Much of current Mission Methodology in Africa has developed the most cripplingly financially dependent missions movement in history. Africans are beging to tell westerners this for the last 10 years now. The Assumption among western churches is that we need to send money to support these ministries. This idea is so wide spread that many are unable to process the thought that sometimes we can give to much, way to much, while permitting the Africans brothers & sisters to contribute much to little. In Africa, dependency is so bad that if leaders or a minister wish to begin a new ministry there automatic default strategy, if there is a missionary around, is to go to him for money rather than promote it to their own church people. 9/10 times, if the Missionary does not fund the project, the project will just fall. Often Leadership will not even approach their own people with it. Why is that? The Myth!
Without this extensive input of foreign funds, many ministries as now functioning would collapse in Africa. However, the lie is that the tithing poor in Africa can't afford to hire and pay their own missionaries, ministers and ministries. A tithing African people and church can fund most if not all their own ministries and servants. I will share personal witness to this in a future article. One very well respected missionary/missiologist speaking out about this crippling dependency, believes that it would take only 4% of African Christians tithing, and not a single dollar more would need to be invested from the west to run all the current ministries on the continent. Is there an imbalance in giving? You bet ya!
I realize this concept is a bit of a surprise and extremely hard to process for some. It is common thought that missionaries should pay to build church building, hire pastors, and support most of the ministries. That is not partnership! Take time to process this, as you wait for future articles. My African colleagues and I saw first hand how 10 churches planted were lead from day one by a tent making minister and leaders, with each church building their own modest building on their own. Not one Leader ever received a salary from us in any capacity over the years. Only free training was provided by us missionaries in their local village area. These same men still lead their churches today for free as they earn their own incomes. If these men ever receive a salary, it will be when they finally earn the trust & respect of the church people themselves, not our trust. Also they will only be supported at the level the local church chooses. Imagine that now!
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