Dear Friends, Mbote from DRC!

In December -08 I spent time teaching biblical studies at Faculte de Missiologie de Katanga FMK (Katanga Missiology School, KMS) in the Democratic Republic of Congo,(DRC) Africa. The school is located in Lubumbashi, a city with 3 million people. The city is well known as the “copper belt” city. There are 18 Congolese students enrolled at KMS. Most of them are in their 30s. They are leaders in their local churches and are being equipped for cross-cultural ministries. The school is run by Jean-Pierre Mwamba (Dean) and Didier Mukotshi (Academic Dean).

The eleven first chapters of the book of Genesis were taught to introduce the biblical God as the Maker of the heavens, earth and all that dwells in the universe except the evil. The mission of God in Genesis 1 to 11 consists in making life out of no life, wisely sustaining it and kindly ruling over it.

The Mission of God was described in cultural terms of a Congolese Diyoto. It has three components: invitation, reflection and co-participation. The Mbala people in Bandundu province of DRC practice Diyoto to help each other. When a farmer is overwhelmed by an abundance of harvest and needs assistance in the rainy season, he/she calls on neighbors. Many of them accept the invitation and bring needed tools and food to come alongside to tackle the task. Once the harvest is done, celebration brings the village together. God’s Mission as a divine global Diyoto challenges Congolese Christians to participate globally in world mission.  
Twice on provincial television and once on the radio, the Lord allowed me to introduce Christ as the True Ruler who came and is about to come to comfort and judge our world.

In Kinshasa, I spent time discussing ways to pay taxes to Congolese officials for the Mission school. $30,000 is needed for this. 
I also attended the pastoral ordinations of two former students, Fifi (Baptist church) and Pascal (African initiated charismatic church). I met with some government officials to talk about the war and the misery that more than 250,000 misplaced Congolese are plunged into. Both Church and state leaders are longing for peace.

There are more than 80 students in mission programs at the Missiological University Center, led by Sita Luemba (President) and Nzuzi Mukawa (Academic Dean). The administrator, Noah Kuka, is managing campus logistics well in tough financial times. Maintenance work is needed on campus.

In Kikwit, I received the report about the work in Kafumba and Malela. Bicycles are being used for transportation of farm products to the market, evangelism in surrounding villages, and transportation of sick patients to the hospital in Kikwit. The two doctors serving Kafumba and Malela are underpaid but faithful. Salaries are irregular.

Become part of the Mission Diyoto in prayer for peace in Congo, job creation and mission training! We thank you for joining us financially as God, through us, sustains this exciting work. Your contribution can be given to Lumeya International Ministries, P.O. Box 15 383, and Fresno, CA 93702.