Churches cleanse looted funds, fail in spiritual mission

Those accustomed to fighting despotic, repressive regimes are frequently reminded by their detractors that they are fighting a losing battle. Yet those who persist in the struggle are only too aware that they can only do their best without any illusions about impact or success. We are only planting seeds that will produce a harvest at a time we don’t know but we trust that God knows.

That is not to make little of our efforts. An image that theologian Walter Winks frequently uses is that of the church – or change agents if you like - as a bulldog that sinks its teeth into the hind legs of the elephant. It will never bring the elephant down but it can so distract the elephant’s attention that if fails to notice the elephant traps and falls in.