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Congo MB Church Mission's Department |
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In 1912, the first Mennonite missionaries, Aaron Janzen and his wife Ernestina, arrived in Congo and traveled more than 400 kilometres on foot to explore a new mission frontier near Kikwit in the middle of the country. It took another 14 years (in 1926) before the first person, Luka Sengele, was baptized. Thirty-seven people followed, forming the foundation of the African Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1960, after 70 years of colonization, Congo finally gained its independence from Belgium. At this time there were approximately 50 missionaries in the Congo. But Congo plummeted into 5 years of political turmoil and war forcing most missionaries to leave the country. As a result, the local MB churches that depended on support from the West were left stranded and forced to become independent. The transition towards independence was recognized by MBMSI as an opportunity to empower the Congolese MB church. Today, the torch of leadership and mission has been passed on to Congolese leadership. In fact, presently, there are no full-time MBMSI missionaries in the Congo. Never-the-less, the Congo Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (CEFMC) is one of the largest MB conferences in the world with more than 100,000 members. MB churches in the Congo are sending missionaries into surrounding African countries and around the world.
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By Ray Harms-Wiebe
“He fled from the Congo to Zambia searching for a better life. Didier’s destination was the affluent life of Europe or North America. He was searching for a path to the West. While living in Lusaka, Didier encountered Mennonites through MCC. He found a better life than the one he was looking for—a new life in Jesus.
He returned to the Congo to study in the school of Missiology and later pastored an MB Church. This is where Didier sensed God calling him to Zambia to serve as a missionary. The church members committed themselves to contribute $1 a month. After his commissioning, Didier returned to Lusaka with the message of life.
Despite political uncertainty and economic hardship at home, the Congolese MB Church is committed to serving other countries through missions. Besides Zambia, the conference has sent missionaries to Burundi, Congo (Brazzaville), South Africa, Angola, Canada and the United States. Missionaries have also planted churches within the Democratic Republic of the Congo among the Kiri Batwa pygmies, the Teke and the Great Lakes region.
Kapay Nzey Ngombo, the current mission director, provides oversight for this missionary vision together with an executive committee and strategic planning council. The following are among the mission’s primary objectives:
1. Mobilize the church for going, praying and giving.
2. Focus on unreached people groups and urban populations.
3. Facilitate the work of missionaries in the Congo and beyond.
Prospective missionaries are trained at the School of Missiology in Kinshasa, a four year interdenominational program founded in 1990 by Nzash Lumeya. Of the 78 students currently enrolled in the program, 10 are Mennonite Brethren. Although the vision is global, most graduates remain in the DR Congo serving as pastors, chaplains and missionaries.
Another exciting new initiative is Shalom, a practical two month discipleship training program for Congolese youth. This coming summer, 50 young people will plant two churches in Brazzaville and Matadi (DR Congo). Their vision is to begin in the Congo, cross the border into Cabinda (Angola), move through Cameroon, and continue up the coast of West Africa planting churches as they go.
At MBMSI we feel called to support and facilitate this dynamic missionary vision. We will continue to offer scholarships for students at the School of Missiology, assist participants in the Shalom program, support missionaries in the Congo and provide financial assistance for missionaries in South Africa and Angola. Upon request, MBMSI will also provide consultants for the mission department, and facilitate the oversight of their missionaries by providing funds for pastoral visits.”
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Kapay: Mission's department director
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Mavungu: leading the "Shalom" initiative
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School of missiology library
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Projects we are supporting include:
1. CEFMC Missions Department: MBMSI continues to support the department on a monthly basis which includes missions office staff subsidy and operations. All budget items are a result of annual discussions with the CEFMC regarding priorities for financial aid and mentoring advice. Travel items that are supported include trips to Bukavu/Goma, Brazzaville, Tembo, Kajiji area, Kikwit, Zambia, South Africa and Angola.
MBMSI would like to start an endowment fund for the department. The goal is to collect $50,000 over the next 3 years.
2. Missionary Fund: MBMSI supports special outreach projects as determined by CEFMC. Projects include:
- Batwa Kiri outreach: support for missionary couple ($1200), Bible purchases ($1000)
- Great Lakes outreach (Goma/Bukavu): $4500/year
- South Africa outreach to refugees
- Zambia outreach
- Angola missionary program
- Teke outreach: travel into area to hold services ($1,200)
- Brazzaville church: purchase land and building $30,000
- Church roof building fund : $1000/roof, goal is for 3 roofs
3. Young people’s ”Shalom” ministry: MBMSI will continue to support the young people’s programs including the Shalom program and the present outreach into the Bas-Congo area. In particular, it will support fifty $100 scholarships.
4. Bomoyi Ya Sika Ministries: A ministry to street children was started by MBMSI missionary Elmer Adams. MBMSI works with the CEFMC to support the ministry that was started and continues to minister to the abandoned children. Support includes:
• Building Fund: The land has been provided by the local church. Funds to build a building are needed. Goal for phase I: $50,000
• Sponsorship: Consider sponsoring a child at $25-50/month). Goal: 50 children |
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The Muellers, heading up the ministry to abandoned children
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5. School of Missiology: The School of Missiology is a 4 year inter-denominational school started over 10 years ago by Dr Nzash Lumeya. The school has its own campus facility with guest houses for visiting professors. It offers a 4 year university degree in missiology recognized by the state. MBMSI supports Dr Lumeya in recruiting professors to teach at the school, logistics for short-term missions assignments, raising money for certain capital projects for the school and providing scholarships for a certain number of promising students.
• Scholarships $500/year (the goal is for 4 scholars)
• MBMSI would like to start an endowment Fund for the school. The goal is to collect $50,000 over 3 years.
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