Let’s have a quick primer on France, England, Liberia, Sudan and the influence of Methodism.
France in the late 1780s was a country ruled by a corrupt aristocracy. The country was nearing bankruptcy, the poor had little to no food and the growing middle-class (bourgeoisie) felt powerless over the future of their country. Outraged, a group of Parisians banded together on July 14, 1789, and stormed the Bastille prison. In a very literal sense, many of those in power over the poor “lost their head.”
England was predicted to go the same way as France. However, the tide turned and some historians suggest it was the social influence of Methodism. Our Methodist bent on being socially active in our faith with the poor, the sick, and lost are highlighted as the cool water that drowned the fire of a violent revolution.
Liberia experienced prosperity under the colonization driven by freed American slaves, but then fell into years of civil war which mobilized tens of thousands of kidnapped children as combatants. For over 30 years Holston Conference has held a leading role in providing meaningful aid while supporting and sending missionaries. Our own Dan Kelly helped instigate this movement and continues to play an integral part in this process.
During those 30 years Methodist hospitals and schools were bombed, burnt, and raided while shipments of relief and educational cargo were stolen, misappropriated, or destroyed. As word of such atrocities came to Holston, did local churches redirect their resources and lose interest in Liberia? Yes. Did this stop the movement of Methodism in Liberia? No!
Some suggest it was through such sacrificial and visionary influences that the country is now 90% Methodist, elected the first female head of state for all of Africa (who is Methodist), has an all Methodist cabinet, and is on the short list of countries to have a positive GNP for 2009 (more than 8%). Can the same happen in southern Sudan?
Holston Conference teams number six and seven have now returned from Sudan. Yei, in southern Sudan, where most of Holston’s ministry is based, exploded in population from 50,000 in 2005 to over 400,000 in 2008. Marauding bandits still kidnap children for military service and other nefarious reasons. The military itself has not been paid in over four months, an arrest warrant has been issued by the international criminal court for the acting president (the first such warrant ever), Darfur is still witness to active genocide claiming over 300,000 lives, and over 13 relief agencies have been kicked out of the country in the last month. (UMCOR remains.) The ingredients are ripe for another terrible civil war that is fueled by new found oil, greed, and misaligned religious nationalism between Christians and Muslims.
Do local churches of Holston have the long-term attitude to see Liberia in Sudan? Our Methodist DNA compels us to answer a strong YES. Why? It was this DNA found in our church that helped shape and encourage the faith of Dan Kelly to later boldly step forward and face such a war-torn giant as Liberia. Does that DNA still exist in our people here?
Watch the children this Sunday as they collect cans for the tomb. What do you see when you look into their innocent but devoted lives? I see a new generation of missionaries preparing to rise up and serve. As we approach Easter I encourage you to pray for the future generations of our church in Fountain City and Sudan.
- Don
