Creating Wealth by Harnessing Opportunities in Africa: God’s Way to Multiple the Assets in Your Storehouses
by Lauri E. Elliott, Nissi Ekpott, Hartmut Sieper
Published by Conceptualee, Inc. at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Lauri E. Elliott, Nissi Ekpott, Hartmut Sieper
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Table of Contents
The following is a list of the chapters in this book:
Chapter 1: Introduction – “Africa Rising” Prophecies
Chapter 2: The New Africa: An Emerging Manifestation
Chapter 3: Glaring Opportunities: Urbanization, Agriculture, and ICT
Chapter 4: Gold‘en’ Opportunities in Africa
Chapter 5: African Consumer Markets: An Emerging “Gold” Mine
Chapter 6: Transforming the Christian Faith Network for Business
Chapter 7: Leveraging Trust Networks
Chapter 8: Closing: Challenges and Navigating the Path
Appendix A: African New Economy Workgroup (ANEW)
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Preface
In 2007, I watched Africa Open for Business [1], a BBC award-winning documentary produced by Carol Pineau from Washington, DC. It showed ten African businesses from ten countries, randomly selected, hard at work, and succeeding against many odds. It contradicted most perceptions of Africa. I got a copy and traveled with it to the United States.
I showed it to friends in Iowa. The reactions were intense and varied. The Americans watched with interest and asked many questions. Some of the Africans burst into tears of joy - at last someone was showing Africa in a new light.
Two weeks later, I was traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town in South Africa. I had been booked to fly economy, but at the boarding gate the airline benevolently upgraded me to business class. I took my seat, tucked myself in, and then turned to say “hi” to the lady beside me. It was Carol Pineau!
I knew God had ordered our steps. We talked at length about the documentary and reasons behind it. The meeting made an impact on both of us. I got the sense that Carol saw a new future in Africa, and was working intently to show the world this future and also to be a part of it. I left knowing that things God had previously spoken to me about the African continent were unfolding.
Since then, the global focus on Africa has grown significantly. Some believe the Africa Open for Business documentary played a key role, but long before this, the Lord had indicated Isaiah 60 to me as a key word for Africa. I had also met several people who had independently received the same word, in addition to other dreams, visions, and prophecies. God had shown many of His people changes - restoration, wealth, business, peace, and increase in the knowledge of Him.
Carol Pineau's documentary helped me shift from just having a prophetic expectation to applying practical, wisdom-filled, Spirit-led steps in the area of business, which would allow us to harness these expected changes.
The prayers and labor of the Church are key contributors to most of the changes we've seen already. The Western Church, over hundreds of years, has invested tremendously in Africa. And eventually, the African Church has come into a season of unprecedented growth.
We believe the Church should lead the transformation in Africa, and this can only be achieved by taking hold of the visions received in the closet, and coming out of the closet to establish them in practical ways. We believe the Church has the power and grace to touch every sphere of life across the continent, until the words come true that “… the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (King James Version, Isaiah 2:2).[2]
This book is designed to help readers achieve the shift from prophetic expectation to practical, Spirit-led application. Our desire is to stir up, and see practically involved, believers in the body of Christ - those who've already received conviction about Africa's restoration and its role in the future. For those who've had no inkling of God's plans for the continent and hear us, we encourage you to go to God in prayer and receive guidance.
This book primarily targets Christian business people. But, we believe everyone should read it.
We hope that as a person of God, who is reading through these pages, you will share our belief in the continent and take practical steps to partake in the wealth, in all its facets, that this continent holds.
Also, we hope the Church will be able to shift from a focus only on aid to Africa, to a place of investing in viable business ventures, which is the only way to release wealth.
And, we hope that as Christians invest and contribute to change in Africa, they too will find God's transforming power to change their lives, grow their faith, and make them more like Him. Through our collective investment, Africa will be prepared to play its God-given role as a place of refuge, abundant provision, healing, wisdom, and restoration to a hurting world.
Our sincere thanks to all those whose support has made this book a possibility. We are not able to mention all your names, but as you read this, you'll know who you are because you have invested directly, or indirectly, in the lives of the authors and producers of this book. True success is usually a collective effort. May God water your life abundantly.
And finally, thanks and praise to our Lord and King, Jesus, for without Him nothing is possible and in Him all things are possible.
Nissi Ekpott
January 11, 2011
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Foreword
by Sipho Mseleku, President of the Pan African Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Creating Wealth by Harnessing Opportunities in Africa is one of the few excellently written and well-researched books on exploring business, trade, and investment opportunities on the African continent. It is unique in that it focuses on the Christian community.
It delves deeply into Africa’s present, future, and the “kairos” moment for Africa to take its place as a leading citizen of the world, spiritually, socially, and economically. As Creating Wealth points out, Africa’s vast economic, as well as trade and investment, opportunities remain mostly unexplored.
The book is also anchored on sound biblical and spiritual principles and values while carefully exposing Africa’s magnificent economic potential among the nations of the world. The book makes us understand God’s plan for Africa’s restoration and its pre-eminent place in the future political, as well as socioeconomic, global landscape.
Africa is a large continent, has vast natural, mineral, agricultural, forestry, water, and energy resources, and a growing consumer market. This presents great opportunities for business and economic development, which will result in Africa being able to exert political influence globally.
This book will be a powerful guide for Christians and global businesses intending to invest and expand into Africa. The book is also a powerful tool in the hands of African businesses to realize what God has bestowed in Africa and how they can tap into the opportunities presented by Africa for the betterment of all.
