The Preacher as 'Fool for Christ' :

a Reflection on Prophetic Preaching in African Contexts

Abstract

What is preaching? How does preaching the gospel relate to risk? And what can we learn from the unconventional image of the pastor or preacher as a risk taker for the sake of the glory of God? This article focuses on the significance of the practice of preaching, especially within a particular unconventional perspective or imagery: that of the preacher as a clown or jester or even as risk taker. The aim of this article is the close reading of Paul’s new or strange imagery of the preacher as a ‘fool’ for Christ (1 Corinthians 4:9–10) and how that continues to generate new ideas and thoughts about preaching in twenty-first-century Africa. On another hand this article is also an attempt to provide a kind of reception study on the preaching legacy and practical passion of one our scholars at the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, namely Professor Johan Cilliers. His preaching life and teaching has been closely examined in this study with the particular aim of raising the question of preaching in a more practical, though unconventional, sense, in an African context: Nigeria, which is structured traditionally within a high culture of honour and shame. The idea of the foolishness of preaching or being clownish for the sake of the gospel remains the actual productive pattern of this article. It is presented as a reminder and in appreciation for the life of one of the unknown heroes of faith in Nigeria, a dedicated and sacrificial pastor, the late Rev. Ibrahim Garba,^[1] whose life and memory will continue to challenge us to be faithful to the Lord in the midst of all risks, even of preaching.

^[1] On 17 November 2023, I received news of the passing away of Rev. Ibrahim Garba. He was a dedicated ECWA pastor whom I was privileged to teach at some point at ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro. After a few years his son Solomon Ibrahim also joined us at the seminary as a very humble but dedicated young pastor-in-training. It was a great pleasure to meet and share some good time with Rev. Garba. Through his son Solomon I got to know where they were posted to serve for the sake of preaching the gospel. Metaphorically, we call the area the lion’s den of Kaduna State; it was in Birnin Gwari area. For more than two decades the area has been captured by and under the control of brutal bandits. Many pastors who were sent to the place had earlier declined. But Rev. Garba is one of the few who risked their lives and the comfort of their family to go and serve there amidst high banditry for the sake of the gospel. The worship service at his church has been frequently disrupted because of series of attacks from the bandits. Many of his members have been kidnapped, and some even killed. He and his family have put themselves at great risks every day and night to live in that village. One of the high risks was also to go to the farm in search of what to eat. Many farms have been taken over by the bandits. Many young boys have been conscripted into the banditry gang. Weapons were everywhere and life was constantly at risk. In the midst of that, Rev. Ibrahim Garba promised God and his family to still stay there and serve even while many members have left the area because of fear. His stay there yielded a lot of fruit. Many people were blessed by his life and ministry. Close to the end of his life he was kidnapped for some days but later released miraculously unharmed. He was a man of great prayer, simple faith, and sacrifice to the Lord and humanity. He had been battling with some health challenges for years, and this year the Lord decided to call him home and take his glorious rest. His passing was peaceful – that gave me a lot of comfort – even for his immediate family. He risked his life for the sake of the gospel and he was preserved by the Lord until the very end.