Unexpected Blessing

He really wanted me to see his brand new training center, but I didn't know why. I thought perhaps it might be another case of an African ministry leader wanting to show me his dream project and then hoping I would help him fund the completion of it.

But I couldn't have been more wrong. Pastor Selenga was not your typical ministry leader. Besides having been the legal rep for his own denomination, he was now the director of ReachAfrica—the regional division of ReachGlobal formerly known as the Evangelical Free Church Mission. It's not every day that an African, let alone a Congolese, is a senior executive of an American mission.

Thirty minutes later, we had navigated the traffic jams of Kinshasa and rolled into the small courtyard of CEMIER—Centre d’Equipement en Mission et Leadership de ReachAfrica. As I was shown around, I couldn't believe this entire facility had been modified, prepped for operation and that already over one hundred pastors and layman were enrolled in courses. That doesn't include the two dozen women at risk being helped at a vocational center behind the main building.

When we got to Selenga’s office, he smiled and said, “All this is here because of you.” My puzzled look prompted his explanation. Last year, During another trip to Kinshasa in order to accompany and translate for two representatives of a mission-minded philanthropic foundation. Among some 40 national church leaders I had introduced them to, was Selenga. What I never knew is that my two friends had maintained dialog with him resulting in a grant that allowed Selenga to acquire, remodel and launch this center all in a few short months.

There is nothing more rewarding for me than to be a network connector that results in a positive advancement for God’s Kingdom. And when it happens as an unexpected blessing, it's the most rewarding of all!

Congress is in Session

They are calling it the 5th Congress on National Evangelism. Held in a big meeting room at the Shaumba high school in Kinshasa, this is a significant event for the leaders of Protestant churches here in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since this event is hosted by my friend, Bishop Nyamuke, head of the ECC  department of evangelism, I received an invitation some time ago to participate and help out with some of the planning for it.

The central objective of the Congress is to breathe new life into a five-year-old plan that has five key strategies for advancing God’s Kingdom in DRC:
1. Plant new churches where they are needed,
2. Encourage mature discipleship amount church members,
3. Help children aged 4 to 18 develop a Christian world view
4. Teach families how to become centers of Christian education
5. Reach the least, poorly and unreached populations of the country.

Jon & Bishop Nyamuke

Two themes have particularly impressed me from the many presentations given during our sessions. The first one is a deep concern over the perception that DRC is facing increased pressure from the West to adopt a liberal social agenda that includes inclusion of gay rights into the mainstream of its culture. The examples given of how this agenda is already being pushed by conditions put on aid grants from the U.S. is startling and discouraging.

The second theme, which is much more encouraging, has to do with the amazing number of resources already available for the ECC and its member churches. Dozens of national and expat organizations exist now in the DRC with great curricula, books, training courses, etc. in French but the problem is that most churches don't even know they exist. This Congress has been good for exposure of these resources, but much more needs to happen for full national access.

As Bishop Nyamuke and I, plus a small team of four, discuss this, we agree to launch a new, concerted thrust  to help promote this national plan of evangelism during the next two years. We've even given it a name: MissioCongo. Besides replicating this Congress in some regional mini events during the next few months, MissioCongo will also involve a new prayer strategy for evangelism, new communication strategy using text messaging and newsletters and a new evangelism resource website.

When I was invited to this event, I knew I might be asked  to share something sometime. I didn't expect I would be giving the opening devotional, a plenary session on stewardship and host the open mike sharing period at the end of each day. But I am thrilled to see the positive impact that seems to be happening here and pray that this MissioCongo follow-up plan truly keeps the churches in DRC pressing forward in advancing the cause of Christ in this huge country.