In 2008 the citizens of the United States will once again show their infinite wisdom and elect a new president. at this time there are several factors and crises that may influence for whom they cast that important ballot. One potential candidate from the heartland of the republic feels that he has a winning issue. This issue is one he feels could be more important than the Iowa and New Hampshire caucuses. The gentleman in question is Senator Sam Brownback and he feels that ending suffering in africa is a winning issue.
One factor in this strategy, which has already created a unique left-right alliance in both Congress and outside the beltway, are evangelical churches. The reason for the unheralded international cooperation is the long held standard of assisting the poor and down-trodden in society. Domestically this alliance has brought aid in hurricane relief, but it has also brought forth several victories in africa.
Whether it's the struggle to end the long running battle against malaria or combating HIV/aIDS, or even on the issue where they have had the most effect which is Darfur, the evangelicals have done a marvelous job in organizing on both the grassroots level and in building alliances in Congress. This has been most influential in persuading members of Congress, regardless of party to go investigate the situations for themselves.
Sadly, there are two conflicts that have not been a main focus point yet. Concerning the crisis in Northern Uganda there is a rise in churches sending mission trips to aid in the Internal Displacement Camps. The conditions there are horrible as government and rebel forces engage in a brutal war. The camps have been rife with disease and children flee in the middle of the night to keep from being forced to serve in the war. Some evangelicals do support the Museveni administration. Maybe the church can send peacemakers as well to negotiate a true and lasting peace.
The tragic situation in Zimbabwe is not well known to many americans. Those of us that have been active know the litany of problems there. Triple digit inflation, an unemployment that is around 80%, a shrinking economy, a government that rules by fear and intimidation are the tip of the iceberg. Now some church leaders have been very vocal in raising the plight of the ordinary citizen of Zimbabwe. The question is when will the american church rise to the occasion again to help their bretheren.
Recently Senator Sam Brownback, a Conservative from the state of Kansas, returned to the US from africa. He visited the perpetually strife ridden area of Darfur and saw a first-hand account of the UN Mission in the Congo. He said that " his faith calls upon him to help the poor". This is not a surprise coming from a Roman Catholic. He also said that "if you don't help the poor that is a wrong thing to do."
It should be noted that Christianity has exploded in africa. In 1900 there were only 9 million Christians on the whole continent. Today that number is believed to exceed 350 million. Mission trips and the role of missionaries have played a role in this. Many churches in africa have close doctrinal ties with branches in the United States. One can only remember not that long ago when a homosexual priest was ordained in the US, several african branches ended ties with that particular diocese.
Senator Brownback understands better than his peers how the situation in africa appeals to evangelicals. a recent speech by the senator regarding africa was well received in Iowa. It is estimated that between 20 and 25% of the Republicans that are expected to vote in the Iowa Caucus are social conservatives.
In general, foreign aid has not been a winning issue when it is election time. Whether they are Democrat or Republican, a candidate that expresses the concerns of the evangelicals regarding africa has a decent chance of winning. This is a unique alliance in the struggle for Human Rights in the world. It's almost as if Bono has been advising the church leaders. But Senator Brownback does make a great point. He said that this is about saving lives. He also said" the big beneficiary will be the United States. It will change them and it will save their soul."
Scott Morgan writes about US Policy and Human Rights in africa. He lives in Virginia. He can be contacted at scott_morgan_23220@yahoo.com
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