Volume 4, Issue 1 December 1999
Be The Change You Wish To See In The World
Oliver DeMille

The following speech was delivered at the GWC Commencement Exercises held September 11, 1999, in Cedar City, Utah. Dr. Mark D. Siljander is a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, a three-term U.S. Congressman, and the 1996 recipient of the Mohandas K. Gandhi International Peace Award. He is also a doctoral graduate of George Wythe College.

Dr. Sills and Dr. and Mrs. DeMille and I were discussing statesmanship over breakfast this morning. I told them the following story, which is one of the most remarkable stories in the world of politics, diplomacy, statesmanship and intervention by God in contemporary society.

In South Africa, just prior to the elections, Chief Buthelezi, head of the Zulu people, was contemplating participating in the historic South African elections (and his non-involvement would certainly have catapulted South Africa into a major civil war). This was the first time in South Africa's history that non-whites could participate politically and vie for the presidency. There's a Kenyan gentleman named Washington Okomo. He's not a politician; he's not necessarily famous; but he's part of a small group in Kenya that meet and talk around the spirit of Christ and pray for the future of Kenya and Africa. Chief Buthelezi, similarly, is in a group in South Africa that prays and fellowships together. This is the base for his group of mentors.

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