We, at the Global Business Roundtable, are privileged to be associated and working with the authors – Lauri, Nissi, and Hartmut.
Sipho Mseleku
President, Global Business Roundtable
Chairman, Global Fund for Christ
President, Pan African Chambers of Commerce and Industry
About the Global Business Roundtable
The Global Business Roundtable is a platform and network for business people from various backgrounds and religions to come together to network and exchange ideas on business, career, and professional development. Its primary focus is on complete development of a person, including business development, skills development, wealth creation, estate planning, networking, mentorship, business and procurement opportunities, as well as spiritual development.
http://theglobalbusinessroundtable.ning.com/
About the Global Fund for Christ
The Global Fund for Christ (GFC) is a fund established in line with a mandate given by the Holy Spirit in 2007. It focuses on the upliftment of poor people in developing communities in underdeveloped regions around the world. GFC develops assets for education (e.g., building schools, providing educational training and infrastructure). It will also focus on health care, poverty alleviation, food security, and job creation projects.
http://www.globalfundforchrist.com
Pan African Chambers of Commerce and Industry
The Pan African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) is a continental chamber, representing 53 African countries. It is the single largest business body on the African continent. Its role is summed up in this phrase, “The voice of business in Africa”.
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Chapter 1: Introduction – “Africa Rising” Prophecies
by Hartmut Sieper, Lauri Elliott
We (Hartmut, Nissi, and Lauri) want to welcome you to the journey to explore and engage with Africa. It’s an amazing place filled with amazing people and potential.
The road for Africa, and those associated with it, has not typically been an easy one. It has been paved with pain and danger, disappointment, upheaval, and conflict for many. But the misery of yesteryear has started to turn into magnificence. I (Lauri) love the passages, “…weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:4) and “He hath made all things beautiful in his time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
We look forward to sharing this time of joy and beauty for Africa with you.
Streams of Prophecies about Africa
Hartmut’s Introduction to Africa
I still remember the day when the Lord drew me (Hartmut) to Africa for the first time. It was in a very difficult season of my life; when I fervently prayed to the Lord and asked Him to show me His divine purpose for my life.
In a cell group of my home church in Frankfurt, Germany, I suddenly had a subtle thought as the Lord whispered to me, “What would you say if I sent you to Africa?” I was very surprised, because as an investment professional I did not have any connection to Africa. And, I was convinced that the negative headlines of the mainstream media were true. Nothing could be further from my personal situation and occupational perspectives than Africa. I also didn't know any African at the time. So, I forgot about that.
Two years after that incident, I realized that the commodity markets had entered into a new secular bull (positive, growing) trend. (Secular trends last for decades.) Africa as a resource-rich continent came to mind.
When I was sitting before my globe on one rainy afternoon, I recognized Africa as the last white spot on the investment landscape of the world. I had the gut feeling that global emerging markets investors would ultimately shift focus to Africa. It should be the right time for bold entrepreneurs and investors with foresight to invest in countries like Angola, where a long civil war had almost entirely destroyed the country's infrastructure. Doing so, follows the advice of Baron Rothschild to buy when there is “blood in the streets.”
At the same time, the Lord started to instruct me about the future of the world financial systems in general and the key role of gold in particular. In 2004, I decided to write a book about the future collapse of the financial system and how to best prepare for that inevitable development. For many months, I worked on the table of contents and tried to combine both the secular world and the prophetic perspective. I couldn't get a clue, so I thought the plan wasn't from the Lord.
My kairos moment as an author came later. In 2007, I got the idea for another book, about investing in Africa. This time, writing the table of contents for a book of 500 pages took me only four hours.
A few weeks later, I arranged a meeting with the publisher of the most renowned publishing company of financial books in Germany. I presented my book concept to him, and after 15 minutes he agreed to publish the book and to cover all costs that would be involved.
So, I felt the favor of the Lord on me. It took me four months to do the necessary research and to write the book. It was the first book about investments in Africa on the German-speaking book market and it opened many doors.
In 2005, I followed the advice of the Lord not to buy any stocks. That was a huge challenge for me, because dealing with stocks had been my profession for more than 20 years. Instead, I started buying physical gold. In those times, God spoke to other people as well about accumulating wealth in gold. Looking back from now to that decision to shift from stocks into gold, I am very grateful to the Lord since gold was one of the very few asset classes that had not been negatively affected by the world financial crisis from 2007 to 2009. As a matter of fact, the precious metal’s price more than doubled.
Two years later, I joined the International Christian Chamber of Commerce, ICCC, and attended the annual general meeting in Altensteig, Germany in 2006. At that time, I learned that God is the God of the last minute. Just four days before the conference actually started, the Lord downloaded the business concept of Trans Africa Invest to me. It was an overwhelming experience, as I saw many puzzle pieces moving together into a powerful picture.
I quickly prepared a presentation of the basic business concept, and shared my vision about bringing investors from Germany to African markets to the African delegation at the conference. Within the next three days, I met some wonderful business people from various African countries, who are now working closely with me. In 2007, I made my first long reconnaissance trip through Africa and founded the company of Trans Africa Invest in Germany, as well as our first affiliate company in Zambia.
As I was a very new member of ICCC, I didn't know about the special role of Africa within the organization. I learned that some profound prophecies on Africa turning into a new season had already been given, and that bringing business and investments into the continent of Africa could well be a fulfillment of these prophecies.
