own funds. Most structures were one room, with no electricity and no bathroom facility. Typically they met Sunday for short periods and during the day, some congregations met all day long. The preaching and teaching was completed by heads of families, visiting preachers, or a located preacher. The economy of the area would usually dictate how often they heard a trained preacher. Often the lessons were reading passages of scripture, as men had little formal training. When men were qualified, elders were appointed who took over shepherding of the flock from the families heads as the scripture teaches. They buried their dead with their own hands and comforted one another. They nursed their own sick and only sought medical attention if they could afford it and if a doctor was available. They prayed a lot. They farmed their own land and often had little or no money for a collection. The preaching was seldom compensated, and preachers often had to provide for their own needs first, then they traveled to preach. Some preachers were single or had only a wife that they left at home or with extended family. Some preachers had children and others had none. Preachers survived only on the benevolence of their converts and otherwise looked to themselves for their own needs. Support from other congregations was seldom or nonexistent because churches had little contact with one another. If a preacher married, then he required a strong wife committed to the duty of the kingdom because they often went hungry. These women were equally devoted to the Lord as they were their marriage. because they often bore the difficulty of poverty.
I received this information mostly from oral tradition told to me by older members, many now deceased. I am telling it to you because you asked…….how? Well the truth is that I do not know how you can accomplish this task in your country. I can only tell you how it has been accomplished in my country. My brethren and I now reap the benefits of the labors of those gone before us. Brethren here in my part of the world faced similar challenges like you with no phone, internet, or computer to reach out with for help. They were forced to look within themselves for the answer that was permitted by scripture. If we were forced to start over in Evening Shade, Arkansas then we would follow the same pattern as those who went before us. It’s the only pattern we know, save what other instruction we read in the scriptures. I wish I had a better wisdom to give you or more precise instruction. I am not there and I would not be so arrogant as to try to give advice on a place I know little about. I admonish you to pray for the wisdom you seek and if it pleases the lord he will send you better advice than mine.
African Response (Chizuru Lowell Odoemelam, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria)
Every local congregation is responsible to meet its own needs (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 6:1-4), and in a case where it cannot, it may beckon other congregations to come to its aid (Acts 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9).
God desires equality among brotherhood especially in time of emergency (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).
Again preachers meet their needs in two ways. A preacher who is in need that he cannot help himself with can call on the brethren for assistance (1 Corinthians 9:14; Philippians 4:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:8). Always I think a preacher should have something else attached to his preaching job (2 Corinthians 11:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9), but it depends on the brethren you are working with.
But it is very unfortunate that most of us were not opportuned to go to higher institutions and did not learn any skill before we joined the field.
Paul worked with his own hands in meeting up with some of his needs apart from the support he received from churches and individual brethren (Acts 18:1-3). So I think we should follow the same way (Philippians 4:9).
Here in Africa preachers suffer a lot, and many brethren do not care and are not ready to care. If not for the American brethren many of the preachers here would have to suffer more.
There is nothing more the church can do than to keep giving as God have prospered them and use the funds in meeting their needs and needs of other congregations around them in time of emergency (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9).
Congregations in the New Testament contributed to the needs of others in their time of need and we should not grow weary in doing so (Galatians 6:9).
We cannot build business centers for churches to generate funds in case of tragedy or for any other reason (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 John 9).
The problem is that we in this part of the world are not really doing better in all these areas, and many preachers that work with bigger congregations don’t encourage their congregations to help in time of emergency and needs of other congregations (James 4:17).
My Response (Keith Sharp)
I have made a number of trips to Africa and have preached in six African countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania). There are American preachers far more knowledgable of Africa than I, because they have either lived there or made many more trips there than I have. Of course, faithful African preachers, and there are many, are the best sources of accurate information. But only a few of them understand America. Almost all Africans I have met view America as fabulously wealthy with far more money than we need. Compared to most Africans, that is true. But we must live in American society. Very few African preachers have a motorized vehicle of any kind, much less a car. But it would be impossible for me to do my work without a dependable car.
Both brethren McBryde and Odoemelam are faithful and dedicated preachers. Brother McBryde and his wife work at secular jobs to support themselves, and he is the preacher for the Main Street Church of Christ in Evening Shade, Arkansas. The McBrydes and the Main Street Church of Christ have been very zealous in helping African brethren. Brother Odoemelam has tried to raise money for his wife to start a roadside market stand, but has not been successful. He preaches for a small, struggling congregation, because he stands for the truth. The Main Street Church of Christ has often helped him.
From time to time, rural African brethren are afflicted by famines. They are subsistence farmers, are completely dependent upon the weather, and receive no government assistance.
Africans, with meager incomes, face even more problems from disease and accidents than Americans. Most Americans don’t even know what it’s like to have malaria, which almost all Africans suffer from at least occasionally. AIDS is common across much of Africa. I could go on and on.
Preachers should not live above other brethren (1 Corinthians 9:19-22), but they have the right to “live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:1-14), and they have expenses peculiar to their work. African brethren must learn to contribute to the local church where they are members even if they can only give a very small amount (Matthew 12:41-44).
I have often asked American brethren to send money to African brethren due to famines. I try to get support for African preachers I know and trust who are in difficult circumstances. I try to ignore African preachers, even if I now them, who are continual beggars.
It’s past time for large, wealthy African congregations and wealthy African brethren, and there are some in Nigeria, to come to the assistance of their impoverished brethren. Some do so.
