Introduction
Call Story
One gets the sense that Mandela’s concerns are more secular, worldly. Having spent a total of 27 years in prison, Mandela turned to God to help him through times of struggle. Mandela often spoke of the strength of the human soul, saying, for example:
“I thank God for my uncomfortable soul; I am the master of my faith. I am the captain of my soul.”
Nelson Mandela experienced a call from God while in prison. From there, he followed the pattern of encounter with God. This enabled God to give him a mission, and some reassurance, which really turned around Nelson’s life.
“I thank God for my uncomfortable soul; I am the master of my faith. I am the captain of my soul.”
Nelson Mandela experienced a call from God while in prison. From there, he followed the pattern of encounter with God. This enabled God to give him a mission, and some reassurance, which really turned around Nelson’s life.
Covenant
Nelson Mandela recognized the conditions and obligations of each party of people. Nelson fully understood that God’s covenant is a bond of love that calls to us in our freedom to respond in love.
Mandela recognized that religion is a great divider of peoples, and he envisioned a world where acceptance and tolerance outweighed the alternatives. He once said:
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”
Nelson exemplified the quality of love to all humans. He furthered the covenant of God, which explains that God’s commitment to us is forever, and founded in love.
Mandela recognized that religion is a great divider of peoples, and he envisioned a world where acceptance and tolerance outweighed the alternatives. He once said:
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”
Nelson exemplified the quality of love to all humans. He furthered the covenant of God, which explains that God’s commitment to us is forever, and founded in love.
Revelation
Mandela hoped for a South Africa where all races, religions, and peoples were equal in the eyes of the law, democratic, and free. And like most ideologues, Mandela was prepared to die for his cause. He said:
“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Nelson Mandela was able to come know God through God’s work. Nelson recognized the issues in society through racism in Africa. Nelson was able to use divine revelation to conquer the issues and attain equality through his works as the President of South Africa from 1994-1995.
“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Nelson Mandela was able to come know God through God’s work. Nelson recognized the issues in society through racism in Africa. Nelson was able to use divine revelation to conquer the issues and attain equality through his works as the President of South Africa from 1994-1995.
Vocation
Nelson Mandela took the call from God and put it into action. God called on Nelson personally to a way of life that is founded on the love of God. Mandela became active in the community, thus successfully fulfilling his vocation.
Mandela soon became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement, joining the African National Congress in 1942. Within the ANC, a small group of young Africans banded together, calling themselves the African National Congress Youth League. Their goal was to transform the ANC into a mass grassroots movement, deriving strength from millions of rural peasants and working people who had no voice under the current regime. Specifically, the group believed that the ANC's old tactics of polite petitioning were ineffective. In 1949, the ANC officially adopted the Youth League's methods of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-cooperation, with policy goals of full citizenship, redistribution of land, trade union rights, and free and compulsory education for all children.
Mandela soon became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement, joining the African National Congress in 1942. Within the ANC, a small group of young Africans banded together, calling themselves the African National Congress Youth League. Their goal was to transform the ANC into a mass grassroots movement, deriving strength from millions of rural peasants and working people who had no voice under the current regime. Specifically, the group believed that the ANC's old tactics of polite petitioning were ineffective. In 1949, the ANC officially adopted the Youth League's methods of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-cooperation, with policy goals of full citizenship, redistribution of land, trade union rights, and free and compulsory education for all children.