<Theofragen>

My friend, Luke Miller, posted the following summary on the Amahoro Africa blog:

Opening
The conversation started today with a lively time of praise led by the Worship Harvest Team.

Claude and Brian welcomed participants. Claude greeted them with ‘Amahoro’ – a wish for peace and a call to share peace.

Devotional Note – Edward Simiu – Kenya
Edward noted two aspects about the African culture that make this gathering a unique event – Africa loves conversation and Africa values presence.

The Amahoro Gathering puts these two aspects together, Edward said - we may not all be able to write books, but we can talk and presence ministers and speaks to us. Presence is worth 10,000 words in Africa as a picture is worth 1,000 in the West. He thanked all those who traveled long distances to share the ministry of presence in this conversation.

Brian invited Mabiala Justin – Robert Kenzo and noted that what is most gratifying about this conversation is that it is no longer Western voices being heard alone but now people are listening to one another.

Robert Kenzo presented the first address: On African Postcolonial Theology: The Imperative to Differ

Kenzo was frustrated with Christianity until he started reading Postcolonial theology and realized there is a different way to being Christian.

He noted that the church in Africa is at the crossroads poised to become a major player but will only do so if we have the courage to be different.

The world is becoming a global village and reason has entered its postmodern era. Post modernity is here in Africa too but is being lived under the guise of ‘post colonialism’, which is not a historical period but an attitude. Those whose history has been affected by colonialism cannot move forward until they have dealt with the demons of colonialism. There is a need to deal with colonialism even within the church, Kenzo asserted, ‘if we do not define ourselves, others will define us’ he emphasized. Identity is created and not inherited and we are free to take from the sources and recreate ourselves. Kenzo can for example be both Congolese, an African, modern and a Christian. In Christ we are being recreated.

Kenzo went on to challenge that post colonialism is in reality politics of difference and it is okay to be different as Africans. We need to have the courage to denounce Western theology for, he argued, all theology is contextual. He emphasized the need for Africa to realize the relevance of post colonialism to Africa.

The West has borrowed a lot from us and it is time we reclaimed what they took from us. Post modernity values uniqueness, distinctiveness and we in Africa need to re-state, defend and protect ourselves. Christians need to ask themselves the question ‘What does Jesus Christ mean for us today? Where is the church? And to address the challenge in Africa, Kenzo called on Christians to be bold and creative.

Participants continued the conversation in small groups the rest of the afternoon.

The Transformational Gospel vs the Evacuation Gospel
Claude Nikondeha shared how dissatisfied he got with the gospel he grew up hearing as a son of a Free Methodist preacher. This gospel did not seem to respond to the poverty, hatred and inequality he saw in his life and yet appeared to keep Christians hopeful in these circumstances. Jesus was supposed to be coming back soon and so Christians were supposed to be ready for heaven and forget about the troubles of the world they were living in – for a short span of life.

In spite of the fact that it was presented as a choice between the church and the world, Claude felt he wanted both, he wanted to study and build a career but also be a Christian but in choosing further studies he seemed to be choosing the world.

As destiny would have it, in his pursuit of ‘the world’, he met the Jesus he had been hoping to find, the Jesus who cared about salvation and going to heaven but also cared about life here on earth. He realized that what he had wished was true, the Kingdom of heaven begins here and Jesus cares about life here too.

Claude went on to challenge the participants about the true meaning of the transformational gospel. The Jubilee in Leviticus 25 was God’s way of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, of curbing the greed of the rich. They could not amass much wealth because they had to give back in the fiftieth year. That was God’s vision of the kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. In instructing the rich young ruler to sell all he possessed and follow him, Jesus was teaching the principle, ‘I am only good when you are good.’

He challenged participants to extend Jubilee to one another to give back whatever they could, to sell all they had and give to the poor because the transforming power of Jesus is at work now. Jesus is jubilee and we need to show true love and build a viable kingdom.

After Claude’s talk, participants were challenged to put in practise right away what they had and a participant felt led to remind them about the early church how they shared what they had. A love offering was taken and participants gave of their money. (This money will go to help those who experienced financial difficulties in getting to the conference.)

The evening closed with the sharing of communion.

The second day of the Amahoro Africa Gathering started on a warm note after last night’s fellowship. Participants were challenged to practise the wholistic gospel and are thinking about what it means to sell what they have and give to the poor, what it means to really follow Jesus and extend jubilee to one another, what it really means to build God’s kingdom here on earth.

My Impressions:
Dr. Kenzo's lecture was the highlight of the day. I emailed my wife after the small groups and here is what I wrote:

We landed in Uganda at night and have been at the hotel the whole time since, so I'm not sure what the country looks like. Last night reminded me of Sri Lanka in that droves of people were just standing around on the highway while kamikazee drivers play chicken with one another. Lots of fun.

The opening session of the gathering this morning was fantastic. The "work group" I'm in bored me to tears. We are supposed to meet in this small group every day for 2 hours to figure out what the trajectory for Amahoro Africa should be. So far we have only experienced the difference that each of us bring. We are all pastors (and only two of us are I's and TJ's) so the rest of the people drone on and on about random stories that are supposed to prove their points. I guess that is human nature: to define what is universally true by one's particular experiences.

I'm very tired now after sitting through that session. I'm going to get some tea and see if I can steal a quick nap before dinner. We meet from 8am-10pm everyday. So exhausting!

Now that I read over this, free from jet lag, I am reminded of how emotionally draining I felt during the work group time.

Labels: Amahoro, Emergent

Alright. So I've been rather slack in my blog posts over the past ten weeks. I could tell you about how busy I've been at work these past days, or about all of the joys and new duties that have come with fatherhood... but those are just excuses. I've been reflecting upon my blogging hiatus this morning and I've come up with a few reasons why I have minimized my posts.

1. It's not because I haven't been thinking. My brain did not take a vacation once Taylor was born. Quite the contrary. Having a new baby in the house has brought my whole world under erasure. Being a father has sent me on an journey inward: reflecting, pondering, questioning, about this new corner I've turned in my life. But I'm still thinking.

2. It's not because I have not been reading. Like most of you, my blogging buddies, I enjoy writing about books I'm reading. I've recently read some of the most exciting books that I've read in years. In all honesty, though, I've been reading in preparation for this event and this event, both of which require preparatory reading. But I'm still reading.

3. I'm still asking questions. That's what being a 'theofragen' is all about, right? Asking substantive questions about God? I've been leading or co-leading many events over the past few months which have generated many questions about God, church, and culture. Some have come as a result of my preparation for these events; others from the questions posed by the participants. But I'm still asking questions.

So what gives? Why haven't I been blogging?

The only answer I can come up with is that I'm exhausted. The late-night diaper changes, the early morning bottle feedings, and the over-achiever in me that wants to be the best father I can be, all have taken their toll on me. It is one think to think thoughts, read books, or ask questions. It's quite another thing to turn them into a blog post. No sleep = no blogging.

But we have turned a corner in the Myers's household. Taylor is mostly sleeping through the night, so the sleep deprivation has abated, for the time being (although I'm told that teething will present a whole new set of problems). So, I'm back. I'm going to share my thoughts, reading-reflections, and questions with you all once again. Thanks for your patience. Peace.

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