I think of the situation in Colombia where in the last 20 years hundreds of thousand of innocent people have died and over 3 million have become refugees because of civil war. Now the guerrillas have asked evangelicals to help broker piece with the government. Why? The leaders of guerrilla movement have observed the evangelical pastors in the area of the country they control and have said these pastors live and die with the poor. We can trust them. The Colombian government agrees and wants the evangelicals to help as well.
I think of Godfrey, who risks his life everyday to care for victims of the civil war in Sri Lanka. While providing care for the suffering on both sides of the conflict, he boldly speaks out against the human rights violations and atrocities conducted by both parties in this civil war.
I think of a church in Kampala, Uganda. Every week, each of the over 1,000 small neighborhood groups care for HIV or AIDS impacted families in their community. It is not very sophisticated. Providing a piece of fruit, cleaning house and just spending time with a dying person to show they are loved and have dignity as they lose their life to this dreadful disease.
I think of Salim, an Arab evangelical Christian in Jerusalem (talk about a minority among a minority) who is committed to reconciling people in his part of the world. He takes Israelis and Arabs into the desert for a five-day camel trek. Over 1,000 people have taken this trek, and in the wilderness, have been able to have dialogue and confront their own prejudices and find various degrees of reconciliation.
Then there is Darfur. Sudanese evangelicals at great risk are providing care and sustenance for thousands impacted by this senseless genocide.
You multiply these stories by the tens of thousands around the world and you begin to get another picture of contemporary evangelical faith. However, much more needs to be done in world of conflict, pain and struggle. It is my hope that as the story of William Wilberforce is introduced to a whole new generation, we will see rising tide of heroes and social activists. Not just among evangelicals but among all people of good will.
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Geoff Tunnicliffe is International Director of World Evanglical Alliance.
