New hope for the poor: A perspective on the church in informal settlements in Africa

Pieter Verster

Description

Empowering the poor remains an essential part of the Christian Gospel. The way in which the absolute poor in informal settlements in Africa can be empowered by the message of the Bible, needs to be researched. During research completed in informal settlements near Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa, it has been established that the churches present in the situation are best equipped to relate to the poor and interpret the message of the Bible to them.

Sujets

• Littérature Sud-Africaine
• Littérature sud-africaine
• Church
• Bloemfontein
• Mangaung
• Poverty
• Empirical
• AIDS

Informations

• Publié par: UJ Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781920382094
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

New HOPE for the poor

N EW for the po h or ope Pieter Verster A perspective on the church in informal settlements in Africa

Pieter Verster

New hope for the poor

A perspective on the church in informal settlements in Africa

Pieter Verster

New hope for the poor

A perspective on the church in informal settlements in Africa

Published by Sun Media Bloemfontein (Pty) Ltd

Imprint: SunBonani Scholar

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Copyright © 2012 Sun Media Bloemfontein

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First edition 2012

ISBN: 978-1-920382-01-8 (Print) ISBN: 978-1-920382-09-4 (e-book) DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/9781920382094

Set in 10/14 pt Cambria Cover and text design by Maryke Venter Page layout by Christine van Deventer

Research, academic and reference works are published under this imprint in print and electronic format.

This printed copy can be ordered directly from: [e-mail] The e-book is available at the following link: https://doi.org/10.18820/9781920382094

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PôôûÉ.................................................................................................................................... Iôûçîô............................................................................................................................

CHAPTER ONE

1. PôÉ î Aîçà........................................................................................................................... 1.1 The presence of poverty ..................................................................................................................... 1.2Disempowerment.................................................................................................................................. 1.3 Aspects of developing poverty......................................................................................................... 1.3.1 Poverty and governance in Africa.............................................................................................. 1.3.2 Poverty, Colonialism and development in Africa................................................................ 1.3.3 Poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa................................................................................................. 1.3.4 Poverty and the economies of Africa....................................................................................... 1.3.5 Poverty, women and children...................................................................................................... 1.3.6 The challenges of xenophobia..................................................................................................... 1.4 Why is Africa poor? ............................................................................................................................... 1.5 The need for solutions .........................................................................................................................

CHAPTER TWO

2. RÉŝÉàç îô CûçÉŝ’ RôÉ î PôÉ....................................................................... 2.1 The church and involvement in suffering communities ....................................................... 2.2 Research questions ............................................................................................................................... 2.3 Methodology............................................................................................................................................ 2.4 The approach towardsHIV\AIDS ................................................................................................... 2.5Challengesofinformalsettlements............................................................................................... 2.6 Informal cities ......................................................................................................................................... 2.7 Informal areas in mangaung ............................................................................................................. 2.8 Church and informal settlements ...................................................................................................

CHAPTER THREE

3. Eîîçà QûàîàîÉ RÉŝÉàç Tôàŝ É AîûÉŝ ô RÉŝôÉŝ î  Iôà Hôûŝî AÉàŝ î BôÉôÉî/Mààû............................................. 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 3.2 The presence of the church in informal settlements.............................................................. 3.3 Empirical data: the church in informal settlements............................................................... 3.3.1 The present situation...................................................................................................................... 3.3.2 The church’s present role............................................................................................................. 3.3.3 The church’s future role.................................................................................................................

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1 1 5 6 6 8 9 12 12 13 16 17

19 19 19 20 24 25 26 28 28

31 31 32 32 32 35 36

3.4 The concept: people on the street .................................................................................................. 3.4.1 Research on people on the street.............................................................................................. 3.4.2 Responses of people on the street............................................................................................ 3.4.3 The circumstances in the informal areas............................................................................... 3.4.4 Membership in the church........................................................................................................... 3.4.5 The church’s involvement............................................................................................................. 3.4.6 The future............................................................................................................................................ 3.5 Conclusion................................................................................................................................................

CHAPTER FOUR

4. PôÉ à É BîÉ: É Cûç’ŝ RôÉ ..................................................................... 4.1 The church and her involvement in the situation of the poor ............................................ 4.2 Poverty and the Bible: a new challenge for Africa................................................................... 4.3 The church’s response to the challenges of involvement in the situation of  the poor ...................................................................................................................................................... 4.4 The gospel and hope for the desperate poor ............................................................................. 4.4.1 Christ and the poor .......................................................................................................................... 4.4.2 A Christian worldview and the challenges of poverty and xenophobia .................... 4.4.3 New possibilities for the poor..................................................................................................... 4.4.4 Creating new aspects of humanity and brotherhood ....................................................... 4.4.5 Christ and brotherhood .................................................................................................................