Africa in the Global Marketplace
Indeed, over the last 10 years some prophecies suggested that Africa would play a vital role in the global marketplace. Humble believers from all over the world got revelations from the Lord, which stand in stark contrast to the average perception of Africa as the forgotten continent full of poverty, crime, diseases, civil wars, and widespread underdevelopment.
Let's take a look into some of those prophecies and learn about God's picture of Africa and His plans for the continent. It is breathtaking and mind blowing. It is the opposite of what the world thinks about Africa. Be prepared for some radical paradigm shifts, which will be outlined in subsequence chapters of this book.
Gunnar Olson, the founder of ICCC, prophesied in Johannesburg in 2000 that Africa will arise:
Africa - this is your kairos moment; therefore arise, and take your destiny.
Africa - be released and accept your divine mandate from heaven.
Africa - your shackles of slavery, poverty, limitations, idolatry, paganism, discrimination, exploitation, servitude, perversion, discord, ancestor worship, Satanism, and all evil is crushed.
Arise! Arise! Arise!
Africa - bring forth your sons and daughters who will arise and take their rightful place among kings, princes, and nobles of the earth. Let them execute the righteousness of God, and advance the purposes of God to bring healing, prosperity, and manifestations of majesty, excellence, and glory.
Africa - the Lord will build a highway of holiness and righteousness, and everyone who walks on this highway will find refuge, strength, and purpose.
Africa - all the nations of the earth will come to marvel at your wisdom and glory.
Africa, oh Africa - the deepest fountains and resources of heaven that have been hidden in your belly because of the deeds of evil men, are now breaking forth because of the remnant that has regarded the will of God higher than the opinions of men.
Africa - Arise! Arise! Arise! For God has risen upon you and your enemies are scattered.
When these words were spoken, something happened in the spiritual realm. In his prophecy that was given on his visit to Ndola, Zambia in July 2002, the Afrikaner prophet, Andre Koetzee said.[3]
…I saw in a picture God blowing on the ground of Ndola and Zambia. As He did, dust and sand were blowing away. An old foundation was laid bare. These are ancient plans God has had since the beginning of time for this place. He’s revealing and bringing them to the fore once again.
And I saw the airport, with big new hangars being built. There were lots of airplanes - big and small - flying into Ndola. Hundreds of people kept coming off those planes. They are God’s children, sent by Him. They stay in your homes. You house, feed, encourage, and support them. Then, you send them in groups on planes to different countries all over Africa. You send them to different countries and to unreached places.
I felt the Lord say, “My purpose for you is to reach Africa. You will be a landing strip, a place of launching ministries from the South of Africa to the rest of Africa.”
And the Lord says, “Don’t worry about resources. Your riches and supplies will not come from America or other countries anymore. They will come out of THIS ground, out of THIS place. For I will reveal resources you never knew you had.”
So prepare yourselves, your households, your lives. Some of you will be leaders among these groups.
The Lord says, “He has saved Africa for last.” He says, “Africa is my precious jewel I’ve saved for last. And Africa is coming to the forefront. The jewel of Africa - its people - will be revealed.”
He’s lifting Africa up above all other continents in the world. He’ll do a thing here never seen anywhere else. People will stream from ALL OVER to Africa to see what the Lord has done. They will come to find God, to find revival, to find fire, to find redemption in Africa.
“The Lord has saved Africa for last.” Wow, what a thought! I remember that the Lord told me something similar, when some Christians talked to me that the very last days of the end times have begun, and that Jesus Christ would return very shortly. From my perspective, we cannot know the day or hour of His return. Jesus states that very clearly in Matthew 25:13, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (New International Version).
There is another reason why one should be careful to predict a soon return of Jesus. How could our Savior return at a time when He had already blessed all nations and regions of the earth at one time or another, except for Africa? Could he forget Africa? To be honest, I cannot believe that. It is somewhat logical to assume that the Lord finally would bless Africa abundantly, before the second coming of Jesus.
Another biblical verse popped into my mind, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (New International Version, Matthew 19:30). Can it be true that Africa, the forgotten continent, will be placed before all other regions of the world? Africans have suffered so much in the last centuries.
The former president of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba, received the following Word from the Lord on June 30, 1999, and spoke it out in the State House during negotiations for the peace of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
My People Will Rise Again
The door is wide open to you my people.
For long for so long for ever so long, you have languished under a heavy yoke of suffering, pain, and agony.
You have been oppressed. Despised as the scum of the earth, treated by all as nothings.
You (have) gone about your narrow pathways with your heads bowed low.
But a new day has dawned when my people will rise again.
For I am pouring my glory in a fresh new way upon the people of this continent. I am raising a horn of salvation for them. I will make all of you glorious in my sight and (others).
For you have turned your heart towards me, you have forsaken the ways of your forefathers. You have inclined your ears towards me. For this reason, I am raising this people to new levels of glory, honor, and power. I am obliterating your shame.
How Zambia, as a nation, was born is an interesting story. When David Livingstone, the famous traveler who was also a missionary and philanthropist, “discovered” this region for the Western world, he fell in love with the country. Before he died in 1873 at Bangweulu Lake in today’s Zambia, he dedicated this place to God. Following his commitment, “My heart is in Africa”, his heart was taken out of his corpse and buried in African soil. When Zambia gained independence in 1964, the nation was founded as a Christian nation.
Beyond all worldly thoughts and economic considerations about the future of Africa, we as the body of Christ must also take spiritual revelations into account. Africans, as well as African Americans, much better understand the reality of the spiritual realm than white people normally do. So, Africans should build on this God-given strength rather than following the worldly view of neglecting or minimizing it.
Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide oneself through business life and all issues that have to do with money is a wise decision and foresighted approach. Being guided by the Holy Spirit includes trying to see Africa from a godly perspective. This perspective is very different from what the world thinks about Africa. A good way to start with the new perspective is to consciously recall the paradigm shifts and new mindsets we will share in the following chapters.
Transfer of Wealth
Many things have been said about the transfer of wealth from the world into the Kingdom of God. Christians from all over the world have been looking forward to seeing this happen in reality for many years. However, things were moving more slowly than expected by most believers, creating disappointment and discouragement. At a prophetic conference in Colorado Springs in 2004 that I attended, Peter C. Wagner made an interesting statement when he talked about transfer of wealth: there must be enough humble servants in place in key positions of the marketplace, before this long anticipated process actually can start and be sustained.
The following remarkable prophetic words over business in South Africa were received by Derick Botha, Chairman, ICCC South Africa, Agriculture Domain, on August 6, 2006:
It is important not to be tied up in a Western way of thinking where the only alternative to capitalism is seen as socialism. Neither of these systems will work in Africa. There is a new way of working and functioning that the Lord wants us to discover for Africa, but He first wants us to stop filtering everything through our westernized paradigms of good vs. bad and profit vs. loss. This is not the way God wants to work in Africa because the moment you start investing into society and community - laying down your business to invest into people lives - there is profit.
This economic era is drawing to the close and there is a new reality coming in which accountancy-based thinking of profit and loss will be replaced with a new thing God is doing.
One of the hidden values in African culture is the value of communication, shared meaning, and connecting. This represents a new way of functioning because it is not about the bottom line; it's about people, connecting, and having a relationship.
The Lord has a new way of thinking and, if we go into Africa with the idea of saving the “Dark Continent” with our wonderful ideas, we are going to miss it because it's a mutual thing that is happening. As the Lord sends us to Africa, He is actually sending Africa to us to bring a change in the way we think and the way we function and the way we do things. God is going to take us into a brotherhood and partnership and a new way of functioning.
Africa will receive a new philosophy of business, social structures, development, wealth, and quality of life. This new philosophy will confound science and technology and the Western and Eastern paradigms. The Lord will raise the African academics up with a new way of incorporating what He is into the way people think and do.
Surely, it is not easy for Westerners to lay aside the way of thinking that we are accustomed to. It is a challenge to look at Africa in a new way. In order to do something new in and with Africa in the realm of business and investment, being guided by the Holy Spirit, you have to leave the beaten track. By moving out of your comfort zone, you might be thrown into a truly adventurous environment. Brave men and women, be honest with yourself. Isn't this something that you have a desire for deep in your heart?
Derick Botha continued:
A new principle and standard will come forth in Africa saying that firstly the African people must benefit before any company is allowed to benefit. New laws and legislation may be put in place that will enforce this. We will not see any more that most of the riches leave Africa to benefit the other countries of the world before it benefits Africa.
The riches God has placed in African people all over the world, where they are in the diaspora, will be returned to Africa. He is bringing back Africa's children from all over the world where they were sent to be strengthened. Many of them are frustrated. They long for Africa, but fear that due to the poverty and corruption in Africa, there is no space for them to function in their callings. The Lord is cutting off this lie.
…
Even within Africa, the Lord is sending exiled children home to their nations with the riches they have gathered. They will come back slowly, but surely. Financial disasters in the West are about to destroy the things the exiles build their lives on. The exiles will return with the riches of the world in their heads. The Lord will bring them back to Africa and establish systems through the knowledge they have. They will have integrity.
The Lord is coming against the shame in the African people that have left, and giving them godly pride for their nations. The Lord will bring them back with pride and delight, with gifts and callings, ministries, and skills. With pride, they will begin to build. The Lord says Africa is something, Africa is important to God. His focus and attention is on Africa and on the children of Africa.
Children of Africa
I strongly believe that Africans in the diaspora will play a vital role in restoring and developing sound businesses in their home countries in Africa. They will bring home not only new ideas and the knowledge of the developed world, but also capital and the ability to change things in Africa. As they know both worlds, the Western environment of their host countries as well as the traditional thinking in their home countries, they are predestined to function as connecting links and gateways.
Chad Taylor, who prophesied on Africa at Victory Christian Fellowship, Fresno, California in February 17, 2008, also mentioned the children of Africa returning home:
Africa - mighty nation of kings and princes - the Lord says to Africa, Rachel, weep no more. Your children are coming back to their borders and every anointing that was forfeited, sold, and stolen on every foreign sea shore will return to your continent a hundred fold in this lifetime, in this lifetime and the life to come. For I see Esau coming back to Jacob; I see the army of Esau and all his lambs and sheep; I see the wealth of Esau coming back to Jacob; I see the Queen of Sheba coming unto Solomon.
I see the wealth of the wicked returning, returning to the shores of Africa and you will rebuild the old waste places and the cities that have been ashes God will raise up before your eyes, even like a new Jerusalem. God will raise up a city, God will raise up a continent, and God will raise up a nation even in a day.
…
Great charity will break poverty and Africa will become a storehouse to the nations. Storehouses filled with new manna and new bread and other countries in the next decade will come to Africa to fill their bags and fill their ships. I will completely turn it around for all things work together for the good for those called according to My purposes and my purposes are coming into fullness, fullness.
