tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post7867126284605546614..comments2023-08-15T14:13:25.881+01:00Comments on The Simple Pastor: How to help Africa?Phil Whittallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924050376023993196noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post-64231958250231562042008-11-25T15:30:00.000+00:002008-11-25T15:30:00.000+00:00It's true that corruption remains one of the bigge...It's true that corruption remains one of the biggest factors holding Africa back - not the only factor, but a more significant one than more PC commentators like to admit. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately you're right, the church in Africa has failed to tackle this. Even as a Christian charity working with Christian partners, I've bumped up against this with work, with back-handers and even bare-faced stealing. It's so difficult to deal with, especially since the response is so often that the ends justify the means, and the bribes are paid. <BR/><BR/>There are no easy answers, but we never paid a bribe in Madagascar, in the 17 years that my parents worked there. Sometimes things didn't happen, sometimes we just had to wait months until the officials holding out on us just got bored, but if you can't get something done honestly then it shouldn't be done at all - not in God's name anyway! <BR/><BR/>Incidentally, I'm reading two interesting books on African development at the moment and comparing them - The Bottom Billion, and The White Man's Burden. Both very good, and very different in their conclusions.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03460284175163566034noreply@blogger.com