Under the covering, leadership and guidance of the Movement for Africa National Initiatives (MANI), five of us gathered for three days to share stories from our own regions and our desire to see a more unified voice on the continent. On Saturday we had the opportunity to meet a group of younger leaders from Ethiopia and heard how they too desire a more unified platform from where they can be more effective in that which they are already doing.

Although much can be said on our time together, I thought it good to post a few comments made by these younger leaders as they viewed the way forward as an Emerging Leadership Generation (ELG).

•   As a generation we are constantly aware of the need to work closer together. The question is not so much as whether we need to do this as to how we can do this.

•   As an Emerging Leadership Generation (ELG) our desire is not just to learn from other global regions, but to learn with them.

•   Over the years we had attended so many meetings before where attempts were made to create platforms where we could connect and work together, but no action were taken after the first or second initial gathering. To take this forward we are to ensure platforms are created to ensure ongoing interaction and growing together, tools are to be made available that will equip us in being more effective in our daily responsibilities,  proper understanding are to be communicated as to each ones responsibility, and platforms are to be available where we can learn from those who have walked the road before us.

•   One of our greatest needs is to find ways where different ministries, opportunities and initiatives can be connected to one another, as we are continuously facing pressure from the west to become more liberal in our actions, and from the east to be more extremist in our thinking.

•   Helping us to move forward we need to understand the current status of the ELG within a national, regional and continental context, as well as how each relate to the global context; differences, similarities, uniquenesses…

* Where are each of them heading?
* How are they planning in getting there?

•   If the expectations conveyed are too high, the potential of involvement are minimized as previous experiences proved the un-success of aiming to wide and achievement of goals set, are not met.

What are the uniquenesses of the ELG in your region, and how can platforms be created to assist and empower them to become more effective in that which God is leading them to? Looking forward in reading your comments…

Calisto Odede of Nairobi, Kenya, refers to the people of the south as the ‘people from the 11th hour’. Reading from Matthew 20, he acknowledge the great momentum people from the north gave in spreading the gospel amongst those in the south. However, although those who came early have been part of the mission movement much longer, their responsibility is not greater than those who arrived on the 11th hour. As those of the south start to take their responsibility within God’s mission movement, they are not to be seen as late comers, but us fellow workers who are to receive the same payment at the end.

Stories of great missionary legends such as David Livingstone are well known in mission circles around the world, which is great. But how many people know the names of ‘Chuma’ and ‘Susi’? The unknown heroes who carried his body for five month to the coast where it was then taken to Britain. We would not have known about the story if it wasn’t for these two men; people from the 11th hour.

The situation in the South is changing, very quickly. The question is not as much how the global north is to adapt, or what the south is about to do, but rather how we are to ensure the gospel is taken from everywhere to everywhere?

Odede continues in giving the example of ticks that are attached to the skin of a goat. When the goat gets slaughtered, some of the ticks fall off and look for a fresh skin to which they can attach themselves. Others remain and eventually dry out with the skin. The same applies to the church and mission organisations. The way missions used to be done have changed, and is still changing. Are you like the tick that went on to find a fresh skin, a fresh approach, or are you the one who will hang on till the last drop of blood is left and eventually dry out with the skin; a memory of something which ones lived?

The global south is arising and its people are taking responsibility. It is not looking the same way as many would have expected, but the mission field is becoming a sending force.

Paul Borthwick gives us a few good examples on how to avoid becoming a mere memory. I was blessed with the honor to attend one of his seminars at Urbana 2012 where he continuously referred to his latest book ‘Western Christians in Global Mission; What’s the role of the North American Church?’. Below are a few of my notes taken from his session.

A strong emphasis is placed on the attitude in which the gospel is taken cross culturally.

Humility

• Willingness to ask, “Please teach me”. Be zealous to learn from the south, how they’ve been doing it, how they are doing it, and what’s their vision for their people.

• Put what you know behind. What you know will be of much greater value once you understand the local context.

• Encourage that which you hear. Local vision is to be encouraged, strengthened and helped to put into perspective. Local vision equals local ownership.

Servanthood

• Servanthood is not define by me, but by those who I serve.

• I am coming to work with you to serve your purposes, goals and vision.

Partnership

• Is there anything I can do to help you serve your vision for your place.

• Listening trips. Before going into a partnership, do a listening trip where you visit with the mere purpose to listen to their stories, vision and passion. Partner with people where your vision and passion are similar or closer to theirs. Remember, you are too given a passion and vision, find those who are similar.

• Understand that you might not be needed in every ministry you meet.

Values

• Faith. Willingness to take risk while not knowing the outcome; serving the global south without knowing what’s next; what measurable contribution you are actually making.

• Hope. Create a positive view of the future. As you listen to their vision, encourage, motivate and find ways to assist in serving. The least, but also the most you can do is to daily pray with them for their vision.

• Love. A platform of love creates a platform to speak.

Knowing that much are still to be said and that this conversation is way from over, I am grateful for scripture such as Matthew 5. This is my version of it: “By being the salt we are not replacing, nor becoming an alternative of that which is already existing. We are merely evaporating within that which already exist, so that the local entity will be able to produce a flavor, to its fulness, for the pleasure of its community.”