Africa - Storehouse of the World
In line with many other prophets, Chad Taylor mentioned that Africa will become a storehouse for the world. This element can be found in many prophecies on Africa. From a business point of view, this can really happen. From a prophetic point of view, it will happen. And from a global point of view of a sustainable world, it must happen. Within the next 20 years, 2 billion more people will be on the planet Earth and have to be fed.
The world food systems use just-in-time methodology, meaning food resources cover less than three months of the world’s demand. There are huge challenges awaiting us. We simply do not grow enough food for all people. Growing energy crops will increase the food shortage even further.
The good news is that there is still plenty of land that can be cultivated. Africa is the continent with the highest productivity reserves in the world. 60% of the unused arable land worldwide can be found in Africa, according to the McKinsey Global Institute.[4] Tremendous opportunities in farming, ranching, and food processing are waiting for bold entrepreneurs. By making unproductive land productive, the value of the land can be increased easily, instantly leading to a higher company value.
The following prophecy was given at Kaniki Bible College, Zambia, on January 30, 2004:
I surely want to turn this land into a bread basket. People far and wide will see what I do through you and for you and marvel at my ways. I will gain fame through you, great renown in the entire land of Havilah. I am releasing great riches. My storehouse is open. My bounty is freely let loose. I am pouring it out upon the land.
According to scientists, the country of Zambia alone with 12 million people living in an area of the size of Texas, could easily feed more than 100 million people if the land is cultivated with Western methods. However, agriculture and agribusiness are very capital intensive. To unlock the agricultural resources of big African countries like Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and both Congos, massive investments have to be made. As so often, big challenges are connected with big opportunities.
Prophecies on Specific Countries
Dr. Chuck Pierce prophesied in Lusaka, Zambia in 2008 on Zimbabwe:
I'm here to announce to you that because of this meeting tonight and because of the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, in eighteen months God will have turned that nation upside down. And I'm here to tell you, eighteen months from today, watch how God starts developing a strategy and a structure to turn that nation upside down. Look out for how He will begin to rearrange it, for the glory of God will sweep from this boundary into Zimbabwe.
Shortly after that prophecy, Zimbabwe turned upside down in reality. A new government of unity had been formed, bringing President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the opposing party, Morgan Tsvangirai, as prime minister, to share power in this nation. The hyperinflationary currency of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Dollar, had been abandoned in March 2009, giving way to a multi-currency regime with the U.S. Dollar and South African Rand, as commonly used legal tender. Since then, inflation is under control, and the economy quickly regained momentum.
While the Western world is on a downward path in financial, economic, and spiritual terms, Africa is on the rise. Interaction between the Western world and Africa is about to change radically. This might lead much further than most people would expect.
A positive and surprising outlook was given to Catherine Brown on January 20, 2010, when she had a powerful dream.[5]
I saw again the continent of Africa, and understood I was looking down through many centuries of time into the past. I witnessed nations come from the West to enslave Africans and my heart was broken.
Then an amazing thing happened in my dream as we transitioned to present-time revelation: The "tables were turned" and the one who had formerly been enslaved was now no longer a slave; and this African person reached out in mercy to the one from the West who had made them a slave, and immediately bridges of mercy appeared all over Africa.
The release of mercy caused Africa's borders to extend as bridges of God's mercy, sent to reach the nations. The bridges speak of African Believers anointed with the mercy of God to bring restoration to those who are now enslaved to sin in the West. Africa grew in size in my dream as God's mercy was extended - this speaks of the advancement of God's Kingdom on earth through the ministry of African servants of the Lord.
God spoke to me by His Spirit and said, "The Enslaved shall become the Emancipator." Under the anointing described in Isaiah 61, African Believers are being sent out to the nations to bring deliverance to Western nations who are now entrenched (and thus enslaved) in sin.
It is my firm belief that this is God's kairos time for the West to receive Africa's anointed, end-time leaders as they are commissioned to serve God's purposes and plans in the nations. As I shared the dream and its interpretation, I prophesied that Africa had entered her sovereign timeline for revival and would experience an exodus of redemption.
It is my sincere conviction that Africa is a gateway continent, which means that whatever is bound and loosed in Africa, will therefore be bound and loosed on the earth. Through Africa, the West can receive blessing or cursing, depending on who is doing the binding and the loosing!
If the Church in Africa will rise up and take her place in divine destiny, God is going to release mighty waves of His redemptive glory through African ministers and ministries that will bring transformation to the nations.
God not only speaks through dreams and prophetic words, but He also demonstrates his presence through manifestations and natural signs. A big white cross appeared in the blue sky in Kenya after a conference on doing agriculture God's way in Nairobi in 2007.
This cross appeared at Naivasha, on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway in the Kenyan Rift Valley. (Photo by: Okotch Mondoh)
Some of the participants made a trip through the Rift Valley in central Kenya. When they prayed, they saw the cross. The same incident happened some years ago, when some members of the same group gathered in a prayer meeting in Moolmanshoek, South Africa.
Africa, America, and a New Economic System
Lauri’s Introduction to Africa
My (Lauri’s) experience is like that of Hartmut. Africa was never on my radar as a destination, even though I am African American. My academic studies included history and political science focused on Western Europe, including the Western Mediterranean. I found that I loved studying this sphere.
About eight years ago, I decided to take a shift in my life and move to southern Europe on the Mediterranean – Spain, Italy, or France. At this same time, I started to take a deeper dive into the Bible, including the historical context and stories behind God’s Word. I began to see the lack of understanding I had about the Eastern Mediterranean, including Israel, so I thought that I would travel to Haifa to study for a period of time.
