A member of First Christian Church, Fayetteville, AR shared with me how their congregation celebrated Congo Week this October. This is an outline of that week:
Sunday – A guest preacher from the Division of Overseas Ministries preached at both worship services. That message brought to light what a “wilderness” experience so many Congolese are going through right now.
Monday - Viewing of the documentary called “Reporter,” which tells the story of the current conflict in the Congo. Following the film, a member of the church who grew up in the DRC answered questions about his personal experiences.
Tuesday – A day long prayer vigil was held in the sanctuary.
Wednesday – Young and old participated in the “Cell Out,” where cell phones were turned off and a message was placed on voice mail explaining why the phone was turned off and how Congo is being affected by our cell phones. (Want to learn more? Go to www.congoweek.org)
Thursday – Members gathered for a fellowship supper to share a Congolese meal.
Funds were raised over the week to be split between a personal project within the congregation and to help with the rebuilding of the Bolenge Hospital. This week made a difference for the members of FCC and for our brothers and sisters in Congo. Awareness was created. Minds were opened. Prayers were offered. People have been changed!
Thank you First Christian Church of Fayetteville, AR for sharing this celebration with us!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Congo Partnership Week
Just as Congo Partnership week arrives, we look at the exciting events Indiana churches have planned for Rev. Ilumbe (Principal Supervising Pastor of the Mbandaka District) and his wife Rosette (President of the Partnership Committee in the DRC). As we learn of the difficult steps that must be taken for them to come and visit us - more than two months away from home just to get papers and permissions to travel, and that's before they arrive for 5 weeks in the US - we are truly humbled that they will make this sacrifice to visit us. It is such good news to know of all the plans to make this exchange meaningful.
- One church is learning phrases in Lingala in order to communicate better when Rev. Ilumbe and Rosette visit them
- Two church camps are making plans to include them in their programs
- Numerous church dinners are on the schedule
- There will be several home and farm visits
- They will experience a real 4th of July celebration
- A number of you will use the Congo Connection for your Vacation Bible School program this summer And the list goes on (soon to be posted on this page, so you can catch a program if you do not have them scheduled at your church). One of the gifts the Mbandaka Disciples have given us is an enhanced awareness of how important hospitality is to a Christian; it is clear that many of you are receiving that gift.
DON'T FORGET to mark you calendars for 5:15 pm on July 2, so you can be at the Indianapolis International Airport (south baggage claim
area) to welcome Rev. Ilumbe and Rosette. Be ready to sing; bring balloons (NOT permitted in the Common Space upstairs, they need to be downstairs), signs of welcome or identifying your church, flowers - whatever says "Welcome" to you. And if you can, let someone at the regional office know how many are coming with you.
- One church is learning phrases in Lingala in order to communicate better when Rev. Ilumbe and Rosette visit them
- Two church camps are making plans to include them in their programs
- Numerous church dinners are on the schedule
- There will be several home and farm visits
- They will experience a real 4th of July celebration
- A number of you will use the Congo Connection for your Vacation Bible School program this summer And the list goes on (soon to be posted on this page, so you can catch a program if you do not have them scheduled at your church). One of the gifts the Mbandaka Disciples have given us is an enhanced awareness of how important hospitality is to a Christian; it is clear that many of you are receiving that gift.
DON'T FORGET to mark you calendars for 5:15 pm on July 2, so you can be at the Indianapolis International Airport (south baggage claim
area) to welcome Rev. Ilumbe and Rosette. Be ready to sing; bring balloons (NOT permitted in the Common Space upstairs, they need to be downstairs), signs of welcome or identifying your church, flowers - whatever says "Welcome" to you. And if you can, let someone at the regional office know how many are coming with you.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Our Partners ask for prayers
We have received word through e-mails from Rev. Ilumbe and Rev. Bonanga that our partners in the Mbandaka District were affected by a damaging wind storm the evening of Saturday, February 7th. Many homes and other structures were damaged. In addition to several church related facilities, the congregations of Air Congo and Mbandaka I sustained roof damage. This damage also affected the school that is held in Mbandaka I. We do not yet know all the ways that our partners might be affected by this storm.
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the Mbandaka District. The following is an e-mail reply that went to our partners.
Rev. Bonanga and Rev. Ilumbe—
Your sisters and brothers in the Christian Church in Indiana hold you in prayer this day as you recover from high winds in the Mbandaka area that led to destruction of church and schools, and to the injury and death of some residents in that area. We live in a part of the world that is frequently vulnerable to damage from tornados and high winds, and so our people readily identify with this loss and its consequences. We pray that emergency assistance is able to get to all those in need quickly, and that a sense of security is recovered as well by all those who have been affected. Please let the members of the churches in the Mbandaka District know of our concern, and most particularly our friends at the Air Congo and Mbandaka I congregations.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Spleth, Regional Minister
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the Mbandaka District. The following is an e-mail reply that went to our partners.
Rev. Bonanga and Rev. Ilumbe—
Your sisters and brothers in the Christian Church in Indiana hold you in prayer this day as you recover from high winds in the Mbandaka area that led to destruction of church and schools, and to the injury and death of some residents in that area. We live in a part of the world that is frequently vulnerable to damage from tornados and high winds, and so our people readily identify with this loss and its consequences. We pray that emergency assistance is able to get to all those in need quickly, and that a sense of security is recovered as well by all those who have been affected. Please let the members of the churches in the Mbandaka District know of our concern, and most particularly our friends at the Air Congo and Mbandaka I congregations.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Spleth, Regional Minister
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