The peculiar post-colonial situation in much of sub-Saharan Africa today results in Westerners, who have a unique grasp on what Africa is trying to achieve, being held in awe when they visit African communities. This awe and the implicit power contained in their ethnic identity means that special efforts are needed to enable Westerners to work with the grass roots and to avoid being unintentional advocates of the prosperity gospel. When the means to ‘success’ by Westerners are unavailable to Africans this can result in traditions of work and ministry advocated being inaccessible to the African population. Cultural differences arising from underlying dualism (the West) as against monism (Africa) are especially in focus. The practice of mission using indigenous languages and resources by at least some Western missionaries is advocated as the necessary way forward and out of this conundrum.
