Author: SuZan Klassen

God’s Word through African Eyes

The Church in sub-Saharan Africa is growing faster than anywhere else in the world. It is estimated that 40% of the world’s Christians will be living in Africa by the year 2060. Today that number stands at 25%.

Hope4Congo believes the next generation of believers in Africa will play a major role in shaping church ministry and thought. For that reason we are investing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing this next generation with tools and resources.

One of those resources is access to the Word of God—the Bible. For the last ten years we have been purchasing Bibles in the major heart languages and selling them for $3.00. For each Bible sold, we subsidize $6.00 of the Total price and cover the freight cost to distribute them into the more rural areas. Also, the $3.00 purchase price paid by each individual African is reinvested to buy more Bibles.

We purchase Bibles for this work through the American Bible Society. To date we have been able to distribute 11,000 Bibles in four different languages.

We are convinced of the power of God’s Word. For those of you who have been supporting this effort, we have some exciting news to share with you regarding Oasis International. Recently they published the first Africa Study Bible in English. This Bible was written by 350 respected African contributors from 50 countries. This reflects Oasis International’s goal to: Empower African Voices.

The English version of the Africa Study Bible has been launched in four countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. Eventually they wish to reach all of Africa with this Bible in all three primary languages spoken throughout Africa: English, French and Portuguese. The study notes give basic teaching, helping Christians apply sound doctrine in their own context and modeling how to correctly apply God’s truth to life.

A French version of the Africa Study Bible is in process at this time. The goal is to have it ready by the end of 2019. However, Oasis International has exhausted all of their designated funds for this version. Like everything else, money is needed to continue moving this initiative forward.

Oasis International has been awarded a three-year $150,000 grant to finish the French edition of the Africa Study Bible. But they cannot receive the first advance of the three-year grant until they are able to raise the first $50,000.

Hope4Congo encourages you to consider giving to this project. Go to https://www.africastudybible.com
Use their website to contribute your gift.

For additional information about this strategic initiative, please visit: https://www.africaspeaks2018.com/

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)

This type of investment will return above and beyond what you or I can ask or think. God guarantees His word.

© 2018 Hope4Congo

Nothing is Too Difficult for God

by Brad Graber

Hope for Congo participated in the annual Congo Collaboration meetings held in Goshen, Indiana, August 10-11, 2018. Collaboration is the new frontier in efforts to be obedient to the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

From a human perspective Jesus’ instruction can seem an impossible task. And it would be—if it depended on us alone. But Jesus promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God does not ask us to do the impossible. He asks for our obedience to do what is possible.

As we are obedient to do the possible, God will do the impossible.

Medical Ambassadors shared about the CHE program at our Collaboration meetings on Friday and Saturday. CHE stands for Community Health Evangelism. This program, which is being implemented around the world, focuses on disease prevention measures and promotes healthy living. CHE’s emphasis on holistic health and evangelism is a good method for church planting. The program is built around community ownership and individual involvement.

Community Health Evangelism operates in the Kasai region of the DRC. Over 800 villages utilize the program successfully.

During the Medical Ambassadors presentation they referenced two books: Walking With the Poor  by Bryant Meyers, and Bursting the Wine Skins: The Holy Spirit’s Transforming Work in a Peacemaker and His World  by Michael Cassidy.

Oasis International presented their vision on Saturday. They seek to publish and distribute affordable Christian books and Bibles in English, French, and Portuguese—books designed for individual as well as societal transformation and that seek to give the African Church a global voice.

To produce the African Study Bible, Oasis International utilized 350 African contributors from 50 different countries. Looking at God’s Word through African eyes in this way has produced the most ethnically diverse biblical resource to date. The English edition was launched in 2017.

Access to the Word of God is the most important way to build transformational communities.

These two organizations: Oasis International and Medical Ambassadors reveal the power of collaboration and inspire us to continue our collaborative efforts here at Hope for Congo.

Greater technology is available to help spread the gospel. Billy Graham said, “The harvest fields are riper, the grain is thicker, and the instruments that technology has provided are sharper. I see no reason why we could not touch the entire youth population of the world with the good news of the Gospel—let’s make that our goal.”

Hope for Congo is focused on the next generation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Let’s ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into His fields. Let’s be obedient in giving, praying, and going to the field as God gives us opportunity.

