I will try my best to respond to your post, but most of it, just like what you believe comes down to personal belief. First. You say missionaries disturb you, but the first thing you say is how weak these people are. Have you ever lived in another country besides America? I will tell you right now, most Americans are weaker, physically and emotionally than any Kenyan I have ever met. I also take what you say about these people as an affront. I have made lifelong friends in Kenya. They are smart, proud, caring, thoughtful, and joyful people. Most of the church members that I know in Kenya are quite educated. They are not vulnerable in the least. They have just as much access to information as we do, yes, they have high speed internet in Kenya and everyone here seems to have a cell phone. We had an opportunity to help a group of Christian Kenyans buy a piece of property for the location of a church building and they said please don't help us pay for it, we take great pride in doing this ourselves. Also, I also personally feel that I get more out the experience then they do sometimes. They know I will never be 100% fluent in Swahili, they know I will never fully assimilate to their culture. But they know I love them. They know it isn't easy for an American to live in their culture and that all I try to do to the best of my God given abilities, I do because of the Love that God has shed abroad in my heart toward people. It just so happens that the Spirit of God led me through this specific door to minister to Kenyans. I am also of no higher moral stance then anyone. One of the basic tenents of my beliefs is the sinfulness of all men. I am a sinner and chief amongst them. By God redeemed me and put within me a new heart and desires to follow God and His spirit. Secondly, one of the core principles of Christianity is unity. I have seen the tribalism of Africa be put aside as people from different tribes come together to worship. Also, the bible teaches to do your best to live peaceably with ALL people. Do all people do this well? No, but the teaching is there for them to follow that can and will stop these divisions. Have you ever seen or been around people that practice there tribal religion? If anything, it is a parasite of the people. Whole villages will be under the thumb of a witch doctor who doesn't care about the people but only what they will give him. He will put curses on people who don't pay up yearly to him. It's like a spiritual mob. What we try do is empower people to live a good life filled with spiritual blessings and free from spiritual oppression. True Christianity is not a rule list. Christ frees us from that to liberty. Lastly, I did not choose the people that God would have me minister to. I also have never coaxed a single individual to my beliefs. I share my life and Christ's message in a culturally appropriate way. People choose their own path. I understand why you say some of the things you have, but the one thing that made me mad was your view of the local people as weak and vulnerable. Disrespect me all you want, but please don't disrespect those individuals you have never known or will ever know.
Who needs food? Have you ever lived in Kenya. Food grows everywhere, all year long. Not too many people going hungry there. Anyone that has ever needed medicine that is unable to get to a hospital I have helped. I really think most of your views of Africa are like Sally Struthers commercials for world relief. The problem is most of those organizations give little of what they take in to actual relief. They prey on American guilt and show a false view of what it is really like over there.
Whatever man. We never expect anything in return from anyone we help. We have teams of Dr.'s come in and hold free clinics all over and never once are they expected to do anything for us or for the help.
I don't think he was saying the Kenyans are mentally or physically weak, there is no doubt that the people of Kenya are in many ways stronger and tougher than Americans... They have to be. However they also are poor and want and need what missionaries offer, food and medicine... but there is a catch, listen to someone ramble on about Jesus.... I find it self serving and not admirable... but to each their own.
Thanks for going over and helping; I'm sure the people receiving the help are very grateful for it. Regardless of any teaching of religious beliefs, you are teaching them that it is OK to help others and that it is OK to receive help when they need it. It's not like you have a sales quota and you must convert 'X' number of Africans or be reprimanded by your sales manager. More than likely, those who choose to follow what you believe will be better off for it. Those who don't follow your beliefs still receive help so it sounds to me like everybody wins. These other posters who are ridiculing you and your group's actions sound like sad people. Easier to sit back and judge why you are there than it is to try and help in a different, non-religious way. Again, I'm sure the people receiving your help don't care if you are there to talk about the price of tea in China; you are there to help and I'm sure they are grateful for it.
staged? easy? You do realize that there have been more christian martyrs in the last century than the rest of history combined?
How many Kenyans do you know? Just because they make a smaller wage each does not make them poor. Most of them have a much better quality of life than many Americans. The "poor" of the world is not like the "poor" in America. Some of the poor in America, spend their days worrying about having more money and more stuff. Most Kenyans are perfectly content with what they have and live less stressful lives. As Christians, we are commanded by Christ to take him everywhere, all over the world. Again, the food myth. They may not be eating ribeyes or twinkies over there, but they eat really well. In fact I tend to believe they eat much better than Americans. We also teach them farming techniques that don't cost them anything and doubles and triples their crops. There are dispensaries everywhere there and good chemists(pharmacies) also. A lot of what we face there is vice that spread from the incoming tourists from Europe and other nations. Bad alcoholism, sex trafficking, child abuse and neglect is a lot of what we focus on.
This is a very archaic view of the westerner needing to come in and fix all of Africa's problems. It doesn't remotely resemble reality.