CHAPTER FIVE

5. TÉ Bîîçà MÉŝŝàÉ................................................................................................................... 5.1 The Biblical message of brotherhood and sisterhood in crisis .......................................... 5.1.1 Brotherhood and sisterhood in the Old Testament........................................................... 5.1.2 Brotherhood and sisterhood in the New Testament ......................................................... 5.2 Koinonia in the church ........................................................................................................................ 5.3 The Bible and the foreigner............................................................................................................... 5.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................

CHAPTER SIX

6. EôÉî É Pôô î SÉ-EôÉÉ......................................................... 6.1 Self-empowerment............................................................................................................................... 6.2 The church and self-empowerment............................................................................................... 6.3 Human responsibility.......................................................................................................................... 6.4 Self-empowerment and humanity’s responsibility................................................................. 6.5 The place of self-empowerment in empowerment initiatives........................................... 6.6 Can self-empowerment succeed in Africa?.................................................................................

40 41 41 41 42 43 46 46

49 49 51

54 58 58 59 60 60 61

63 63 63 67 68 69 72

73 73 74 75 77 77 78

6.6.1 Are there any expectations that it will succeed in Africa? .............................................. 6.6.2 The danger of fatalism .................................................................................................................... 6.6.3 Successful self-empowerment in Africa................................................................................. 6.6.3.1 Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA) Rehauhetswe Mangaung............................. 6.6.4 Demoralisation of self-empowerment.................................................................................... 6.7 Absolute poverty and self-empowerment.................................................................................. 6.7.1 Empowerment and fate................................................................................................................. 6.7.2 Empowerment and self-respect................................................................................................. 6.8 New perspectives in Africa ................................................................................................................ 6.8.1 Guidelines for the creation of hope in Africa ........................................................................ 6.8.1.1 Economic self-empowerment........................................................................................................ 6.8.1.2 Education.............................................................................................................................................. 6.8.1.3 Partnerships......................................................................................................................................... 6.9 Guidelines for the creation of hope in the individual ............................................................. 6.10 Empowering the people on the streets........................................................................................ 6.11 Some suggestions on entrepreneurship and the church ......................................................

CHAPTER SEVEN

7. TÉ Cûç’ŝ RÉàçîô ô Hî/Aîŝ.................................................................................... 7.1 Questions about the church’s contribution................................................................................ 7.1.1 The church’s reaction to HIV/AIDS........................................................................................... 7.1.2 Observations on the role of the church................................................................................... 7.2 Practical intervention .......................................................................................................................... 7.3 A Christian-ethical approach............................................................................................................ 7.4 What is themeaning of theChristocentricapproach? .................................................................. 7.5Thefutureforthepoorandthepatient....................................................................................... 7.5.1 Approach to the poor ...................................................................................................................... 7.5.2 Approach to the patient ................................................................................................................. 7.5.3 Overall approach............................................................................................................................... 7.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................

CHAPTER EIGHT

78 78 78 79 79 80 80 81 82 82 82 83 83 84 85 87

89 89 89 90 91 92 93 95 95 96 97 97

8. PôÉ, Eûî à à RÉçôŝîÉàîô ô Eçôôîç EîŝÉçÉ:  à Cîŝîà-Eîçà Aôàç................................................................................................ 99 8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 99 8.2 Research questions ............................................................................................................................... 100 8.3 Possible solutions for the problem of poverty.......................................................................... 100 8.3.1 Marxist approaches........................................................................................................................ 100 8.3.1.1 Marxism-Leninism............................................................................................................................ 100 8.3.1.2 Neo-Marxism....................................................................................................................................... 101 8.3.1.3 New Marxism....................................................................................................................................... 101 8.3.2 Recent approaches........................................................................................................................... 102

8.3.2.1 Populism ............................................................................................................................................... 8.3.2.2 Development........................................................................................................................................ 8.3.2.3 Partnership and upliftment........................................................................................................... 8.3.2.4 Africa communality.......................................................................................................................... 8.3.2.5 Upliftment through globalisation ............................................................................................... 8.4 Christian-ethical starting points..................................................................................................... 8.4.1 Starting points ................................................................................................................................... 8.4.2 A Christocentric approach ............................................................................................................ 8.5 Practical guidelines ............................................................................................................................... 8.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

102 102 103 104 104 105 105 111 112 121

123

129

IÉîÉŝ.................................................................................................................................. 138 IÉîÉŝ 2008...................................................................................................................... 138 IÉîÉŝ 2009...................................................................................................................... 139 Fôçûŝ ôû................................................................................................................................ 139

