A Christmas Wish

I never realized the value of traditions until I entered a culture with completely different traditions.  I praise God that he connected us with a few families here who are sharing North American traditions with us in the midst of an African setting.

As you celebrate Christmas, I encourage you to cherish your family and your time together.

Contrary to my comments, Jesus doesn't seek from us traditions or religion.  He simply wants our hearts and devotion.  He wants us to love him as deeply as He loves us.  To serve Him as sacrificially as He served us.  To truly become His disciples.

When Jesus was asked "of all the commandments, which is the most important?”, He responded, "The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

Merry Christmas!

What is "Middle Class" in a Third-World Setting?

Today, I was reading a BBC article entitled "Wage inequality 'getting worse' in leading economies". While doing so, I began thinking about wage inequality in "trailing" economies.  One sign of a strong and stable economy is a large and vibrant middle class.  In my host country in West Africa, there is a huge chasm between the rich and the poor.  This begs the question, "What is 'middle class' in a third-world setting?". 

As part of presenting a holistic Gospel, one of the goals of BAM should be to help people rise above the cycles of generational poverty.  In a third-world setting, there are generally two classes and "middle" is not one of them.  Rather than jump on the class warfare bandwagon and rant about the powerful and greedy rich holding the lower class of society in the muck and mire of poverty, I am seeking solutions that can create a culturally-fitting middle class.  


Let's be honest, in BAM, our goal should not be to recreate the "American Dream" in all tongues, tribes and nations.  Without getting into a deep missiological discussion, I propose that third-world BAM practitioners should provide the means and an environment that fosters spiritual, physical and economic health to those we serve.  Creating a thriving third-world middle class should not include goals of driving a nice car, eating from an overflowing cornucopia of food options or owning a spacious home.  However, it should include providing the beneficiaries with financial access to safe transportation, a healthy, balanced diet and sturdy shelter that discourages sickness.


What do you think are the traits of a culturally-fitting middle class in a third-world setting?