1) I've never lived in America. 2) Kenya is not Africa. Kenya is Kenya. It is in Africa, and it is certainly not the average African nation. I'm certain that the will and mental fortitude of Kenyan people is as strong as anyone else. 3) Does what you're doing even count as missionary work? From your examples, it seems you go to Africa to preach to Christians. 4) Why would someone fly to another country to preach Christianity when there are plenty of non-Christians and different Christians where you live? 5) Not everyone in Kenya has access to high speed internet. As of 2011 only 28% of Kenyans were internet users. I assume, like with any other human sample size, those 28% are not the ones rapidly converting to Christianity or Islam. It is most likely the other 72%. 6) You helped them buy a church building is one way to see it. Another way to see it is you funded their acquisition of new followers. The idea that you preach by proxy doesn't make it any better. You don't need a building to have a church. You don't need a nice building before you need to feed the poor, neither in Islam or in Christianity. 7) Of course you get more out of it than they do. You assume God is happy every time you do this. 8) The Spirit of God did not lead you to anything as far as me or you know (unless God has told you this?). You think (and you have every right obviously) that He did. Reality is that, as you said, you get more out of it than they do. 9) Like I said, if you believe in what you do, then give them the money anonymously and don't mention Christianity or Jesus unless specifically asked. When they ask, tell them about all the positive aspects of Christianity as well as the most prevalent criticisms. That's what would be morally justifiable. 10) All African people can give you a masterclass in unity if you stop seeing history only from the point after European colonization. You sir come from a country whose native population was wiped out and the continent initially repopulated with the most violent group of races on the planet (Europeans) who then bought slaves from various parts of Africa and held them hostage till just a few decades ago. The country you live in is home of the most war-loving developed country in modern history. Should you be preaching to Africa and buying churches? Or should you be back home getting your people to stop spreading the legs of markets around the world for their exploits? That's where Africa needs your help. They don't have any issues with religions. Theirs will develop fine with information, as it has with every other religion. African nations have a rich history of tolerant, brilliant, commercial, friendly, brotherly and united behavior. Did they war? Yes. Did they fight? Yes. Anymore than anyone else? Hell no, which is a miracle considering the circumstances. These tribes and nations were raped, split and pillaged under the guise of foreign culture, primarily Christianity and then Islam for a period. Not to say this is proper Christian behavior, but that was the flag that was raised, and the motto has not changed: we just want to help. Now to be clear, I'm not saying your evil obviously. You may very well think you are doing something good for these people. You seem to be helping with medical aid, which is excellent. But you must see that to a non-Christian, you are merely furthering your own spiritual brownie points using sweat, but also cash and an educational advantage. If you want to help people in need, keep your religion at home. If you want to spread your religion, do it with those on a fair playing field. That has nothing to do with whether Kenyans are smart or not - I don't believe any race is naturally smarter/dumber than another. That has everything to do with how unlikely it is for a Kenyan villager to dispute the claims being made by the person who bought a building they can only dream of buying and offering medical aid in life or death situations. Good luck on your journey. As I said to you before, uniting people by having them all believe in a religion is a war cry, not a peace offering.
Yes easy and yes staged. I have no idea what significance Christian martyrdom has to this conversation. I don't think it has any significance to anyone or anything either unless you cherry pick the definition of martyr. I've studied Islam, believe me I know the horrendous things done in the name of alleged martyrdom and I'm not impressed or moved at all.
1. What country do you live in? 2. When you say Africa, though, it includes Kenya. 3. Yes, I am training local people to reach Kenyans. Many, have been unable to reach a higher Christian education, so we take that to them. Do I talk to non christians about Christ? Sure, everyday. Just like I do in America. 4. Where we are serving has large groups of unreached people groups (joshuaproject.net) Most of these people have never seen a bible, church, building, or even heard the name of Jesus. America is a reached nation with pockets of unreached throughout the country. I have many friends who are doing that work that God has called to do. My calling is frontier mission work. It's what God wants from me. 5. Most Kenyans don't use home access to the internet. Even the home internet we use can be up and down. Most use coffee shops and internet cafes. That number is much different when you consider that. 6. I didn't help them buy a church building. Did you read what I said. The group of believers decided they needed some shelter when they met for bible study and worship service. The building is not what you think. Spoiler This is a normal building in the countryside where they lived. The land cost 20 USD, but they didn't want help to buy the land, they wanted to do it themselves. That way they are empowered by it and they have ownership of what is happening. 7. God accepts me because I am in Christ. I do for others because of a heart of gratitude for what Christ has done for me. 8. It is hard for you to know about the Spirit's leadership as someone who denies it, I understand. When I say I get more out, don't misunderstand me, I get more spiritually. I don't get anything physically from it. I don't a single penny from anything. I pour my life into the people there and love the opportunity to see what God is doing there. 9.Giving money anonymously actually hurts more than anything. I am not over here handing out money. I am serving the people, through works of gratitude. Most of the people there already know the criticisms of Christianity. I teach people about those and how we can help dispel those criticisms through our actions. 10. I never bought a building for anyone. You want to live your life how you will, and I respect that. I have never asked you to change the way you live. I don't hold my education over anyone's head. The same objections to Christianity I get here in the states are the same one I get in Kenya as well.
I know quite a few Kenyans, mostly because I was a cross country and track athlete in college. I have been over there 3-4 times including spending a summer training.
