Identification and the Role of the Missionary

Abstract

Christianity is in trouble in Africa, in large part because of problems with the role of the missionary. Missionaries too often disdain African culture or show respect for ulterior motives. For effective communication, identification is essential. This is not simply a physical outward conformity, but a full and sympathetic entering into the life of others in an act meaningful in itself. Barriers include ethnocentrism, fear of the loss of personal identity, withdrawal into a segregated “missionary culture,” and the dominant role of the missionary in too many relationships. Personal qualities required for identification include health, intelligence, empathy, autonomy, judgment, and creativity. The author concludes by exploring motivation and the practical implications for an effective approach. He stresses that the right attitudes must be established from the start of the missionary's career while the situation is still fluid enough to be guided.