This life had no purpose to it, so God interceded. At the time, a friend in the military was stationed in Egypt and I thought this would be as good of a place as any to start my new life. I even made connection with a Christian organization, which provides education for thousands of children in Egypt to help them develop curriculum, as my profession was instructional design and organizational development.
This never happened because I got cold feet at the time. I didn’t see how I would have enough to support myself. I had expected to work on projects remotely, but nothing transpired. So, even though I had a ticket, I chickened out.
This was in the spring of 2004. I remember the agony I felt for the next month. I cried out to God. I was ashamed that I had chickened out. But during this time, another colleague began to share his experience with South Africa and plans to move there later in the year.
It was then that I began to do more research about Africa and learned of the plight of Africa amidst the riches found there. Being a systems-oriented person, my thought was that the poverty there was a man-made problem, which is true. Centuries of colonialism, imperialism, slavery, and oppression are the roots of the poverty in Africa today.
So, I moved to South Africa in February 2005 on a leap of faith. That leap of faith took me from prosperity to poverty. I learned what it was to be without a home, not have enough food to eat, and to be an outcast. I learned what it was like to have people try to use you as a slave for your skills and intellect.
But I also learned that I had a lot that had to be changed within me. I could not go as a Western “savior” to a land given to others and dictate how things could be done. I couldn’t believe that God intended that any human being dominate others. There were other things about my character that needed a lot of work.
I had a lot to learn and it wasn’t a pretty road. It’s not a road I would wish on my worst enemy in fact. But even in this dark time, I found wonderful, supportive, and helpful Christian brothers and sisters in South Africa.
Through it all, God gave me clear revelation about Africa’s place in the world from an economic perspective, as well as strategies and practical insights to catalyze it. In the following section, I share the prophetic revelation God has given. And, we (Nissi, Hartmut, and Lauri) share the strategies and practical insights God has given us, as well as knowledge He has allowed to come our way, in the rest of the book.
Experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: Africa - A Start for a New Economic System (2006-2008)
Africa is one of God’s hidden treasures that will be leveraged to bring economic justice to the world. Africa is a key epicenter for the “new” Kingdom-based economic system, which God is strategically establishing to bless not only the “true” Church but the nations. Africa possesses a significant purpose and position in God’s vision for the last age.
I want to share what I understand of God’s vision for Africa and how He is manifesting it at this time. But more so, I want to tap into your spirit and witness your mind transform, so that you see with your heart how God is calling you to work with and for Africa to bless the world. This talk, this sharing, speaks of both the prophetic and the practical.
The Bible says that God does nothing without first telling His prophets. It also says that the men of Issachar understood the times (1 Chronicles 12:32). The hand of God we see working in current events has been declared beforehand. He also wants us – His people – to understand what He is doing. I would like to share some of what I understand concerning Africa and its impact on the world economy.
I will weave these revelations together for you through the lens God has given me as an African American living out her purpose in Africa. Let me share a little of my heritage. I was born during the Civil Rights Era in the 1960s in Michigan in the United States. My parents were still living out racial/social injustice, even though we lived in the Midwest in the United States. As their child, I received all the benefits from struggles and victories of the Civil Rights movement and my parents. I was brought up in a nuclear family with parents that supported and loved me, gave me an excellent education, and open doors of opportunity that they never had. God blessed me with a wonderful family and life. I would never trade the childhood God gave me. My question to myself was, “if I experienced the fruits of the Civil Rights era, what am I to do in this generation and leave for the next?”
This year (2008) marks the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death – the passing of another generation. So, what is God doing in this generation? It would seem that since Martin Luther King there has been “a wilderness” concerning justice for all people. What could God be asking this generation to do? I am totally convicted that God is calling those born during the Civil Rights Era, American or otherwise, to pursue a new movement for justice to touch people everywhere.
Psalm 82:2-5 (Amplified Version) says:
2How long will you [magistrates or judges] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
3Do justice to the weak (poor) and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy.
4Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked.
5[The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.
But our mission is not the same as the past generation. They fought for racial and social justice; we are to fight for economic justice. This is a key movement in the next wave of God’s hand, or direct intervention, in the affairs of men. As the foundations of the earth were shaken by racial and social justice movements then, they will be shaken again and are being done so now over economic justice.
Once you begin to grasp this revelation, it is important that you understand what justice means. Justice simply means setting things right. Today, economic injustice is mostly characterized by economic inequity – the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer in a systematic, deliberate way.
I believe that Martin Luther King had a glimpse of God’s vision concerning economic justice and began the work that his death put to a stop. When he was killed, King was headed for Washington, DC to do a similar rally for the poor that was done for civil rights. The irony is the place he was killed – Memphis – was an unscheduled stop.
While he was starting in the United States, it seems his heart was to bring relief to the poor everywhere. We now have a call and opportunity to carry this forward like Joshua did in the place of Moses when he caused the children of Israel to take possession of their Promised Land (Joshua 1:6; Joshua 23:14).
God has shown a key to unlocking and releasing economic justice. Satan is using distraction so that we expend most of energy trying to tame the existing world economic and financial system. We spend so much time, effort, resources, and money to this end. God says He is creating a new thing (Isaiah 43:10) – a new economic system.
This new economic system can be designed to benefit all and realize the Kingdom of Heaven manifested on earth. This is much more productive than chasing a system that is now showing the rottenness of its roots and is imploding itself. This past year has been light for all of us, but perhaps painful for many with the economic and financial crises, particularly in the United States.
