MBMSI announces new projects in the DR Congo

Mennonite Brethren have been involved in the Congo since the 1920s, investing in training, education and social ministries. This resulted in a rapidly-growing, strong, evangelistic church of some 92,000 members with a good leadership core. While the church grew strong, however, the country slid into economic chaos. Although conditions are beginning to improve, the Congolese people continue to suffer under severe economic and social conditions.

Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International (MBMSI) recently received a new grant from CIDA, the Canadian International Development Agency, for development projects in Congo. The MBMSI–CIDA project primarily targets the former MB mission field in the Bandundu province. Households in the area depend primarily on agriculture production, processing and marketing – activities currently at a standstill. Poor health services further reduce productivity. Since women are the primary producers for household consumption, they are the ones most in need of assistance.

MBMS International is committed to continued long-term ministry. The total amount of the initial project is $310,000 Cdn., $200,000 of which will come from CIDA. Matching funds of $110,000 Cdn. are required to make this project a success. Based on the success of this 18-month project, application will be made for an extension of at least three years.

The project has three components:

• Support for the Centre for Peace-building, Leadership, and Good Governance in its efforts to promote better approaches to conflict resolution and to develop leadership in the church and community.
• Providing essential medicines to local health centres in the form of a “medicine credit line.” This will encourage improved management capacity and allow the centres to establish a revolving fund to assure a regular supply of essential medicines at a lower cost.
• Enabling existing savings and loan associations to provide credit in manageable amounts, increasing their lending capacity as their management capacity develops. Loans using funding that is community-controlled and accountable will be made to existing micro-enterprises. Training will be a central feature of this component.

Care will be taken to ensure that women participate fully in all activities. The project will be monitored through regular reporting and field visits by the MBMSI–CIDA Project coordination committee.

The Mennonite Mission Health Association (MMHA) is partnering with MBMSI to help raise the $65,000 medicine portion of the matching grant. MMHA president, Dr. Ferd Pauls, was formerly an MBMSI medical missionary in Congo.

In addition to the MBMSI–CIDA project, a large renovation project has begun through MBMSI for education facility renewal at the Christian University of Kinshasa. The Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. is contributing both funds and volunteers for this project. Together these projects bring MBMSI’s new investment in Congo to a total of $430,000 Cdn.

For more details, or to contribute to the project (number C0437), contact Ernie Dyck or Murray Nickel through MBMSI.

—Global Bridge