I just finished meeting with two women from a local title company who came in asking what they could do professionally to earn my business. It didn't take very long for the conversation to shift from business pleasantries to a conversation of substance.

One of the ladies asked, "How is everything else going?” Anyone who knows me knows how I responded. My demeanor immediately brightened as I began to share about Letta MFI and the ongoing work of IAP. This is what Kim (my wife) and I are passionate about. This is what gets us up in morning. As one of the ladies sensed my enthusiasm, she shared with me her daughter's desire to possibly take off a year from college and get involved in Africa.

"In Africa? What does that mean?" That is the question this mother is asking herself and praying about. "Is this just some new fad or trend that has captured my daughter's heart or is there merit in this prompting?"

I challenged this concerned mother to nurture this dialogue with her daughter and commit it to prayer. She cannot discount that the Spirit of the Living God may in fact be behind all this.

I admit that as we watch the news and world events we are inundated with celebrities and people of notoriety who are turning their efforts and fortunes toward the continent of Africa. What is their motivation in this? I am not going to even begin to search their hearts and judge their motivations, but it is interesting that it seems like Africa is becoming a status symbol of sorts. Why is this?

Why is this happening...or...why is this interesting?

Oh, I know why it is happening. It is happening because the need is so great on the continent of Africa. People who are confronted by the reality of the situation are quickly cut to the heart and demand a response to the injustice of poverty and the fallout from such a crisis. The images of death, malnutrition, orphans, widows, blight, famine, war, genocide, disease, etc haunt those who have be confronted by this overwhelming reality. To not act would be inhumane (un-human). To not act would rob one of any hope or joy in their own life. Regardless of the motivation, there is a response.

What is interesting is that it has become a status symbol in some regard. Why? Why are the Bonos, the Dilians, the Jolies, the Pitts, the Clooneys of the world being noticed and placed on a pedestal by many for their philanthropic work in Africa? Simply and humbly stated, it is novelty. It is something new and newsworthy.

The fact is that even in times of immense prosperity here in the United States and other "civilized" nations during the 1900's (and truthfully even now) we have, as a people, turned a blind eye to the situation in Africa. We have simply chosen to forget or ignore our global community, so we could have more time and resources to commit to our self-indulgent lifestyles. I know that sounds harsh, but I am right there in the middle of that statement. We as a nation and more specifically as the American church have utterly failed in our response to the needs of the world. So because we have been apathetic and ineffective for so long, the world will take notice of those who have not.

Wow, John! Are you actually saying that the Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation and individual actors and superstars have been more the "hands and feet" of Christ than the very Church that Christ established through his death and ministry!

What I know is this.

There are millions of people who, because of circumstances and not choice, wake up daily to "Africa" and everything that that word encapsulates. These people are crying out to the Lord of Hosts for reprieve and provision. The Lord is not going to ignore their cries. He will respond. He will use all means necessary to sustain those that love Him.

The true injustice is that God is not receiving the glory. As God uses those who are willing, to answer the cries of His people, His name is being replaced with names of men.

Church of God, understand that the plan for this world is you. You, being filled by God Himself, have the power and ability to return the glory of God to its rightful place. Africa is not a lost cause. It is not a stage on which to perform. It is not an outlet for my carnal need to feel good about what I am doing. It is an altar.

As the Church rebuilds this altar and sacrificing ensues, God's glory will be made known to this world and Africa will no longer be a trend, but a place of worship.