[Sly Fox]

From an Illinois fishwrap:

Friday, September 22, 2006 12:05 PM CDT

Woman shares Christianity in Africa

By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@mchsi.com

CLINTON -- Jackie Elmore has lived with an African tribe the past several years in an effort to share her Christian beliefs.

But she bristles at the word ‘‘missionary.”

“I don’t like the term missionary. It can mean, ‘You’ve come here to force me out of my culture.’ I want to lead people to Jesus through their everyday lives,” Elmore said during a recent visit with family in Clinton.

The 24-year-old returned home after a two-year stint in a village near Tanzania with African Inland Mission International. Elmore was the youngest of 10 missionaries who lived with villagers who practice folk Islamic traditions, a mixture of tribal beliefs and Islam.

The approach Elmore and other team members took in working with villagers follows their belief that the journey to God frequently begins outside the walls of a church.

“Some people believe if they walk into a church, they are Christian. They think you have to give up your culture, your dress. We don’t believe you have to become a Westerner to be a Christian. I want people to know they can follow Jesus out of who they are,” said Elmore.

Elmore learned the tribal language, wore traditional clothing and immersed herself in the day-to-day lives of villagers. She has encountered witch doctors who offered to chase the evil from her modest home, and turned down marriage proposals from well-meaning villagers concerned that Elmore’s social status was threatened by being single.

Members of the New York-based mission agency help to improve the living conditions of tribal members.

“Everyone has at least a seventh grade education. They would like better resources for their schools. In grades one through seven, they speak Swahili and after that, they learn English. That’s a struggle that our team is trying to help with,” said Elmore.

The challenge of AIDS

Life is simpler in the African community of about 200 people.

“Their needs are a lot less than here. They are very self-sufficient and get good health care at a clinic,” said Elmore.

The African women weave mats, make pottery and gather the maize and fruit that provides an ample food supply. The men work to earn money for things like sugar and other supplies.

The challenges facing much of Africa are evident in the Tanzanian village, including the struggle to treat and ultimately prevent the AIDS virus.

“AIDS is just starting to show itself in our area. The question for the people is this: will your knowledge of this disease result in a change in your behavior?” said Elmore.

The first hurdle for missionaries was coaxing villagers to talk about the AIDS crisis. After a rapport was established, a dialogue developed that included lifestyle changes that could prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

“It’s not enough to say you have to stop dangerous behavior. You have to earn the right to be heard through relationships that are built and getting to know the person,” said Elmore.

Road to Africa

Elmore grew up in New York, one of the youngest of 12 children. As a child, she considered herself shy and dependant on her family.

After her freshman year at Liberty University in Virginia, she attended a mission conference and stopped by the table offering opportunities to serve in Africa.

The political science major eventually accepted a six-week assignment in Namibia with AIM. “While I was there, God called to me and said he was changing my course,” said Elmore.

After graduation, she returned to Africa in 2004 for two years and plans go to back later this year after she raises financial support. The experience of living in an African village has changed Elmore’s view of what it means to be a Christian — and the importance of relationships.

“The culture and the way they value time has made me look at things in a different way. They have a saying, ‘Hurry, hurry but there’s no blessing in it.’ It’s the journey, not the end that counts,” said Elmore.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006 ... 554529.txt

You might find the comments attached to the bottom of the story worthy of a read even if they are primarily insipid.

[Jasmen8182]

My pastor mentioned the relationship thing this morning; there was news abt. spanish women-predominantly Catholic culture... converting to Islam. He heard abt. it on NPR; for the few min. listening in his car, there were a few interviews. The key reason given for the conversions was knowing a friend who got them involved in Islam.... We should be leading people to Christ with positive relationships- that's basically what he was saying.