On Social Action and Evangelism
A review of "Piercing the Night: A life on the edge in post-Amin Uganda" by H. Eberhard Roell
Aiming at Sunny from the pitch-blackness outside the house into the semi-darkness inside, the gunman eased back on the trigger. The shot exploded screen and glass. The name on the bullet was Sunny but the trajectory spelled Kelvin. He was knocked over with a violent jerk. His scream pierced the night as his blood was splattered on the surrounding area. He was still alive and conscious but in bad shape (pg. 232). Would Kevin survive?
This was just one amongst several similar experiences Eb will bear, witness, and survive, alongside his colleagues in some part of Africa.
(There is a call to respond to in the post script, at the end. You should read to the end, though it's quite a long piece).
Quick Facts
1. About 400 autographed copies of this book were distributed for free in Jos by the author.
2. The distribution involved touring some literary communities in Jos like Jenta Reads Community Library, 50 Pages Library, and Tudun Wada Community Library.
3. The distribution was done on four separate visits by the author and his friend, Thaine Norris (alongside their families) from the U.S., residing at Jenta community.
I am reading this book for the third time since receiving it in 2018. I read it once every year except 2020. If your reading interests resembles mine, this is enough recommendation.
The Book
Across 344 pages, sectioned into four parts, Piercing the Night is a collection of experiential narratives of a man who sets out to pierce through the darkness hovering a people who are victims of assaults caused by selfish agendas and other undesirable circumstances. Following a reconnaissance journey by hitchhiking through Africa for five years (three for his wife) in the 1970s, Eb responded to the needs that called out to them during those five years. In July, 1980, Eb and his wife commenced their adventure in Africa. Besides living to the commitment in response to the call upon the couple during their first visit, Eb's proposal, on his second date with Debbie, reads:
I told her those three little words and, indirectly, asked her the big question: "How would you like to go on a six month honeymoon around the world?" (pg. 37).
Wondering what her response was? Solve the puzzle: 'If you saw a couple hitchhiking in Nebraska in the fall of 1975 with a sign that read "AFRICA", that was probably Eb and Debbie Roell' (pg. 31).
Eb encountered many trying moments during the period of his work in Uganda in the 1980s, when the nation was still suffering from the impact of its selfish leaders culminating from Idi Amin. It is very important to note how Debbie crystallises in every narrative rendered through out the book. She was a help meet, indeed; she was always there to provide every support and encouragement she could offer, "trusting his judgements" even when they don't always settle well with her. I mean, who goes hitchhiking from the West through West Africa for honeymoon as a better alternative for the promise of travelling the world, even though due to commonsensical reasons? Only a partner who is the missing part, ensuring compatibility. You simply can't but revel in the beautiful imageries of these love birds in service to the Lord painted across these pages. (Ensure you don't rush pages 36-37 when reading.) Debbie simply journeyed alongside Eb to accomplishing purpose.
Eb's mission in evangelism was definitive, especially in action. The clarion call to meeting the needs of the whole man (body, soul and spirit) was his motto as inspired by a statement attributed to Samuel Moffet:
"There is nothing quite so crippling to evangelism and social action as to confuse them in definition or to separate them in practice" (pg. 50).
In the cities where he was resident during his service, you find him helping in ensuring social order and security, providing better learning conditions for the children in that area, even hauling mails from the post office, miles away, with his car for the community and rendering taxi services as well, all at no cost borne by the people. Just a response to The One who has sent Him--Jesus.
The book is rich with vital information on varied issues around faith, history, politics, and social development. I learnt from the highlights of the colonial history of countries like Rwanda and Uganda; that is about the former been colonised by Belgians and the latter by the British. The additions from his and Debbie's letters and diary entries emphasises the need to have such information preservation systems of experiences in one's lifetime. I imagine how this project would have been created with such preciseness had the author not recorded information accurately and preserved it properly.
Recommendation
Anyone interested in humanitarian works, community service, evangelism, outreaches, especially for the believer, this is a useful manual filled with real life illustrations of what the call to making disciples (Matthew 28:18-21) entails in practicality.
Conclusion
Through the tumultuous moments, you still find a thankful Eb in the end:
Life in Uganda was not easy for both of us, and it was a nightmare for our Ugandan friends. We tried to meet both spiritual and material needs. To the extent that we succeeded, it was a rewarding experience for our whole family. Our children, Karsten and Misha, have travelled in over forty countries but Uganda has remained their favourite. Debbie, my faithful companion in sickness and in health, wrote to me on my sixty-sixth birthday: “To the love of my life: Thank you for asking me to go with you on a honeymoon around the world. It has truly been an adventure these thirty-one years” (pg. 250).
To get a copy, contact: Walking Together or Lengdung Tungchamma
Post Script:
Here is call to join in making this Christmas a memorable one for three secondary school leavers who asked me questions I think Rick Warren has answered extensively in his book The Purpose Driven Life. I want to gift each one of them a copy of the book. Each copy goes for about N1,000.
If you wish to help make this possible, send me a DM on WhatsApp via: 09028838362.
This runs from now to Thursday, 23rd December, 2021. I will keep you updated on the process, God willing. Thank you!
A noteworthy detail from the book: 'Always intent on setting new personal records, exploring further and penetrating deeper, I was a stamp collector and no philately. The stamps I collected were put into my passports and opened the world to me. Some may attribute this drive to an upbringing that had deprived me of foreign travel. Perhaps, AS A HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT, I felt the need to prove myself "worldly" wise'(pg. 275).