After a quick trip out to Arizona, where I enjoyed beautiful weather, palm trees, and intensive conversations around political polarization, I have a day to catch my breath before heading out to New York City for an incredible gathering hosted by Jacqui Lewis, the Freedom Rising Conference, where I’ll be joining folks like Obery Hendricks, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Robby Jones, Melissa Harris-Perry, Kaitlin Curtice, Danya Ruttenberg, Nelba Marquez-Greene, and many others. But before I unpack and repack my suitcase, I wanted to share some news that I’ve been waiting to share with you all: Jesus and John Wayne will soon be available in Swahili and Luganda translations, in order to reach East African audiences!
As you may know, the influence of conservative American evangelicalism crosses borders and boundaries, and often with pernicious effects—especially when rigid teachings about patriachy and purity mix with similarly rigid and hierachical local traditions. Conservative evangelical media and money pour into African churches, and so the hope is that this book can offer a case study as African faith leaders discern how to respond to this influx and how to chart a different way forward.
In addition to translating the book, the plan is to distribute books in Swahili and Uganda among faith leaders and study centers, with future plans for possible TV and radio series. The translation will be undertaken by Crossing Lines Africa—Uganda, a ministry in partnership with the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.
This entire effort is not for profit. I won’t be making money off of this, nor will the publisher. Rather, I’ll be supporting this effort personally to help ensure that translators are well compensated and to facilitate the production and distribution of this book, and I’d love to invite you to join me in this.
To contribute, click here, which will take you to the giving page for Baptist Peace Fellowship. Then choose the amount, and, in the drop down menue under “Gift Designation,” choose Crossing Lines Africa.
Thank you for the many ways that you support this work, and thank you for considering this special way to raise awareness and foster much-needed alternatives in the East African context.
Good news. I appreciate what you're saying about the influence of American evangelicalism abroad. In looking back to my experiences in Central America, Mexico, and East Indies the pernicious influence of American evangelicalism was there before me and I couldn't have recognized it. I was in the system and believed it was good and right. In this phase of my development, I'm trying to help folks question not only these missions, but the ideas they carry into them. For instance, "Why do you believe El Salvador is safer under Nayib Bukele? And for whom?" They've been led to believe the gang members have been brought to heel, but it's just not true and ignores the threat of authoritarianism for the very young people the mission-goers profess to be helping. It is indeed complicated.
Ala!!!! Nimefurahi sana sana! Ni vigumu sana kupata vitabu kwa kiswahili! Na habari hiyo inapaswa nchini kwa afrika kwa sababu kuna tatizo la kuchanganya siasa na dini pale pia.