As we are obedient to do what is possible for us to do, God will do the impossible.

© 2018 Hope4Congo

Kandale Spring by Brad Graber

The walk to the spring at Kandale is a daily routine for many women and children. The village sits on top of a plateau and the spring is located down in the valley, about a 30 to 45 minute walk.
My brother, Stan and I walked down to the spring during our visit to the village in October 2017. We hoped we could install a Ram pump to provide fresh spring water at a location within the village.

Follow along with us through words and photos as we share the journey we took.
The path wound its way down into the valley—a drop in elevation of 270 feet from the village to the spring. Portions of the path were easily managed and the slope was not too difficult to walk. But other times the path was narrow, steep, and washed out. Still, the beauty of the view took our breath away.
During our walk we met a steady stream of people coming and going. The photos show some of them, including children who were all seven years old or younger.

It is not unusual to see young children helping to get water—it is the norm in the DRC. Women and children are tasked with getting water each day. An entire day can be spent obtaining water for the family. Many children never get an opportunity to go to school because of the daily need for water.
We followed the children through an opening between the trees. As we reached the final descent to the spring we heard the sounds of activity, voices, and water running downstream from the spring. The shade provided cool relief from the extreme heat.
Stan and I found two very strong spring water sources feeding into one stream. Our hopes were high that a Ram pump might be a good option.
People washed clothes, took baths or filled their water jugs. The containers came in all sizes and shapes—bright yellow or blue plastic—referred to as jerry cans. The jerry cans weighed 40 pounds or more when fully filled.
These bright colored plastic containers reminded us of the water crisis, which exists around the world for millions of people in third world countries. People spend hours each day with some sort of container strapped securely on their backs, held tightly to their hips or balanced on their heads. The average distance to a water source for people in the third world is 6 kilometers or 3.7 miles.
We followed the people back to the village. Most of them carried the water on their heads. Their trek uphill was even more arduous as the women and children lugged the heavy containers. The return trip took longer and required more precious energy—energy that required more food to sustain them. As we’ve mentioned previously, people in the DRC already live constantly on the edge of hunger.
(Editor note: Imagine carrying 40 pounds of water on your head. It makes my head and neck hurt just to think about it. To carry it up a steep hill seems a daunting task.)
After our visit in October, Stan and I received news of a mudslide. It totally destroyed the spring. The village was devastated.

Since then Kandale villagers have found a new water source, but it is even farther away than the spring. A Ram pump is no longer a viable option to bring water into the village.

A Village Drill is the best course of action for Kandale now. The Village Drill is a manual-drilling rig that will allow us to dig down to a depth of 220 feet.

We have the money to purchase the drill and ship it to Congo. But we need an additional $20,000 before we can begin drilling for water at Kandale. The additional money will cover the costs of training workers, purchasing supplies, and transportation within the DRC.

It is our prayer and Hope4Congo that we can bring relief to the people with a well that is located in close proximity to the village. This would provide them with clean safe drinking water. This would allow the women to spend their days in more productive ways. This would allow the children time to attend school.

Your donations to Hope4Congo will allow us to bring change to Kandale and other villages through the use of the Village Drill.

Please consider how you might bring Hope4Congo.

Donations may be made via mail to:
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM)
P.O. Box 744
Goshen, IN 46527-0744
Designate your gift is for: Hope4Congo
Specify: Please use for the Village Drill

You can also make an online donation at: http://www.aimmintl.org/
On AIMM’s web page, click on the donate tab. Below the $0.00
Click on the phrase: “Add special instructions to the seller”
In the area that opens, please note you wish your gift to be given to
Hope4Congo and tell us where you wish your donation to be used.
For example: Village Drill

Reminder: Everyone here at Hope4Congo is a volunteer.
No one receives a salary or any pay for his or her work.
Your gift will be used specifically where you ask it to be used.

© 2018 Hope4Congo

Do It for Me

“ . . . ‘Master . . . When did we ever see you thirsty and give you a drink?’ . . .”
“ . . . Then the King will say . . . ‘Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored . . . you did it to me.’ ”
“ . . . Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored . . . you failed to do it for me.’ . . .” (Matthew 25:31 – 46 MSG)

Nearly one billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. Most are in undeveloped or underserved portions of the world.

