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Coming from a land torn by war, the Congolese seemed to do the impossible on Africa Night celebrate God while embracing the suffering of His children.
Though the evening was to celebrate African MBs, the spirit of family prevailed. Nuzi Mukawa, the evening's host, introduced a Colombia presentation by Alfredo Beltran, chair of that conference. (This computerized Power Point presentation had been postponed from Latin America Night due to technical difficulties.) Beltran reported on the various ministries of the Colombian conference, including youth missions, earthquake relief, educational institutions and church planting. Colombia has sent a missionary family to Peru and is finalizing plans for a church plant among a large population of Colombian families in Miami, Florida.
Mukawa then introduced four North Americans, who related their experiences in Africa. Arnold Prieb told of his life as a missionary in the Congo from 1950 to 1980. Elmer Martens, who recently spent six weeks there, extolled the conference where "the church is vibrant and conversion is common." Howard Loewen recently went to the Congo to establish a partnership between educational institutions in the Congo and the United States. "From them we can learn to dance in the Spirit in the midst of suffering," he said. Mary Anne Isaak related her experience as an MBMS International missionary for two years. "When I came to the Congo, it was as if I saw the world through one eye," she said. "But I had another eye to open."
Between the presentations, Mukawa had the audience clapping their hands and swinging their arms above their heads, singing hymns and African songs. During an offering taken for the Congo conference, people moved up and down the isles, waving their hands and smiling as they dropped at least three different kinds of currency into baskets.
The mood sobered somewhat as pastor Ndumda gave his report from the Congo conference. Ndumda reported that God is blessing the conference’s efforts in spite of the hardship created by war. Congo MBs are spreading the gospel and witnessing the conversion of many people, from the pygmies in Bandandu to people in Brazzaville and Bukavu. But life is hard. "Many people have lost their jobs. Many who are working are not being paid," Ndumda said. "Many cannot support the work of the church. During this time of war, we are hearing that we are to be self-supporting, so we are asking you to assist us in prayer that we would be able to do the work of the Lord."
Pastor Mbyanvula, chair of the Congo conference, delivered the evening message, "Renewal through Suffering". Suffering is a part of life in general and integral to the Christian life, Mbyanvula began. It is a privilege, not a punishment, and no one is exempt. "You are not special," he told North Americans in the audience.
What is to be the response of the church to the suffering of others? Look for causes of suffering and solutions, Mbyanvula said. "We must do that as individuals, but also as a community." Further, if we want to be renewed through suffering, we must incorporate the suffering of others throughout the world into our global vision for the church. "Pray to God so that He gives you a vision for the world, a personal vision but also for family, church, country, the continent and the world. The Lord wants us to have a global vision."
Mbyanvula acknowledged that a chief difficulty is putting the solutions we find into practice. He suggested that, as Christians, we are called to work toward opening dialogue between different levels of society, and we must develop structures to encourage our members to alleviate suffering. "This must be our way of living," he concluded. CA
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