Charles Buller (left) of the Congo Leadership Support Network has invited Leonard Kiswangi (right), a partner in ministry from the Congo, to speak at Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen on Sunday, January 31st at 6:00 p.m.
Leonard has been instrumental in helping to get the Leadership Coaching Network off the ground.The Congo Leadership Support Network’s goal is to provide support to hundreds of pastors in the Congo who currently lack the ministry and marriage resources they need to be able to thrive for the long haul.
In order to travel, Leonard needed to obtain his travel visa. This is no small feat in Congo. Leonard described how God intervened.
Leonard was in the waiting room with many of the country’s dignitaries – some of whom were receiving visas and some who were not. When his name was called, the interviewer was only excited about what this trip would mean for Leonard and gave him the ‘green light’ without a hitch or a grilling. Leonard saw it as the clear favor of God.
Mr. Kiswangi’s English is easy to understand, and his style exceptionally personable and refreshing. For those unable to join the meeting in person, go to www.ustream.tv, click ‘watch’ and type in “Charles & Leonard” in the search option. Or you can simply click here: www.ustream.tv/channel/d9b9cQt7YHx If that fails to take you to the appropriate page then type the web address into your browser’s search bar at the time and date given.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Revelation 7:9, “After this I saw a vast crowd too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the lamb”. This great crowd along with the angels were worshiping and glorifying God. Their faith and hope in things eternal have become a reality.
This picture is reflective of our missional God. Hope for Congo continues to be missional laying up treasures in heaven where things do not waste away and wear out. We want to participate in changing the narrative from hopelessness to hope.
The story is told of some men bringing a paralyzed man on a bed to Jesus. Because of the crowd they were not able to get to Jesus so they decided to take the man up on the roof and let him down on his bed through the tiles.
The paralyzed man’s friends were instrumental in changing the narrative for their friend from one of hopelessness to hope. Their hope in turn became a reality. The man was healed.
Realized hope always produces more than the specific event. This event was more than a physical healing. The crowd was amazed and awed. The man was healed and his sins were forgiven. Everyone went away glorifying God and saying, “We have seen amazing things today!”
Jesus saw their faith and responded. God is the source of all hope. Hebrews says that faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
If we are going to truly change the narrative in Congo we must look to God and trust Him with the narrative.
We cannot do it alone. Your continued interest, prayers and giving will allow us to continue our investment in:
• individual lives
• printing Bibles
• tools and resources
Thank you for all the ways you have helped Hope for Congo in changing the narrative, we look forward to what God wants to do in and through us collectively in 2016.
With your help Stan and I would like to continue investing in Congo and return for a needed visit in 2016 God willing. Please pray to that end and may we see amazing things to God’s glory.
We like to keep you informed about what other Christian ministry groups are doing in Congo and the rest of Africa when appropriate.
Walk to Emmaus Leaders in Ghana, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are organizing to form a wall of prayer across Africa in an effort to stop the influence of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS from spreading further south.
Please join your prayers with theirs that Boko Haram and ISIS persecutors would be turned from evil. Pray that the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ would be spread across Africa instead.
The objective of Walk to Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and equip local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, communities and workplaces. Read more about their ministry through the Upper Room devotional magazine’s website.
In today’s post, Stan and Brad’s mother, Gladys tells us about Christmas in Congo.
“Suppose you could spend Christmas in the Republic of Congo, Africa. You could leave your mittens, caps, boots, and coats at home. No chance of a white Christmas.
“You would avoid the many weeks of preparation, the busy streets, and all the glitter of the season. On Christmas morning people marching through the mission compound blowing goat horns, singing, and shouting, would awaken you before dawn. Later festively dressed people would gather at the church for worship, coming in clans and being led by their chiefs. People would bring an offering of produce or money carefully folded into a handcrafted envelope.
“A program at the church is planned for the evening as people come bringing kerosene lanterns to light the church. Talented young people enact the tableau of the manger scene. Not-so-quiet goats complicate the scene. Most dramatic are the wise men who enter at the rear of the church and slowly make their way to the front all the while looking overhead where a large star is moved forward on a wire strung along the rafters. It takes a long time for these searching wise men to reach the manger.
“Gift giving is not a part of the day, but one year our family gave a dinner for the Bible Institute students the day before Christmas. Gift boxes were given to each family. Among other items there were simple, small purses intended for the women and t-shirts intended for the children. On Christmas morning we noticed that some “re-gifting” had taken place: The men had the purses and the women were wearing the t-shirts.