We can create a new economic system, starting small but built for sustainability and rapid growth. As it grows, it will overpower the existing world systems. In addition, as the world system continues to roll back its control over territory, God’s ordained economic system naturally takes possession of those territories.
We can see this principle in God’s creation – vast, dense forests. The forests started as individual trees that started as seeds which grew into mature trees which were able to reproduce. In fact, the Edenic and Abrahamic covenants reveal this process – be fruitful, multiply, replenish, and take dominion.
Again, I need to take a side line to clarify the concept of dominion. The word “dominion” causes some to bristle and others to shout “hallelujah.” Myles Munroe explains what dominion means so well. Freedom, or “free to dominate,” according to God’s Kingdom is free to dominate the unique space or purpose God has given to you on this earth in His service and that of people. Freedom, or free to dominate, does not mean controlling or dominating people.
In fact, when we do this it becomes sin. In fact, the world system illustrates this. Through its perversion, it is designed to control and dominate people, placing them in bondage and oppression. We can certainly see this in our political, economic, and financial systems.
In essence, this “new” economic system is an instrument to serve God and people. It serves as a tangible vehicle for seeing the Kingdom of God in action on the earth while blessing the people of the earth. The Lord is using and blessing Kingdom-minded people like you and me, as well as Kingdom-driven organisms like the African New Economy Workgroup (see Appendix A).
I pray at this point that what I have said connected with your spirit and you see one of the “what’s” of God’s vision for this time. Now that we understand some of the “what” and “when”, we need to explore how God is choosing to do this. This is where Africa comes in the picture as a key instrument in this “new” economic system.
I came to Africa – South Africa – in 2005 with an understanding that God was going to use Africa as a key seat of power to demonstrate his Kingdom on earth. He essentially sent me ahead to position me for my purpose as well. He showed a vision of prosperity for Africa – one which was recently born.
Imagine the tree King Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream, which represented His Kingdom (Daniel 4:10-12). Like this tree, the “African” kingdom has “food for all in it” and “all flesh is fed from it”.
My first specific re-collection of this vision came when the words “Africa will save America” came to my spirit and I began to speak it to others. Of course, this sounded ridiculous to most at the time, particularly when speaking financially. However, in the current environment, it no longer seems so ridiculous or impossible.
I believe that God has allowed the massive potential of Africa to benefit the world and do good to be hidden for this appointed time. The United States and the West (the Church included) have pumped trillions of dollars in development, aid, etc. into Africa in the past century, which seems to have yielded little significant impact economically.
This has fed an image of Africa as a child that needs to be taken care of and one perhaps that will never stand on its own. In fact, Africa is known as the “Dark Continent.” When you check satellite images of the earth at night, showing the illumination of lights, Africa literally sits in virtual darkness.
But, our God is amazing. God kept one of his most precious jewels for a time when it would make the most significant impact.
While there is no escaping the world financial crisis in the developed world, particularly in the West, the extent to which the crisis hits Africa has a lot to do with how Africa responds to the crisis. The World Bank says that even in a period of recession for the West, the average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Sub-Saharan African countries should remain around 6% over the next year. (Sub-Saharan Africa actually maintained a GDP between 4% and slightly over 5% between 2008 and 2010.)
Large Western firms and investors are still sending people to investigate and take over major economic opportunities in Africa. The question is are we going to just stand by and let this happen when we can use the same African potential to create economic justice for everyone?
It’s important to understand what I call the “Africa Rising” revelation, which you can see from Gunnar Olson’s prophecy, many others, and what was revealed to me, is beyond any one person or organization.
The biblical text passage, which is the basis of this revelation, is Isaiah 60:1-5. First, this passage speaks of a time when strong darkness covers the earth. We are in one of those periods now. The world financial, economic, and market systems are imploding.
There is a restlessness or dissatisfaction among massive numbers of people in how their countries and lives have been governed. (One recent example is the mass protests in Tunisia, which led to President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali stepping down after over 20 years. Some believe this will lead to a wave of Arab governmental shifts.)
Second, this passage speaks of God shining light, or glory, during this time upon Jerusalem. Jerusalem means place of peace. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which does not mean a cessation of conflict but completeness – nothing missing. As Africa grows strong and pre-eminent during this time, it will not be just about economics and social concerns, but first spiritual.
This is a part of the revival we have been waiting for. This is an opportunity to see the Kingdom of God come to earth first through the spirit of men, then through the minds of men with the mind of Christ and finally in a physical, self-sustaining system designed to bless all people like the Garden of Eden.
Third, the passage speaks of the glory of Jerusalem drawing everyone to it - drawing sons and daughters (Africans by heart and those in the diaspora) and Gentiles (those not considered part of the household) who want to be part of the blessing. If we look at our spiritual family, it represents the millions of Christians everywhere.
Fourth, the passage speaks of the wealth that will be brought to Jerusalem by these people, who are gathering together. In the context of Africa, it is people and organizations bringing their treasures – money, resources, talents, ideas, innovations, and strengths - to Africa to bless it. In doing so, Africa becomes a blessing to the rest of the world.
This is where we begin to see how Africa fits into God’s paradigm of a new economic system. As blessings are released to create an economic system, blessings are released through the system to people in Africa and around the world.
