This year marks 50 years since
Uganda got independence from the British. During this period church leadership has
evolved and is entirely African. Amidst this what is the future of the western
missionary in Uganda? Are western missionaries still of relevance in Africa, with
Christianity growing so fast on the continent and more and more people becoming
Christians, churches being planted and missionaries sent to the west? It is
clear that the growing influence of the Church in the global South in matters
of the global church is evident. Has the role of the western missionary changed?
All my life, I have grown up with
missionaries around me and can see that a lot has changed over the years. First of all, I grew up knowing that
every muzungu (Whiteman) was a
missionary, in Pajule Village in northern Uganda were I was born we had
missionaries, they lived at the mission station that was within the church
compound, rode bicycles around the village and their major role was to lead church
services, conduct weddings and burials. When I came to the City, I met another
missionary that helped disciple me. He was a church planter and went deep into villages
planting churches. Overtime there has
been change, not all “Bazungu” are
missionaries as I grew up thinking, and the natives are leading and planting
churches with a new energy and zeal. Let me be clear on this, there are roles
that the missionary can only perform alongside the natives and not
individually. An orphanage, child sponsorship, congregation, institution or
program in Africa cannot be entirely western mission led and directed.
Today, the relationship of the
western missionary to the church in Africa should be like a relationship of one
adult to another adult, a relationship of partners. Many missionaries today
still relate with the church in Africa as a child and the missionaries as the
parent, these are facing challenges. If you treat the church in Africa as a
Child, it will treat you as a parent and will expect you to behave like a
parent, spoon feed it! If you treat the church as a colleague and fellow adult,
the missionary will be treated as a comrade and fellow elder.
In our day, the church in Africa is
in urgent need of missionaries that will relate to it as adults, the critical need
of the “adult” in Africa is better leadership. This is mainly equipping leaders
and secondly by advocating for this cause. With the Church in Africa growing so
fast and stronger, it is important for the western missionary to strategically
position himself to enhance this. It is important to develop transformational leadership
in Africa.
The leadership crisis in Africa
is in reality a leadership development crisis. At the heart of the leadership
crisis in Africa is the failure of great leaders to replicate other leaders
that will carry on the task. In solving this problem some missionaries have
related to the church as a child being helped to develop leadership skills.
Many of these have been looked at as Patrons. For this reason in Kampala many
pastors just want a “muzungu”…, the
belief is that if you get a muzungu
you have broken through and “the lights are now green and you are set to go”.
You will now succeed in ministry since you have a “muzungu”. The right tools in unskilled hands will not get the work well
done. Help the leaders lead better by first giving skills.
The missionary today should be an
ambassador and advocate for Africa; this is a role that short term missions
could play effectively. The missionary has become the spokesperson for Africa.
The missionaries’ message will determine the western world’s response to
African issues.
Does Africa need missionaries?
Yes, missionaries with an agenda to equip leaders and advocate for this cause.
Kilama Dennis, BSWSA (MUK), M.A Missions (NEGST), Dmin
Student, (AIU).
Academic Registrar