PROLOGUE

This book is based upon research supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. Any opinion, indings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and, therefore, the NRF does not accept any liability in regard thereto. The research was also supported by the University of the Free State (UFS) cluster: “New frontiers in poverty reduction and sustainable development”. The author is Prof. Pieter Verster, Head of the Department of Missiology at the University of the Free State. The book is a based on published (modiied), electronically published and unpublished articles either in the original or in translation (Permission obtained). 2008. Verster, P. Selbemagtiging as instrument in die bestryding van armoede.Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap, 44(3/4):115-129 (see 6.1-6.9). 2008. Verster, P. Entrepreneurship and innovation for poverty alleviation: The church in informal settlements. In: 6th International Conference: Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Munga, R., Grundling, J.P. & Steynberg, L. Nov 5-6 Maputo, Mosambiek: 177-185 (see 1.1-1.3; 2.1-2.4). 2009. Verster, P. A missiological approach to poverty and Xenophobia. Theologia Viatorum,33(2):281-301 (Special edition) (see 1.3.6; 4.4.2; 5.3). 2009. Verster, P. The Christian Church and the alleviation of poverty: New challenges in informal areas.The International Journal of the Humanities,7(5):91-104 (Online.) Available from: http://pieterverster.cgpublisher.com (see 2.5-2.8; 3.1-3.3; 4.1-4.2). 2010. Verster, P. Empowering the poor: The Bible and the poor in informal settlements in Africa. (Online.) Available from: http://www.opus-bayern.de/uni-bamberg/schriftenreihen_ebene2. php?sr_id=20&la=de (to be published) (see 1.4; 3.3; 5.1-5.2). 2010. Verster, P. Armoede, gelykheid en ’n herbesinning oor ekonomiese bestaan: ’n Christelik-etiese benadering. Ned. Geref. Teologiese Tydskrif,Sept/Des (see 8.1-8.4). 2011. Verster, P. ’n Christosentriese benadering deur die kerk tot die krisis wat deur armoede en Vigs meegebring word. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap,(see 2.4; 7.1-7.6). 2011. Verster, 47(1):117-131 P. Die kerk en mense op straat in die informele behuisingsgebiede in Mangaung/ Bloemfontein.Verbum et Ecclesia, 32(1), Art. #466, 8 pages. doi:10.4102/ve.v32i1. 466 (see 3.4; 6.10-6.11).

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INTRODUCTION

Empowering the poor remains an essential part of the Christian Gospel. The way in which the absolute poor in informal settlements in Africa can be empowered by the message of the Bible, needs to be researched. Research conducted in informal settlements near Bloemfontein in the Free State Province of South Africa established that the churches present in the situation are best equipped to relate to the poor and interpret the message of the Bible to them. The responsibility of all churches to reach out to the poor is not diminished, but the presence of the churches in the informal settlements opens the way for a Biblical message that is relevant to their circumstances. Reaching out to the poor, the churches create the space for the Gospel of redemption to be preached. In koinonia with one another, the poor ind the possibility to establish a network of help. Sharing even little means opens the way to ight poverty from a Biblical perspective. The Biblical message of brother- and sisterhood, even in situations of poverty, should be emphasised. It is the poor reaching out to one another that are able to bring about a new relation among themselves and by doing so, empowering even the poorest among them to create a new vision of hope in desperate circumstances. The church as community of love should also be present in the community to bring about a new society. The church can generate hope in this regard. Stories from Africa are often stories of despair. Social, economical and political problems are challenging the search for a better life for many in Africa. Signs of a new and better future are sometimes overshadowed by news of wars, droughts, loods, epidemics and political upheaval. Xenophobia also is rife among poor communities and should be challenged from the perspective of the church.

The challenge of poverty is made even more serious by the presence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The church’s response to this epidemic is also of utmost importance.

It is as if the seriousness of the situation is too overwhelming for a positive solution. However, a Christian response to the challenges must not be and is not lacking. All over Africa, Christian churches, theologians and church members are involved in discussion and active involvement in the situation in Africa.

The Bible is not silent on the issue of the human predicament and a reply from Scripture is needed to the challenges of Africa. In informal settlements all over Africa and also in South Africa, the church’s presence is of utmost importance. Taking her cue from the Bible, the Church should reply in an active and radical way. The church should respond to the challenges in these situations. The churches’ reply can only be beneicial to the people themselves if the church itself is prepared to link the message of the Gospel to the needs of the people. The message of the Gospel has deinite implications for the needs of the people. Looking at the message of the Gospel, the church can reply to the needs of the people and bring about a new situation in which new possibilities can be found.

iii