Before I left South Africa for Washington my youngest daughter asked me why I had to travel so far for breakfast! After 18 hours in Economy Class I thought she had a point.
I was invited to the NPB by my friend Garth Collins whose modesty prevented him from explaining in detail, what was awaiting me on the trip. Garth, a dedicated follower of Jesus, has been providing small groups of African politicians and businessmen with faith-based support to promote ethical leadership for many years and has attended NPB’s periodically over the last 30 years.
I met and set off with the irrepressible Wits Student Leader Mbuyiseni Ndlozi whose razor-sharp intellect was camouflaged by a smile like a full-moon in a clear African sky.
Given that Africans generally - and many others around the world – aren’t impressed by America’s involvement in Iran and, that according to Bono they have not lived up to their development aid commitments to Africa, I had mixed feelings about the trip. I also confess to being puzzled as to why a self-employed, ex-businessman and ordinary member of St Columba’s congregation in Parkview found himself in the company of religious leaders, high-ranking politicians and businessmen from around the world.
This was the 56th successive event attended personally by the incumbent President of the USA which underlines how seriously it is taken.
We kicked off with a two-day retreat in Winchester kindly hosted by Ken and Bob which enabled Africans from 10 Countries to recover from jet-lag, build friendships, and discuss issues of faith and challenges facing the African Continent.
The Hon. Simeon Ginindza was the fourth SA delegate, a huge man with a huge faith who joined us in Washington.
Garth commands tremendous respect in an extensive USA and African network. His standing was underlined by the fact that he secured a private audience for us with NPB co-chair Senator Mike Enzi; a privilege not accorded any of the other 3500 attending the event. Senator Enzi is in charge of PEPFAR (the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and has visited SA to get a first hand view of what action should be taken to address HIV/Aids. The budget of PEPFAR has recently been doubled.
While Garth and Simeon had dinner at C-Street (a home-from-home for Senators and Congressmen) on Capitol Hill I was hosted by Pepper Bullock whom I am told was a “Jolly Green Jumper” in the Vietnam War, a person sent in to rescue pilots behind enemy lines. Other fascinating people at this dinner were Dale Jones an executive of the Case Foundation, (Steve Case was Founder of AOL and his foundation uses technology to promote social causes) focused on providing clean water throughout Africa using bore-holes driven by Children’s merry-go-rounds, and Perrine Dufoix, head of a foundation aimed at promoting relationships between France and Israel, using the arts and social development.
Before the NPB we attended a breakfast hosted by Senators where African leaders spoke about their respective countries. In particular the Vice President of Kenya gave his perspective on his country and asked especially for our prayers. We had the great privilege of listening to Burundian President Nkurinzize who spoke with humility about the transition from 10 years of bush war to democracy and how he formed choirs to re-engage the many young people who had been his soldiers in the war. His priority has been to build schools and clinics. Burundi used to have the worst record of pregnancy mortality. It emerged that Garth had played a pivotal role in resolving some of the conflicts in Burundi on their road to democracy. He was trusted as a man of faith.
The day before the NPB we attended a lunch addressed by Rick Warren author of the leading best seller “Purpose Driven Living” and Sami Anwar a follower of Christ from Palestine who was forced into a refugee camp after his Grandfather was shot by a sniper. After being educated in the US he has gone back to Palestine and created “the Holy Land Trust” dedicated to resolving Middle East conflict through disciplined peaceful action. Sami spoke about his organization living the concept of “loving your enemy” through getting to a point where you can share their hopes, fears joys and sorrows! His disciplined peaceful protest actions have been seen to reduce heavily armed soldiers to tears.
Much discussion takes place between formal meal-time functions, e.g. the Middle-East suite was a-buzz with some of the interesting people I met: Carl Mediaris who studied Middle Eastern History and lived as a Christian social worker in Palestine for 15 years. Carl introduced me to Shayk At-Tariqa, head of the 3-million strong Sufi Movement in Sudan. The Shayk spoke with reverence about Jesus as a prophet and the expectant savior and claimed that the Nativity was most beautifully depicted in the Koran.
The common bondage of faith unites the NPB attendees in a remarkable way, unlike trade shows and business seminars that I have attended where a large portion of time is spent explaining credentials and “sizing-up” potential partners. The first meeting starts with a conventional hand-shake and the second, with a huge hug! I felt understood, where at home, living my faith was more often than not seen as eccentric.
Africa took centre stage at the event with the Key-note speaker, Ward Brehm (Chairman of the US based Africa Development Fund) sharing the podium with President George W and Mrs Bush. Ward follows an eminent list of previous speakers such as Bono, Chairman of the Human Genome project and Mother Theresa. He has written a book “White Man Walking” about his experiences of African Poverty and wilderness. Ward and the President used humour, faith, brevity and deep concern for poverty to produce one of the best combination speeches I have heard.
I sat next to the Haiti Ambassador to the US and William Armony ex CEO of The United Way a USA Charity that raised over US$3billion a year. He belonged to a small support group including an ex Attorney General and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. William spoke of how he had reduced the annual expenditure of state penitentiaries by 60% through introducing restorative justice principles after personally engaging prison life.
We were all impressed by the huge commitment to Youth Leadership by senior politicians through mentoring, internships at the Capitol, and seminars. Equally serious is the commitment to small groups.
Fierce rivalry between Republicans and Democrats on “the Hill” is legend and yet every week numerous small groups of 8 to 10 people, including both political parties, meet to share and grow in their faith and to discuss their deepest personal challenges and to provide mutual support in an environment of complete trust. Deep personal relationships based on faith are capable of overcoming any ideological differences.
The African contingent finished the NPB with a guided tour of the Capitol buildings with Congressman Coleman, followed by a dinner hosted by Senator Jim Inhofe, who has undertaken multiple (one a year for the last 10 years) trips to Africa and has encouraged numerous Congressmen and Senators to take a personal interest - a huge personal commitment for a US politician - which will surely translate to the benefit of many Africans in the future. I had the privilege of sitting next to Ronald A Tschetter the Chairman of the Peace Corps and his charming wife Nancy. About 200 members of the Corps are currently deployed assisting our Dept of Education.
Needless to say my perception that American politicians do not care about Africa, was significantly altered on this trip. A truly remarkable experience!
Rob Taylor
March 2008
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