'...a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government oprojects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.
I used to avoid thsi truth by applauding - as you can - the practical work of mission churches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, that salvation is part of the package, but Christians baklck and white, working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write; and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital or school and say that the world would be better without it. I would allow that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but waht counted was the help, not the faith.
But this doesn't make sense. Faith does more that syupport the missionary; it is alos transferreed to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, which I cannot help observing.
First, then, the observation. We had friends who were missionarioes, and as a child I stayed often with them; I also stayed, alone with my little brother, in a traditional African village. In the city we had working for us Africans who had converted and were stromng believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts , their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiousity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.'
Matthew Parris, The Times, 27 December 2008.
