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An Invitation to Amahoro Africa

Posted Feb 25, 07:15 AM | 3 comments | by Editor | Link

There are still a few spots left for the 3rd Amahoro Africa gathering happening in South Africa, June 8-15, 2009. Tim Keel writes of his experience of the first two gatherings and offers an open invitation to come in June.

By Tim Keel:

In May, 2007, I traveled with five companions from my church in the United States to Kampala, Uganda. We journeyed there to attend the first gathering of Amahoro-Africa. We didn’t know exactly what to expect. We weren’t sure what we’d find. We weren’t exactly clear why we were even going. What did we know? We knew that an important conversation was happening in and around Africa—and we wanted to be a part of it as both observers and participants.

Brian McLaren’s book, Everything Must Change, tells the story of his relationship with an Burundian man named Claude Nikondeha. Through their conversations and subsequent friendship, a dream called Amahoro was born and eventually realized: to create a space for young African leaders to gather for relationships and connection, theological reflection, and transformation.

Just as the emerging church conversation has been a vital space for western leaders to process the many aspects of our changing landscape, so leaders in Africa have likewise needed a parallel space to process the many ways their environment has shifted and continues to shift.

We talk a great deal about postmodernity in our western context. While the postmodern conversation is happening in Africa, it tends to be expressed in the examination of post-colonial realities and deconstructing the ways that the gospel and the church have been captive to cultural and theological frameworks. There is a growing recognition that these frameworks have restricted how the good news carried by the kingdom message of Jesus Christ is understood and incarnated in communities all over the African continent. What an incredibly vital conversation!

So, like I said, our group went to Africa eager and expectant, hoping to learn and to connect—to make friendships that would bridge our many differences, to have conversation that might help us to see beyond the limitations of our own perspective, and to even create connections that might become longer-term transformational partnerships. Did those things happen? More than we ever expected.

I am continually amazed how powerful it is when we create a space of hospitality where the agenda is first and foremost friendship. In the five days over which 150 Africans and 50 westerners gathered, I witnessed and experienced the formation of integral friendships that I know two years later are still growing, deepening, and maturing. The shrinking of our world through technology has made the maintenance and development of such unlikely relationships much easier than it might otherwise be. Friendship is its own reward and a worthy end in itself. But for the next aspect of why Amahoro exists, it’s integral.

One of the most compelling parts of the Amahoro gathering was coming together to “do” theology—to wrestle through our understanding(s) of the gospel and its implications for those who would seek to follow Jesus into the world. Friendship and trust creates the space that allows diverse people to come together and converse about belief and conviction. But not just that—it allows us to put those beliefs and convictions out “there” before our friends and examine them, in love, together. My time in those conversations were as significant a learning experience as any I have had. Getting the opportunity to listen to and interact with African theologians (and conversation partners) opened my mind and heart to ideas and things I had otherwise never considered—even in my own context. It was transforming. Which brings me to that last aspect of the Amahoro space that is so significant.

Transformation: the possibility of being changed and being a part of the change process for others. Too often, westerners go to Africa to fix something or some group of people. Such a posture neglects the first two things I have been talking about: friendship assumes a leveling of privilege and an engagement between equals; theological conversation implies a humble willingness to examine assumptions and be open to the possibility of something new and different. When those two elements are in place then I believe we can partner to participate in transformation—our own and that of others, too—by the grace of God. For me, the most satisfying aspect of our pilgrimage to Africa has been the slow partnership that has subsequently developed between our community and an African community in Kenya. This relationship is changing our community, and I believe theirs, too. The relationship is in its infancy and neither of us know what the future holds, but there is a sense that we want to continue and go forward into it together.

Last year, we again traveled back to Africa—this time to Rwanda. While the conversation of the first gathering focused on a transformational understanding and expression of the gospel, the 2008 gathering focused on the theme of reconciliation. You can imagine how powerful and devastating and costly a conversation it was to have in a country that experienced the horror of genocide as recently as Rwanda did. Even so, the space that was created again found itself filled with friendship, reflection, and transformation.

This year, Amahoro will convene its third conversation in as many years. We will meet in Johannesburg, South Africa, to continue developing and deepening friendships, doing theological reflection, and looking for opportunities to partner with God and others towards the transformation of all things in Christ.

In the spirit of Amahoro, that is the spirit of welcome and friendship, we would like to extend to you the invitation to join us this year in South Africa. For more information e-mail: gathering@amahoro-africa.org or visit www.amahorogathering.org.

Tim KeelTim Keel is pastor of Jacob’s Well in Kansas City, Missouri, and an Amahoro Africa board member.

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Welcome to the Reader's Forum

1Gary L:ee Parker 02/25/2009 07:05 PM

Would it not be marvelous if we took this attitude of listening and accepting as equals people with impairments and their families?

2don paul shreffler 02/26/2009 04:01 AM

“Too often, westerners go to Africa to fix something or some group of people. Such a posture neglects the first two things I have been talking about: friendship assumes a leveling of privilege and an engagement between equals; theological conversation implies a humble willingness to examine assumptions and be open to the possibility of something new and different. When those two elements are in place then I believe we can partner to participate in transformation”

this is as powerful a statement as i’ve heard in a long time. it’s not just true for the cultures mentioned above but for believers engaging with unbelievers in any culture or even in our own. no one likes to be a project. no one likes to be preached down to.
3Elaine Brown 03/01/2009 05:40 AM

Tim, I will be in Accra, Ghana in June. I don’t think I will be able to come down to South Africa but will be praying for you all. I have to agree with Don the “Too often, westerners go to Africa to fix something or some group of people.” Oh have I seen this. Look at PPPAfrica.org. They are a great example of teaching a man to fish.

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