Turmoil in Congo
The political uncertainty and conflict within Democratic Republic of Congo affected the travels of Africa director Nzash Lumeya and a team of short-term workers in mid-June. He and Dr. John Redekop reached the country, however, and had an unexpectedly large meeting with 200 pastors in Kitwit. Redekop, author of Christian and Civil Disobedience, intended to connect with Christians inside and outside the MB Conference to talk about the situation in the country. A prayer and praise service was planned for June 19 in a large Protestant cathedral in Kinshasa. Prayer is solicited for this time of turmoil in Congo. When there is unrest, especially in the eastern part of the country, the churches are often in the middle of the violence.
Commitment in Mexico completed
In 1992, MBMS International joined the Committee for United Mission by Anabaptists (CUMA) to establish churches in Mexico City. While the 10-year project officially closed in 2002, some team members stayed to finalize their work. Gordon and Dora Isaak have now returned to Abbotsford, B.C. and Jon and Juana Pritchard to Kansas. Ilone Kasdorf, sent to serve alongside these couples, will be working with another MB church planting team in Guadalajara for the rest of her short-term assignment. Six churches have been formed under the CUMA project. The leadership in at least two of these churches is actively engaged in starting new churches as well as sending out national missionaries.
A perfect ending in Thailand
Stephanie Schroeder of Saskatchewan, who has been serving English-speaking neighbours in the Chonburi region of Thailand with Team 2000 since last September, had a very meaningful encounter to end her short-term assignment. She and Decky, a Hindu woman from Nepal, had been meeting every week for some time. At their last meeting, Decky shared that she had dreamt she was in the presence of God, which had made her very happy. The subsequent conversation led to Decky grasping what repentance was. She prayed for forgiveness and told God she wanted to follow His path.
—MBMSI “Global Bridge” newsletter
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