I was never a big fan of the book The Prayer of Jabez, thinking it as simplistic, reductionist and naive (but what do you really think, Brian?). When author Bruce Wilkerson moved to Africa (Swaziland to be exact) to try and basically land the principles of the book, many -- including me -- were pretty skeptical. Still, with millions of dollars from the book sales to fund him, one wondered whether it could work. Bruce's "Dream for Africa," launched in late 2002, was a $190 million project that proposed housing 10,000 AIDS orphans on a 32,000-acre complex by the end of 2006. The plan included a golf course, a dude ranch, abstinence training, and the planting of 500,000 small vegetable gardens. Unfortunately, it didn't even come close to working and Bruce has left Africa to "retire" from ministry. Wonder why? Basically because he likely knew very little about how to work cross culturally -- and in the arrogance we Americans are most known for around the world -- he didn't ask or listen to any counsel. As one who tries to be involved in cross-cultural missions work, it is a tragic lessons learned event for us all.
The sad story and some of the reasons why are detailed in an excellent editorial by Christianity Today magazine. Click on this link to read more about it . . . http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/003/13.26.html
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