First and foremost, you need to know that I don't agree with the assumption behind this statement. However, I do understand the sentiment. And I do understand why it is the most common question I get when I share my experiences in Africa. When we see or hear about the miracles that take place on a fairly regular basis in another part of the world, we naturally want to know why such miracles don't take place here. At home. Among those we love and live among. And it begs some deeply troubling questions. Doesn't God love us? And if He loves us, why doesn't He show up like He does over there? Why doesn't He miraculously heal? Or deliver us from demonic oppression? Or raise the dead? Why are these things seemingly so common in Africa and yet so rare over here?
First, prayer. One of the major differences between the American church and the African church (at least in my experience) is the primacy of prayer. Prayer is the first resort in Africa...not the last. I can remember an incident a few years ago where we made the decision to perform surgery on a little girl to remove a mass on her forehead. As we prepared for the procedure, we gave her a local anesthetic to numb the area. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the mass had breached the skull so that when we administered the anesthetic, it went straight into her brain and she died on the operating table. Our doctors and nurses immediately began CPR, trying to revive her. Our volunteers were stunned into silence. As the minutes ticked away, we felt so helpless. Eventually the doctors stopped treatment. We lost hope. But in the silence came the sound of our Ethiopian pastors and translators praying. They prayed with passion. They prayed with faith. They cried out to God to bring healing and to raise this little girl from the dead. Eventually, we all joined them. For about thirty minutes we prayed together over her when, to my great surprise, she sat straight up! She was alive! Breathing! Heart beating! We had her taken to Addis Ababa for follow up. She came back later that evening, her mother reporting no ill effects. The next year her mom brought her to our clinic again. Not for treatment this time but to show us how well she was doing. It was incredible! All because of the power of prayer.
Our African brothers and sisters believe in the power of prayer. Because of the conditions in which they live, they depend on God to answer prayer. Prayers for healing. Prayers for provision. Prayers for protection. Prayers for guidance. We American Christians have learned to depend on ourselves. When we are sick, we go to the doctor. When we need food, we go to the grocery store. When we want to be safe, we find the nearest police officer, firefighter, or depend on our strong military. When we want guidance, we depend on our education or experts in the particular field. None of these are bad things in and of themselves. But the one thing we DON'T do is pray. Unless there is no other choice. Until all hope has been lost. We tend to treat prayer as a "just break glass in case of emergency" kind of thing rather than a first response.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul writes, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Without a doubt, my African brothers and sisters live these verses out in a way that humbles and convicts me. As an American Christian, I fall into the trap of leaning on my own understanding far too often. I have earned multiple degrees. I am blessed by a generous paycheck. The church I have the pleasure of serving is full of people who are incredibly gifted and talented. We have a beautiful building and a gorgeous property. We enjoy a great reputation in our town. All of these things are awesome and I am glad for them. However, the down side is that I too often forget about Jesus. In the midst of all the wealth and privilege and blessing, I can forget it is "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." (Zechariah 4:6)
So I am learning to pray. I am learning to rejoice. I am learning to give thanks. I am learning as I sit at the feet of those men and women who are much further down the road than me spiritually. I am learning about the power of prayer. I am challenged to dedicate a good portion of my day to prayer. To pray with an expectation that God will answer according to His will and His time. I am learning to align my prayers along God's priorities rather than allow my prayers to be shaped by my own needs and wants. It is not easy. My heart and mind are easily distracted. But God is teaching me through my African brothers and sisters and by His grace, I am learning.