Over the years, Africa has often been depicted as needy and underdeveloped. And it's true that one can't ignore the deep and serious challenges to health, safety, and stability in many of its countries. But at the heart of this continent is its energy, beauty, intelligence, and promise.

Those are among the qualities that are helping Africa to move forward. And there are signs of progress. Uganda has reduced HIV cases from 20 percent in 1991 to around 6.5 percent in 2001. In Tanzania 1,000 new schools have been built and 18,000 teachers recruited. Mozambique has reduced poverty from 70 percent to 55 percent and doubled the number of children in school.

There is still much work to do, however. About 300 million people south of the Sahara are living below the international poverty line of $1 a day, and that number is expected to grow to 404 million by 2015. Yet there are areas that are rich in diamonds, minerals, oil, and other resources. The need is to harness the riches of Africa and at the same time overcome these debilitating conditions.

"Why is the African continent poor?" That is the title of a BBC News series. In the first episode, reporter Mark Doyle covered two familiar answers to the question: war and corruption. There are others, of course, and because they are all linked, it seems hard to solve one without tackling all the others as well.

A spiritual approach helps to cut through this difficulty because as one's thought about one's situation changes, his or her thought about all things is uplifted. And when the collective thought of humanity changes, progress tends to follow. But for this progress to be permanent, it can't be just an adjustment of the human mind. Transformative prayer begins with seeing Africa as under the guidance of divine Mind, or God, who is infinitely intelligent. Mind's creation is perfectly balanced, in harmony with itself, contains no fear or confusion. God is continuously caring for His children and guiding them. To ally oneself with this divine Mind is to be able to pray effectively for the world, Africa included.

FOSTER PEACE INSTEAD OF WAR

War is a disease that breeds instability and fear. It degrades men and women, costs millions of dollars needed for other purposes, and blesses no one. In the face of war, a sign of hope is the 2005 report from the Commission for Africa—generated under the leadership of Tony Blair, former Prime Minster of the United Kingdom, and 17 representatives, a majority from Africa. It makes a strong case for eliminating tensions and building understanding before war starts. This can be more readily achieved when people move from believing war offers a solution, to accepting that peace is a more reliable source of stability and progress.

Apathy is often an influence that allows war to spread, but it can be antidoted by an active commitment to good. In prayer for the leaders of African nations, we can recognize their spiritual nature as the children of the one Mind, with its intelligence and foresight. When intelligence prevails, Micah's promise will come true: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Mic. 4:3).

FOR STABLE GOVERNMENT

Those who have studied the path to peace in Africa stress the importance of good governance at every level, and of citizen participation. In some countries, the shadow of colonialism still lingers, and people expect to be told what to do rather than to be proactive on their own behalf.

In God there is no residue of passivity or lack of purpose. All people, no matter which tribe or political group they belong to, have value in the eyes of God, and in His eyes there can be no rivalry among them. Divine law, which has its origin in Love, is unbiased. God's law formed the universe and predates all other supposed laws.

Even when lawlessness seems prevalent, the laws of God, as explained in Christian Science, can bring all people together. "Christian Science can and does produce universal fellowship," wrote Mary Baker Eddy. "As the sequence of divine Love it explains love, it lives love, it demonstrates love. The human, material, so-called senses do not perceive this fact until they are controlled by divine Love; hence the Scripture, 'Be still, and know that I am God'" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 275).

TO TAME CORRUPTION

Distrust of government officials—sometimes for good reason—and reliance on bribes undermine people's faith in their leaders and defeat efforts toward stability. This warped condition isn't natural to the good and true man and woman God created. Recognizing these individuals as cared for by divine Love allows their higher nature to emerge. People can perceive that honesty is more natural than bribes. All people, even politicians, have a spiritual nature, uncontaminated by evil.

Fear, greed, and insecurity—and sometimes an egotistical desire to be "in control"—argue against spirituality, but none of these is true to God's creation. These false attributes are characteristic of the carnal mind, which St. Paul described as "enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). Spirituality is the reality of each individual's being, and supportive prayer can demand to see evidence of this fact.

CHURCH AS A UNIFIER

One phenomenon reported by the Commission for Africa is the conversion of large numbers of Africans to Christianity, usually the more evangelical model, and to Islam, particularly to the very conservative Wahhabi form from Saudi Arabia. There is also a big revival in African religions, including secret initiation societies.

Pointing out ways that religious institutions have been helpful, the report goes on to say, "If the African state is to become more effective it needs to understand what it is about religion that builds loyalty, creates infrastructure, collects tithes and taxes, fosters a sense that it delivers material as well as spiritual benefits" (p. 31).

This statement is especially intriguing in light of Mrs. Eddy's description of Church as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle." This offers a wholly spiritual perspective. To rest on divine Principle is to reject corruption, bribes, indulgence of ego. To allow Truth and Love to structure one's life and career is to discover honesty and affection in ever greater measure.

That description continues: "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick" (Science and Health, p. 583).

In practical ways, churches are already showing "proof of their utility" in Africa. To give one example, in Ethiopia, a change in policy by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church freed farmers from certain restrictions, and this has led to a 20 percent increase in productivity.

That spiritual sense of Church described in Science and Health will shape thoughts, aspirations, and ultimately outcomes. Within the structure of Truth and Love, violence and corruption cannot exist. Under the reign of divine Principle, government must be stable and intelligent.

In countless unseen ways, prayer for Africa can reverse and stop negative conditions across the continent—and to that end, everyone's prayers are needed. Perhaps a starting point might be to choose a specific African country to follow in the news, and to pray for the resolution of its particular problems. Or maybe prayer will be inspired in some other way. But every time we think of Africa as in the loving hands of God—and feel the meaning of that in our hearts—its people will be blessed. |css