Hope for Congo has researched various methods to bring water to the villages we serve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Village Drill is our choice for the job.

The Village Drill was engineered to offer affordable, reliable access to borehole drilling technology for the developing world. It can drill through most substrates including rock to a depth of 250 feet.

All this can be done manually using mechanically simple and efficient equipment that can be broken down and transported easily from location to location.

Hope for Congo received a $20,000 grant from the Schowalter Foundation to purchase a Village Drill. We are excited about this opportunity to bring life-saving water wells to the DRC using this drill.

Hope for Congo needs to raise an additional $20,000 to begin drilling.
The additional monies will be used to:
• Ship the drill to the DRC
• Transport the unit in country
• Train operators
• Provide material and necessary supplies
• Make our first well fully operational

Estimated cost to drill one well and install a hand-operated pump: $8,000

Our goal is to begin drilling our first well in early 2019. We encourage you to give what you can . . . be it a small or large amount. Please give according to your ability.

We have a tremendous opportunity to serve King Jesus as we give our thirsty Congolese brothers and sisters access to safe drinking water. We encourage you to share this opportunity with your friends and family and your local church so they too may participate in blessing these villages.

Donations may be made via mail to:
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM)
P.O. Box 744
Goshen, IN 46527-0744
Designate your gift as “Hope4Congo”

You can also make an online donation at: http://www.aimmintl.org/
On AIMM’s web page, click on the donate tab. Below the $0.00
Click on the phrase: “Add special instructions to the seller”
In the area that opens, please note you wish your gift to be given to Hope4Congo and tell us where you wish your donation to be used. For example: Village Drill, Farm to Market, Bible, etc. or wherever needed most.

© 2018 Hope4Congo

Update on Farm to Market Project at Ndjoko Punda

by Brad Graber

The Farm to Market Project began in January 2018 at Ndjoko Punda under the leadership of Joseph Mbuyi. The purpose is to help alleviate the food crisis in the Kasai through community food production.

The participation of young people is important to the long-term success of the project. Youth will learn through hands-on practice about market gardening and animal breeding principles. Not only will they contribute significantly to the church and their community through their efforts, but they will also grow leadership skills.

 

We began this project through the purchase of:
• Basic agricultural equipment
• Supplies to build rabbit hutches, fencing,
and corralling for other breeding stock.
• Vegetable seed to plant

 

As you can see from the photos, the team’s hard work, perseverance, and commitment have contributed to the current successes.

Proceeds from the sale of livestock: rabbits, chickens, pigs, etc. will be used to finance on-going agricultural activities, contribute to the local economy, and raise the standard of living, health, and wellbeing of the local community.

Hope for Congo is motivated to invest in the next generation. We want to provide tools and resources to move the next generation forward.

You, our Hope for Congo donors, and the Schowalter Foundation provide funding for this project. Your continued prayers and donations will help Hope for Congo and our partners at Ndjoko Punda continue this effort. We hope it will grow beyond Ndjoko Punda so they will take what they have learned and share it with other communities.

Donations may be sent to Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission.
Designate your gift for: Hope4Congo’s Farm to Market Project

Mail your tax-deductible US Dollar Donation to:
AIMM (Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission)
1013 Division St.
P.O. Box 744
Goshen, IN 46527-0744
USA

Mail your tax-deductible Canadian Dollars Donations to:
AIMM
440 Main Street
Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5

You can also make an online donation at:
http://www.aimmintl.org/

On AIMM’s web page, click on the donate tab.
Below the $0.00 Click on the phrase:
“Add special instructions to the seller”
In the area that opens, please note you wish your gift to be
given to Hope4Congo and tell us where you wish your
donation to be used: Farm to Market, Bible, Medical, etc. or wherever needed most.

Thank you for your help and prayers for the people of DRC. We are all volunteers here at the Hope4Congo ministry. No one receives any compensation. Your tax deductible gift goes directly to support the work for the Congolese people.

© 2018 Hope4Congo

 

Spring 2018 Leadership Seminars

We think you’ll enjoy the Congo Leadership Coaching Network video log. Click on the link to open. If it does not work. Paste the link in your browser.

Please pray that the good seed sown by the teams’ efforts will take root and bear good fruit. And as always, remember to pray for peace in the DRC.

© 2018 Hope4Congo