Structures Developed to Follow Prophecy
I used to head a company called Shujaa Intermediary Network Consortium (SINC) in South Africa, which is now a division of my company, Conceptualee, Inc. in the United States. The SINC division’s mission fits well with God’s purpose for Africa:
To bring people and resources, inside and outside Africa, to create, nurture, and grow a sustainable continental ecosystem, which is inclusive of all who live on the African continent economically and socially. This is accomplished through implementing for-profit ventures and economic systems that are linked together, work synergistically and synchronously across the continent, and place people as the foci.
This has moved to another level by the establishment of ANEW, which has the sole purpose of catalyzing such an economic system. While it is an innovation of God, it is designed to include anyone who connects with the vision – both Christian and Non-Christian.
A lot more can be said of what this “new” economic system is, what it will do, and the outcomes, but this talk is just to share the vision and find out if you are one of those who will bring your wealth – all that you are (spirit, mind, and body) to bless Africa so Africa can bless others.
And finally, in the midst of the global financial crisis while the West was struggling, Africa did arise and its position in the world started to become more visible. We will explore this in more detail in the next chapter.
Conclusion
We (Nissi, Hartmut, and Lauri) recognize that what we have said and will say in the remaining chapters is a lot to process at one time, but whatever strikes a chord with you meditate on that and seek the Lord’s revelation.
What we do understand is that God has many more servants like us in place to see and work with the “Africa Rising” anointing, or mantle, if we can call it as such. It is an anointing that will touch the entire world and bring hope, healing, and prosperity to the broad society, or nations.
As a reader of this book, you may have a role to play, however small or great. Ask yourself and the Lord about your destiny, the divine task that the Lord assigned to you, and Africa’s place in them. From a practical side, there are many things that you can do, such as:
Embrace the vision of Africa as a promising investment destination and a business hub with a bright future.
Gather and share information.
Make your knowledge and experience available to Africa and Africans.
Start a business, or invest, in Africa. Establish new trade routes to or from Africa.
Tell your boss that there are good opportunities in Africa.
Connect people.
Write an article.
We look forward to meeting, connecting, and working with you on this journey.
Go to table of contents
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Chapter 2: The New Africa: An Emerging Manifestation
by Hartmut Sieper, Nissi Ekpott, Lauri Elliott
This chapter reflects the fast changing paradigm called Africa. The first decade in the 21st century saw Africa push forth on the international scene as a place of light instead of darkness. Many of you will be amazed.
Economic Transformation on the Continent
While private wealth in developed nations struggles to recover from the economic crisis, the situation in Africa is remarkably bright. Africa, the colorful continent that consists of 53 nations (soon to be 54 nations with the secession of Southern Sudan from Northern Sudan) has prepared the stage for abundant wealth creation in this decade and beyond.
Major paradigm shifts can be observed in the world that will dramatically change current patterns and shape new global economic situations. First, Europe and the United States are quickly changing from stability to instability, having started with financial uncertainty, now moving to economic problems, and later even to political insecurity and social unrest if not contained. Africa, on the other hand, will become more stable and will be considered less risky in the future. The view of Africa compared to the rest of the world will balance out.
Second, while media still lags behind in sharing positive headlines about Africa, there is a shift to more holistic reporting. The more success stories that are told about Africa, the more potential investors will pay attention to Africa as an investment destination that is worth considering.
Third, more African political and economic leaders are promoting foreign direct investments instead of development aid. They want to attract serious businesses and sincere investors to their countries. Companies and entrepreneurs are offered many investment incentives.
The classic concept of helping poor African nations by granting credit and donating goods and money is not the Africa of today. For example, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan stated, at the G8 African Leaders Outreach at the G8/G20 Toronto Summit in June 2010, that his country would prefer removal of trade barriers over aid.
Therefore, development aid will successively be replaced by investments. In fact, the process is well underway. Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the continent reached $88 billion in 2008, according to the annual African Economic Outlook.[6] This was double the figure, provided by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)[7], of $44 billion for net official development assistance (ODA) in 2008.
Fourth, today’s Africa speaks for itself as a compelling investment case in six areas – macroeconomic stability and economic reform; low inclusion in world financial systems; fewer conflicts; abundant resources; a large, growing, under tapped consumer market; and a growing number of emerging versus developing economies.
Macroeconomic Stability and Economic Reform
This is the Central Bank of Mali in Bamako. (Photo by: Hartmut Sieper)
The macroeconomic situation is favorable. Short-, medium-, and long-term growth can be expected for most countries. Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2010 is estimated at 5%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[8] In 2011, growth is forecast to reach 5.5%. Compare this to a growth forecast under 3% in Western economies, according to the Global Economic Prospects 2011[9] by the World Bank. In fact, expectations for Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth exceed those for global growth (3.3%) overall.
Also, governments have demonstrated strong commitment to economic reforms, which has resulted in improved legal frameworks for investors and companies. A good example is the introduction of one-stop shops that allow foreign investors to found companies in a few days, compared with the norm of several weeks or even months. In Rwanda, you only need three days to launch a company. To found a company in Botswana from Europe, one can do all the paperwork at the London office of the Botswana Export Development and Investment Agency (BEDIA).
Low Inclusion in the World’s Financial Systems
Africa’s low inclusion into the world’s financial systems, which was considered negative in the past, is now revealed to be a blessing. Toxic assets have not found their way into balance sheets of most African banks. Asset price bubbles, fired by credit inflation, could not develop because of limited availability of loans and high interest rates. There is no excess liquidity in Africa that could have led to artificially high prices. Where asset prices are high, the main reason is a combination of elevated demand and lack of supply. Africa has shown an impressive robustness against the world financial and economic crisis.