AEA Holds Talks With Barnabas Aid International In Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr Master Matlhaope held a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, with Barnabas Aid International CEO Dr Hendrick Storm, Barnabas Founder and Director Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, Director Rosemary Sookhdeo and International Project Director Caroline Kerslake on the 27th of September 2022.
Barnabas Aid International is a ministry that makes known the persecuted Church’s plight by sending financial support to projects that help Christians who suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution due to their faith. In this way, the ministry witnesses the love of Christ and builds His Kingdom. AEA General Secretary had an opportunity to share AEA’s Vision of “The Africa that God Wants. AEA’s long-term vision suggests a central role of the church in influencing policy and societal engagement for transformation. It is a call to leverage the continent’s massive resources of its people, land, geography and natural resources for the continent’s advancement.
The vision is about evangelism, Church engagement, evangelicalism, alliance engagement, advocacy, and integral mission. According to the world watch list, over 360 million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination worldwide. With 19 countries out of the total 50 listed, Africa tops the ranking of countries where Christians face the most persecution, and although the reclusive state of North Korea leads the pack— for the 20th year in a row the list shows that in many African countries, believers fear openly exercising their faith. Thus, AEA has intentionally prioritized programs on prisoners and refugees, advocacy on matters of religious extremism, vulnerable children, relief and development, peacebuilding, youth empowerment, theological education, technology and media to realize its long-term vision.
During the meeting, areas of possible collaboration explored included potential partnership on response to victims of violence, extremism and injustices, relief on basic human needs of food, water and health, cooperation in our responses to natural disasters of earthquakes, locusts and others with an emphasis on working through church structures in the continent.
