A Missionary Cooperative Plan Reflection – Advancing Justice through Mutual Learning

After ten years with the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), I had the opportunity this year, in the month of April, to participate in the Diocese of Erie’s 2026 Missionary Cooperative Plan (Mission Appeal) on behalf of AFJN’s mission. Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers, AFJN Executive Director, and I spent a weekend visiting four parishes in the rural Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Reflecting on my experience speaking in these parishes, I came to a deeper understanding that a Mission Appeal is much more than fundraising. It is an opportunity to share AFJN’s mission of advancing justice and empowering African people to be agents of change in their own communities. It is also an opportunity to educate people about the realities and struggles of African people and communities as they work for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Most importantly, Mission Appeal created for me a space for interaction, mutual learning, and listening to hear people in rural America share their own experiences, concerns, and struggles.

I was deeply enriched visiting these parishes. I was thrilled to celebrate the Eucharist with the parishioners, enthusiastic to share AFJN’s mission and the need for their financial support and pleasantly surprised by how eager and open the parishioners were to learn more about the realities of life in Africa.

The question from the parishioners both during the engagement inside and outside the church, demonstrated a genuine desire to understand the truth about Africa. I was excited to provide the information and perspectives they were seeking. I was equally grateful for the opportunity to listen to the individual parishioners shared their own stories, struggles, and concerns with us. These conversations are evidence to me that mission is not simply about one giving to the other. It is about building relationships, creating understanding, and recognizing the dignity and human solidarity.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in this AFJN Mission Appeal in the Diocese of Erie. Importantly, I am excited that while the Mission Appeal helps AFJN to secure financial resources needed to continue its work, it is also an extension of AFJN’s mission to educate, build relationships, listen and build connections for a better and peaceful world.