Spiritual growth marks South Africa's transition to democracy

The Scriptures vibrantly affirm the supremacy of God's government. We are assured that citizens who put God first in their hearts and minds will feel His guarding, guiding presence in their daily lives. Through their efforts to live in obedience to God, they can rise above political rhetoric, conflicting ideologies and parties, and even devastating violence.

Nowhere has this been more vividly borne out than in South Africa's first all-race democratic elections in April. (See related article by Dorothy Maubane, p. 11.) Despite many delays and threats of violent disruption, that historic event went ahead, with nonwhites voting for the first time—including the supporters of Chief Buthelezi's Inkatha Freedom Party, which decided to participate at the eleventh hour. Many people, in a nation where 78 percent of the population profess to be Christians, had been praying for a harmonious outcome, and they rejoiced in the spirit that prevailed.

In a telephone interview with the Sentinel, Michael Cassidy, founder and team leader of the evangelical organization African Enterprise, confirmed that he had made a personal appeal to political leaders to humble themselves before God, to forgive each other, and to engender a spirit of calm and tolerance among their followers as a sign of political maturity.

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