So You Want to Dig a Well in Africa?

As you pick up this book, let me give you a spoiler alert. It is not about digging wells. It is not about Africa. It is not even about digging wells in Africa. So, what is the point of this book? And why the title? Let me explain.

Today more than ever, the world has become a smaller place. With digital connections via the internet, we can send information to the outermost corners of the world with the click of a button. We can leave home and fly almost anywhere in the world within 48 hours. Literally, the world is at our fingertips.

In one sense, this accessibility makes it easier to do missions. Our current generation holds great potential, ability, resources, information and passion to help people in need around the world, and our churches are leading out in this endeavor. The church is listening to its members who want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They want to get their hands dirty doing a tangible project to help those in need. It’s not just a millennial thing. More and more churches today are saying, “Let’s not just give to and pray about missions; let’s do something!”

As these churches launch cross-culturally into foreign countries, a question is continuously emerging: “Are the things we are doing actually helping the people we want to reach?” When we (the church) go to Africa and dig that well, does it really help people? The going and the digging satisfies a deep longing in our hearts. It gives us good stories to tell our friends and colleagues back home and even might give us a warm, fuzzy feeling on the inside because we’ve done something good. We work hard, develop a two to three-year relationship with a person and/or a community, turn over the project (well, school, orphanage, etc.) to the people, and then move on to another missions project. But what happens when we leave? Did our project help the community in a long-term, sustainable way? Is building a well in Africa the best strategy for creating lasting, systemic change? And, more importantly, is what we’re doing changing lives for the gospel?

Consider this scenario: we meet someone from a different social status or even a different country. We become drawn into their story, wanting to help meet a perceived need. This compassion leads to discussion, visiting this person’s home or country, and perhaps beginning long-term ministry there. We set up an organization, get a board of directors, begin promoting the cause. Ten years down the road, we find ourselves passionately involved in and promoting a school or orphanage in country ________ (you fill in the blank). Soon, the project becomes our life and ministry.

So, the question is valid: Is the work we are doing really missions? Or is it ministry that could be done anywhere? These projects help people and make us feel good about ourselves. They also give us great adventures to share and stories to tell. We can report back to our churches with the numbers of homes we built, how many children we fed, and how many goals we accomplished on our trip. But was missions carried out—and was it done in a positive way?