So...About That Africa Place...

Live8 has come and gone, the G8 is winding down, the ONE campaign continues, and 30,000 people still died today in Africa due to disease and hunger. One can debate whether Live8 and ONE were successful. In my estimation, the success comes from the awareness that has been raised. I supported the ONE campagin--signed the petition. I didn't neccessarily agree with the policy recomendations because I believe, like others, that it is corrupt regimes that allow poverty to thrive. What I liked about the ONE campagin and Live8 was the fact that the horrible state of Africa was brought to the attention of everyday Americans. I have read many articles on African poverty and what the right solution is, and spoken to average Joes about Africa. The awareness is there. Now, we must capitalize on this awareness and act. Pulling countries out of poverty involves more than just an influx of money. As scholars have noted, it requires governments that are friendly toward economic growth--friendly toward freedom.

Poverty, disease, hunger, and genocide will be with us until Jesus Christ returns to earth. However, that does not mean that we should not fight these scourges. As Christians we ought to be on the front lines--in fact, we already are. But we must continue to reinforce these lines. People must give, people must pray, and people must go. But we don't go just to do good deeds, but rather to testify to the saving love of God through Jesus Christ. As we are going to do good we must tell the Good News--make disciples (Matt 28:19-20)!

Sure celebrities and concerts can attract attention and governments can enact policies and people can give money, but it is only the Church of Jesus Christ that can really bring relief to the suffering in Africa and elsewhere. Let's do what we can to help those with physical needs. But we mustn't forget that neither poverty nor AIDS nor corrupt leaders send people to hell. It is only through Jesus Christ that one is able to escape an eternity in suffering and anguish. They've lived a lifetime in earthly hell, let's pray they don't spend an eternity in spiritual hell.

Here is an article from World Magazine that details work already being done in Africa.