Missio hominum as the compassionate response to socio-economic and vaccine challenges during COVID-19 in South Africa

Jonas S Thinane

doi:10.4102/hts.v77i3.6544

Abstract

It is likely that the storm of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Africa will calm only when the country attains herd immunity. In South Africa, the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan will first prioritise key frontline forces, the elderly and those with comorbidities. Although there is some new academic insight on COVID-19 within the context of churches, not much has been written on the role that churches can play in partnership with government towards procuring vaccines for the poor people of South Africa. The contribution towards vaccine procurement by churches is juxtaposed with the proclamation of the year of the Lord’s favour in Luke 4:18–19 and the feeding of 5000 men (excluding women and children) in Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, John 6:1–14 and Luke 9:10–17. This is done against an environment where corruption in the procurement of personal protective equipment, unjust food parcel distribution and subverted relief packages occurred during the hard lockdown of 2020. This article makes use of both missio Dei and missio hominum as its missiological theory in conformity with calls for public health restoration during and after COVID-19. It employs a literature review to support missio Dei and missio hominum as compassion and fundraising for the poor in the face of COVID-19, as exemplified by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:1–4 and Jesus in Mark 6:8 and Luke 8:1–3.Contribution: In order to preserve lives that would otherwise be lost whilst waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine, this article entreats all churches of South Africa to launch a nationwide church fundraising effort towards procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the poor following the example of the Solidarity Fund, which was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the early interventions to cushion the impact of COVID-19.

Highlights

According to Khan and McIntosh (2005:223) the history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be dated back to 1965
The plan is that once South Africa receives COVID-19 vaccine doses, it will first cover 10% of the total population
One life or job loss is too many in a country with as many poor people as South Africa, where unemployment and inequality have been an issue for years. It is during times such as these, when the country is on its economic knees, when family spirits are broken beyond any possible repair, that the church of Christ is called to truly represent Christ and provide the poor and marginalised people of South Africa with what would seem to represent the much-needed bread of life

Summary

Introduction

According to Khan and McIntosh (2005:223) the history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be dated back to 1965. It is during times such as these, when the country is on its economic knees, when family spirits are broken beyond any possible repair, that the church of Christ is called to truly represent Christ and provide the poor and marginalised people of South Africa with what would seem to represent the much-needed bread of life (the COVID-19 vaccine).

Results

Conclusion