“Missionaries appreciated the wild poinsettias for decorating as well as some small berries that could be gathered in the forest that were a good substitute for cranberries.
“The most important part of your Christmas in the Congo would be to see the difference the Gospel message has made in so many lives.
“They understand the love of God in sending His only begotten son to be the Savior to all who put their trust in Him.” ~Gladys Graber, Missionary to Congo/Zaire
Brad and Stan are trapped at the banks of the Kasai River. A drunken policeman and his equally drunken buddies block their way. Dr. David and youth from the church at Ndjoko Punda (the village across the river) are arguing with the policeman. Stan and Brad have sat down to wait under a tree. We pick up our story as the argument has escalated.
The babble of voices increased to higher decibels as several of the youth joined in the shouting match. Tempers flared. Arms flailed in excited gestures. Enraged shrieks split the night air.
“This is going nowhere fast,” Brad said. “What are we going to do?”
“Yes. It’s dangerous.” Stan thought a moment. “What would Dad do? He’d pray.” Stan rose and stood just outside the angry group. In a loud voice he said in Tshiluba, “Let us pray.”
The arguing ceased instantly. Silence. Startling after so much noise.
Stan continued in Tshiluba, “Lord, we’ve just made a long trip. We’re hot. We’re sweaty. And we’re tired. We’ve come to help the church at Ndjoko Punda and encourage the believers there. We just want to get to the other side of this river so we can go to bed and get some sleep. We know that YOU are all powerful and YOU can solve this problem and get us to the other side. Amen.”
Hushed, the policeman and his friends stepped aside like a parting of the Red Sea.
Dr. David smiled. Brad clapped Stan on the shoulder. They boarded the canoe with all the young men and slipped silently across the river to the village.
***
True stories of God’s deliverance help put daily frustrations into perspective for me.
What about you? What’s happening in your life today? Don’t allow a small problem to get in the way of a big God. Reach for the fire from heaven.
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It’s after 2:00 a.m.
Stan and Brad are exhausted from their long jarring road trip. They have finally arrived at the Kasai River across from their desired destination, Ndjoko Punda. Dr. David and several young men are ready to take them across the river in their canoe. Only one problem….
The young men from the village were almost finished packing the canoe when the policeman came. His drinking buddies trailed behind. Together the men formed a line, blocking Stan and Brad’s way to the river.
In a drunken drawl, the policeman yelled a demand. “Let me see your papers!”
“You don’t need to see their papers. These men are the children of former missionaries. They’ve come to help our village. They’ve brought supplies for the hospital,” Dr. David said.
“Are you interfering with me?” The policeman bellowed his question. He waved the doctor aside.
Stan and Brad produced their papers.
The policeman staggered over to the fire. He squinted at the papers in the flickering light. Teetering unsteadily, he returned to them. “State your business here.”
“We’ve brought supplies for the hospital at Ndjoko Punda.” Stan’s voice was quiet and respectful. Brad nodded his agreement.
Dr. David spoke again, “Alright, you’ve seen their papers. Now let them pass. We need to get these men to the village.”
“You can’t go across the river tonight,” the officer said. “The river is rushing too wildly. It isn’t safe to cross at night.”
One of the church youth flung his arms outward. “It isn’t safe to stay here at night.”
“These men are my guests.” The doctor stepped between the policeman and the brothers. “We’ll get them safely across.”
Four of the policeman’s sidekicks surrounded David.
“He’s the policeman!” one of the sidekicks shouted.
Another man screeched in a high-pitched voice, “He’s in charge! You have to do what he says.”
“That’s right. You need his permission to do anything!” a third comrade hollered.
A fourth man rubbed his fingers together. “Yes. Permission. You need permission.”
Stan and Brad collapsed under a tree as the argument continued.
“They want money,” Brad said. “And lots of it.”
“Yep.” Wearily, Stan rested his elbows on his knees. “All the authority, but no pay. It’s no surprise they depend on bribes to feed their families. A drowning man will grab at anything that comes along,” he quoted the Congolese saying.
Brad fanned his face with his hat. “I think he’s taking his courage from the bottle and his buddies.” He leaned against the tree. “I’m beat. A whole day just to get to the river. Now this.”
The babble of voices increased to higher decibels as several of the youth joined in the shouting match. Tempers flared. Arms flailed in excited gestures. Enraged shrieks split the night air.
“This is going nowhere fast,” Brad said. “What are we going to do?”
***
Charles Buller (left) of the Congo Leadership Support Network has invited Leonard Kiswangi (right), a partner in ministry from the Congo, to speak at Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen on Sunday, January 31st at 6:00 p.m.
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