Mission adventure for Zaire Mennonite conferences

Zaire

For many years Zaire Mennonite conferences concentrated most of their outreach efforts in Kinshasa, Bandundu and Kasai provinces. In 1994, with the outbreak of ethnic conflicts in Rwanda, attention turned to eastern Zaire, first with humanitarian assistance and now for church planting in Bukavu, near the Great Lakes Region.

The three Mennonite conferences in Zaire, in collaboration with their partners, Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services, Africa Independent Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Central Committee are sending two couples into the region. In affirmation, the MBM/S Board has allocated $5,200 to share in this partnership.

Two features of the Great Lakes Project are especially noteworthy.

1. The excellent advance work of two lay leadership couples already involved in organizing a local congregation.

  • Fidel and Christa Lumeya were sent by MCC to work in the area as coordinator of MCC program in the region. Before going to Bukavu, they were very involved in Kinshasa church life of the Zaire MB conference.
  • Dr. and Mrs. Kalumuna were involved in a congregation in Kinshasa. This tent-making couple went to Bukavu with the blessing and financial assistance from their congregation and with the hope of planting a church.

    Thanks to these two couples, a local international congregation has fully organized in Bukavu with 50 people meeting each Sunday for worship. A congregational Bible study meets each Friday evening.

    2. Mission Training Through Local Structure. In addition, two Mennonite pastor couples are getting ready to be sent to Bukavu as the first missionaries to the region. Before starting, both couples are immersed in a nine-week training program especially designed for them by the International Missiology Center run by Dr. Nzash Lumeya. Courses include Anabaptist history, history of the Great Lakes region, history of African religions, cultural anthropology, biblical theology of mission, conflict resolution, cross-cultural communication, personality studies, church administration and group dynamics.

    "We praise God for the work being started in this region," declares MBM/S Regional Secretary for Africa, Pakisa Tshimika. "The long term goal is to reach out not only to eastern Zaire but also to Rwanda and Burundi." The organizers ask prayer support for:

  • local lay leaders involved in the young international congregation: Dr. and Mrs. Kalumuna; Christa and Fidel Lumeya; Mr. and Mrs. Tshihuluka; Brothers Francois, Namuira, Nyamulinduka and Ange.
  • involvement of Zairian and other leaders as resources in leadership training
  • patience, wisdom and endurance for the two couples being trained
  • availability of funds as promised by conferences and partners
  • peace and tranquillity in the region.

    Gary Hardaway, MBM/S

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