How Do They Do It?

New Church Start in Mbandaka - Bokilimba

We know that we have much to learn from our Congolese partners, and one of them is how to "plant" a church.  Obviously, you need a place to hold worship, and we put a lot of time and money into making that happen early in the process.  For the Congolese, if there is a need for a church, they make it happen - quickly.  For this new church, a few posts and a roof of palm branches is enough to begin, and by the second Sunday, there are more than 100 at the worship service.  I am sharing this wonderful story from Rev. Ilumbe, the Principal Supervising Pastor (regional minister) of the Mbandaka Post of the 10th Community-Disciples of Christ in Congo.  It is another learning point that they are concerned about the whole person - soul, certainly, but also mind and health.  But they start with the soul.

"Dear Rev. Rick

I have the joy of sending you photos of a new church in the district of Bokilimba, which is 4 kilometers from the town center.  The residents of the district have difficulty attending worship regularly because of the distance to the nearest parish. In addition, their children go to school on foot a long way, and the same is true for health and medical services, as there is no clinic near. Thus we thought it useful to begin to plant a new church which will enable more development bit by bit.  The church has been open only three weeks. The first Sunday we had 45 participants in worship, the second Sunday 114 and 111 the third. There is a trained teacher whose job is evangelism. Rosette and I visited the third Sunday to offer them encouragement, and to take these pictures.

We are praying so much that this new church may develop into a viable congregation like the others.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I pray for blessings for you and our friends in Indiana.

Révérend ILUMBE NDJONGO Bernard, PSP Mbandaka. "