What God Can Do Through You in Our Pilgrimage to Bring Changes to Many Lives
By Rev Fohle Lygunda li-M
My encounter with Christ has led to a cross-cultural ministry
I was born to Christian parents in Congo (Zaire). One year after, a rebillion broke out in 1964 and my father was accused of being a spy for the white people. Arrested and beaten almost to death, he only held on to life through the miraculous intervention of God. It was in this way that he fled with his entire family to the Equateur province, far from his home region, in the midst of people of other cultures. It was in this cross-cultural context that I grew up.
In my ministry, God has simply taught me that, if I accept serving him, it must be for a global cause. This learning has greatly affected my vision for the church and for my Christian ministry in general. My vision of the ministry was very narrow, connected only to my church, Congo Covenant Church (Communaute Evangelique de l'Ubangi-Mongala, CEUM). I considered myself to be a Pastor in the CEUM, a servant of Christ in and for my denomination. But after, I startd to consider myself to be a pastor in the CEUM but also as a servant of Christ for the world. I no longer saw myself as a Pastor of the CEUM exclusively. This step has led me to travel throughout Africa and overseas (America, Europe, and Asia) to share the vision God has given me.
What occurs now in my ministry is the product of a long process with the Lord. My family and I have worked with CEUM in pastoral care, pastors training, church administration and missions department since 1989. After 14 years of denominational ministry, due to what God has been doing through us, the church recognized our call for the cross-cultural ministry. I was allowed to quit the position of Director of Cabinet. Working full time in the Missions Center we set up with an interdonominational perspective. This happened officially on February 27, 2003. The first Center was inaugurated in Gbadolite, DRC, on March 2, 2003. The second in Gemena, DRC, on August 2, 2003. The thir in Bumba, DRC, on September 2, 2003. The fourth in Bangui, CAR, on October 27, 2003, where my family has served as missionaries until July 31, 2004 before moving to Knshasa, DRCongo in August 2004.
A New Perspective of Harvesting Through the Fire Line
The Mission Center in the Heart of Africa is a interdonominational non-profit Christian ministry, with an international missionary vision. Headquartered in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, this ministry exists in three countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Congo-Brazzaville), with contact in three other countries (Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea). Since March 2003, its 396 students to date have included participants from 55 Christian denominations (Evangelicals, Baptists, Pentecostals, and others).
This new ministry serves all denominations and has a three-fold objective: Mobilize churches for missions, Training church members (pastors and lay people) in missions, and sending out African missionaries to disciple unreached groups. We believe that these are three main keys in our context to release an effective mission movement.
Why must we mobilize? Because most people think that mission is matter of white and wealth people of the West. Our citizens need to catch the vision (Jn 4:35, Mt 9:37, 38). That is why we are leading mission seminars, conferences and workshops for all churches.
Why must we train? Because most people need more than preaching. They need to be trained (not just to be taught) on how to get involved with a strong commitment in God’s mission. All church members (not just pastors) need this training to make the local church responsible for the mission movement (Ac.13 :1-5; Mt.28:20). There are five training programs that people can take on a part-time basis while working:
- Cross-cultural Ministry with concentration on Urban, Islam, Animism, HIV-AIDS (6 months)
- Bible Training Center for Pastors to help them to be mission-minded leaders (20 months)
- Leadership Empowerment for Holistic Ministry for the elite to urge them to serve God through their professional skills (1-3 months, depending on the schedule)
- Mission Research and Publication to collect first-hand testimonies on what God is doing in cross-cultural ministry through Central African countries, publish them in the Dictionary of African Christian Biography www.dacb.org and to use them as tools of motivation (1-3 months)
- Youth in Mission to prepare a pro-active generation for the Harvest (1-3 months)
Why must we send? Because most of our churches are not ready to move beyond their geographical and denominational barriers even though many Christians seem to be ready to get involved in cross-cultural ministry. Can we help those people to move with God ? (Jn.20:21 ; Lk.4:42,43 ; Mt.28:19). So, we feel more as « facilitators » than as "mission statesmen".
The vision for the future by the end of 2008
We have a great dream for the future, but we also know and believe that without approved leadership and a team of skilled colleagues, that future will be compromised.
Our priorities from now:
Priority 1) Being mentally and spiritually well prepared myself. here at OMSC after several years of overwork with stress;
Priority 2) Having a property in Kinshasa to hold the Headquarters and the 5 training programs above;
Priority 3) Training and mentoring our team ministry by delegating more and more responsibilities in mobilizing, training and going to mission;
Priority 4) With our team, and starting in August 2005, mobilize 5,000 Christian families in Congo to adopt 20 African missionaries by the end of 2008 in 5 countries;
- challenge 250 mega-churches from different African denominations to partner for mission:
- encourage 250 church and secular leaders to catch the vision and to become more supportive to African initiatives for mission;
- teach 20 million auditors of broadcasting programs through audio-tapes;
- help at least 1,000 students from different Theological Seminaries in Congo to catch the vision while in preparation to the future ministry;
- continue with our 5 training programs in Kinshasa.
God can use you to prepare this future with us:
- By praying for us and sharing this prayer request with someone in your church or City.
- By writing and encouraging us (Your can also get our update).
- By contributing materially and/or financially to Priority 2 & 4 (above).
- By donating $25 or more per month to help us to produce locally, training material: 5,000 audiotapes, 3 textbooks.
To get the current mail address and where you can send your contribution, write to: cemicago@yahoo.fr
Rev Fohle Lygunda li-M
The verse which led me to Jesus in 1979, at age 16, was from Proverbs 11:20, " . . . and he who wins souls is wise." The preacher helped me to know that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom . . . and that he who is wise, should win souls. After my secondary studies (grades 7-12) I could only find work in a school belonging to Muslims. What a temptation for my faith! I worked there until the moment when the council of my church designated me to begin pastoral studies (1986-1989). Today, when I look back at the history of my lift, I find that God has allowed all the circumstances of my life so that I may accomplish His will through a cross-cultural ministry.
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