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Welcome to Congo Home Page |
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Vision for DR Congo
| MBMS International is a church planting organization and the church in Congo has been planted. In fact, it is arguably the largest Mennonite Brethren conference in the world…twice as big as the USA and Canada conferences combined. Some might say that the torch has been passed on. The CEFMC (Congo Mennonite Brethren Church) is planting their own churches and sending their own missionaries. So, what is MBMS International doing in DR Congo?! |  | | | Rev. Pelende, Congo MB Church General Secretary |
It’s no secret that people living in the DR Congo are facing tremendous hardship. It is estimated that 4 million people have died since the war broke out in 1998, most of preventable disease. One child out of five under the age of five dies of an avertable illness. One third of the population has no access to healthcare. And the statistics continue. Can we abandon our brothers and sisters in this situation?!
Actually, many people want to help. But the question is, how? How can we really make a difference? We have been there before, built hospitals, started agriculture programs, yet Congo is worse off now than it ever was. So we say: forget about it. The church is already established in Congo, let’s go plant churches somewhere else.
Virtue vs Belief
One Tuesday morning in 2002, the head nurse at Nyankunde Christian Hospital has just finishing morning rounds when he looked out the open window and saw dozens of women and children running towards the hospital from the fields where they had been working. Pursuing them were an estimated 7000 soldiers, rebel militiamen from the neighboring Ngiti tribe. As the nurse watched in horror, “the militiamen, with painted faces and rings of leaves on their head, brandishing rifles, bayonets, machetes and knives, started indiscriminately killing anyone in their path; women, children and the elderly” . These militiamen rampaged through the hospital, completely destroying it. Later, the nurse said that some of these same militiamen had been patients in the hospital mere weeks before.
What is it that drives this kind of violence? About a year later in another mission station, the hospital doctor sadly died after driving off the road on his motorbike and hitting a tree. His family accused another family, from the same region, of casting a curse. It was the curse that caused the death, not the motorcycle. Tensions between the two families drove the community apart. "O unhappy Christian: / Mass in the morning / Witchdoctor in the evening / Amulet in the pocket / Scapular around the neck."
It is estimated that DR Congo is about 75% Christian. The belief has changed – from animistic to Christian. Churches can be seen on every street corner. The draw of a loving and forgiving God has been like water to parched mouths. Yet, the destructive inter tribal violence, lack of trust and the occult is difficult to release when it is an ingrained part of your upbringing. Transformation of culture takes time. Virtues do not change over night.
Importance of effective Christian leadership
In the context of virtue vs. belief, it is easier to see how important it is to encourage good leadership. Effective leaders transform their culture. Therefore, it is one thing to say that the church is enormous in Congo, but it is quite another to say that people have been truly transformed out of their destructive tendencies. Sustainable church growth requires transformation.
Justification for why MBMS International is in the DR Congo
In this context, MBMS International argues the importance of its involvement in the DR Congo based on the following points:
1 - The pace and enormity of change in missions agencies today places the onus on MBMS International to remain committed in relationship to the CEFMC, as that relationship evolves. MBMS International has a history in the DRC and these historical ties are cherished by the CEFMC. An abrupt end to years of involvement would be interpreted as abandonment or disinterest.
2 - MBMS International needs to encourage a healthy partnership at the conference level (Canada/US conferences to DRC conference). The International Conference Of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) has potential for providing a significant link between the CEFMC and western churches. However, ICOMB is a relatively new entity, and is still evolving. MBMS International is well situated, because of its history in Congo, to nurture this relationship.
3 – MBMS International’s vision statement includes “holistic church planting that transforms communities”. This implies that MBMS International will work with Congolese MB’s not only to preach and evangelize, but also to respond to social need. Growing the church from within takes strong leadership. Though leaders can benefit from seminars and workshops, it is in the process of working and partnering together that MBMS International offers a practical arena for developing strong leaders.
MBMS International believes that well run development projects fostering leadership and healthy relationships between Congo and the west, will naturally flow out into a more effective and well rooted church, active in the missionary movement.
So MBMS International continues its involvement with our DR Congo brothers and sisters because it is being requested of us and there is a need to disciple leadership. MBMS International not only offers insight to the CEFMC from another cultural slant, but also offers resources from a long established and affluent western church. |
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