"Has not God chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom?" (Ja 2:5)

The Poverty of the West and the Wealth of Burkina Faso

The wealth, consumerism, and individualism of the west has left us spiritually and socially impoverished. By comparison, many churches in Burkina Faso are spiritually vibrant in the midst of their material poverty. They are rich in faith and community life, with much to give us.

Through these partnerships with Burkina Faso churches, western churches can explore what God wants to teach us about living as his church in the world.

"Rich in Faith"

The church in Burkina is growing. Christians are passionate in prayer, zealous in evangelism, hospitable, and generous. They know the reality of faith in hard times, perseverence in suffering, and joy in worship. Pastors there are examples of the heroes of faith, carrying the cross of ridicule, simplicity, servanthood, and suffering for the sake of Christ and others. And they do it with the joy and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

"They are so poor, but..." Anyone with an open heart who has spent time in Africa, has probably said this, followed by "they are so generous with what they have", "they are so happy", or "they are so rich spiritually". As the Bible says: "God has chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom" (Ja 2:5)

People often come back from Burkina Faso saying they received much more than they gave, having been blessed by the generosity, joy, hospitality, and faith of the Christians there. This realisation is usually accompanied on the return to "home" in Europe or the States, with a sense of dislocation, and of the superficiality and poverty of our lives here. Yet after a short while, the impact passes as we re-adjust to the busy-ness of life, and it becomes but a poignant memory.

The Challenge

These church partnerships can help us explore what God might be saying to us today through his church in Africa.

We can be challenged afresh by their example, to recognise that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions, or in the success and security for which we strive. We can have our eyes opened again to see how, in our material prosperity, we have missed out on the spiritual wealth and life that is ours in Christ. We have sold our spiritual inheritance for a bowl of consumerist porridge. Their life can re-awaken in us a hunger for a fuller, more costly consecration.

And, if God is speaking, will we be willing to take his challenge on board? How will we respond if God calls us to adjust our lifestyles? To swap material wealth for spiritual wealth? To exchange security for a life of faith? To pursue the good of others rather than just our own agenda?

These partnerships are two-way. If we have eyes to see, we are the neediest partners. And God will use the partnerships to lead his church here deeper into himself and his purposes, and to reach out to communities around our own churches.