Bono in Africa to fight AIDS and poverty

I recently finished watching today's edition of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. This program is one of the benefits of our cable TV subscription.

The most captivating story was about U2's Bono's interest in Africa and helping it arise from its poverty. It is titled Bono heads into Africa.

Part of the story said the following:

This continent has become Bono's calling. It is an enormous task. He has put together an army of allies. From President Bush to the author of the "Purpose-Driven Life," evangelical pastor Rick Warren, who happily teamed up with the Irish rock star in working toward the same goal.

"He's the real deal," Warren says. "He knows what he's talking about. Bono understands what I call 'the stewardship of affluence and influence,' in that God does not give us either money or fame for our own ego. But we're to use it. It's a stewardship. And I love the way that he's leveraging the fame that he has — for good."

Bono hopes that "good" will become the new reality in Africa. He hopes to convert money into great and lasting change. And Bono knows it would be impossible without the spirit of the people.

I like Warren's description of Bono's work in helping lead the global effort to fight AIDS and poverty. It reminds me of Mordecai's words to Ruth about God placing her in her position of queen in order to save the Jewish people. Bono is using his place of influence as a rock musician in order to help save a continent.

Materialism is probably the number one enemy of the Church in the West, particularly in the U.S. It's such a part of the culture that we're often not even aware of its influence in our daily lives, including in the Church.

Artists sometimes are the conscience of a nation. This is a prophetic role of artists, who often feel things more intensely and quicker than the rest of a culture.

I'll look forward to the upcoming Monday and Tuesday editions, as Brian Williams will be traveling with Bono to several African nations to report on the global effort to fight AIDS and poverty.