The Dark Side of Africa

Monday morning I received a wake-up call, in more ways than one. A good friend who works with the mission, Joel, called me and said his wife’s 12 yrs. old niece Cici, who lives with them, had been missing for a day. What struck me was his shaky voice. His fear wasn’t as if she had run away, but that she was missing... in an African sense. From time to time, people (too often children) disappear without a trace and are never found again.

Many generations ago, many people groups in West Africa occasionally practiced human sacrifice, often a child, to the spirits of this world. With the colonization by European countries in the 19th and 20th centuries, human sacrifices were banned and the practice ceased (for the most part). These were replaced by goats and sheep and people were content with it. But over the last 12 years, things have been getting tougher for Ivory Coast, with several coup d’etats and a civil war reeking havoc on their economy, and people have been searching for answers. Unfortunately, some have looked backwards for those answers... and slowly the number of people going missing has risen in recent years.

This is the darkness I heard in Joel’s voice. This was my real wake-up call. It wasn’t my first time hearing about it, but like so many things, it got pushed to the back of my mind. After all, so many of the Africans you meet are wonderful and kind people. I enjoy chatting with them about their day and family. They are genuinely thankful for each visit. It’s easy to forget the darkness that lies within their hearts. That’s not to say that they are inherently evil, but fear grips them and guides their lives day in and day out. For me, it was a stark reminder that though the ministry of bringing physical healing to people is essential, the greatest need is healing the darkness within the human heart.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12) God reminded me of the power of hope found in Jesus’ life-giving light. Later in the day Cici was found safe at the home of her slightly deranged aunt. God had heard our prayers and the scores of others praying back in America. May we pray equally hard for the hearts of the African peoples that they might receive the light that gives life.