Hope as a restoration of power within a neighbourhood of poverty : a missional reflection

Abstract

This article is a reflection on hope. It understands hope as the willpower that makes it possible for human beings to overcome the difficulties of any given here and now and to believe that the improvement of their quality of life is possible. This research uses the grounded theology methodology to wrestle with the concept of willpower in the context of a South African township. Townships are peri-urban communities of poverty that are renowned for crime from within. The researcher lives in the township of Soshanguve and he is aware of a section of his township called Jukulyn that is renowned for its bad reputation in terms of criminal activities. He has also met several residents of Jukulyn who also think poorly of their area and wish they could move to a safer area. This research reflects on how the church could participate in restoring the hope of residents so that a bad reputation could be converted into an agency to catalyse a good quality of life for all. It discovered that disappointment in the government's ability to provide safety and security has led to a lack of hope. It, also, discovered that a lack of communal solidarity African communities are known for has led known criminals to not be held accountable. It also discovered that joblessness and materialistic desires have led some neighbours to seek answers to their problems from their neighbours. It finally discovered that some local churches are involved in the local community as tangible signs of the restoration of hope. The research concludes that local churches could be prophetic witnesses in places like Jukulyn and proactively educate ordinary people to be agents of their good quality of life.