75th Anniversary Celebration

The days are running.  We just finished with the 75^th Anniversary celebration of the Covenant Church in Congo, and it was an epic event – two days of 8 hour long church services?! President Gary Walter said it well:

“I’ve heard Alaskans talk with pride about how if Alaska was cut in half, Texas would still be the third largest state, not the second.  As with the church service we had today, if it was cut in half, it would still be the two longest services I have ever attended.”

Opening ceremonies, complete with a salute from the Congolese military.

True statement. Despite long days, it was a blessing to revisit the united history of the ECC and CEUM in Congo, look at where we have come from, learn from successes and mistakes, and map a new pathway forward for the future. 

There were around 25 foreigners present at the celebrations, mostly Americans, and representatives from Canada, South Sudan, Kenya, Central African Republic and Congo- Brazzaville.  The celebration highlighted the diversity of the church through Mbaka, Mbandi and Pygmie cultural programs and songs in French, English,  Lingala, Swahili, Mbaka, Mbandi and more!

Foreigners! Mostly representing past and current missionaries to the Congo and current Covenant offices reps.  It was great to be together to reflect and learn.

I was encouraged by the celebration of different cultures represented, and also by the time given to women to talk about their role in the church.  Pastor Esther and Reverend Kikwiti encouraged women of the church to take their place and to take up roles of leadership in their homes, communities and churches.  When women’s rights were discussed there was still snickering in the crowd, a reminder that we have a long way yet to go.  But with our first three ordained women’s pastors in the CEUM, they have blazed the trail for young women leaders who will come after them. 

The pygmie group travelled hundreds of miles by bike to be here for the celebration. They had previously been an excluded and marginalized people group in this region, so it was great to see them have a special time of prayer and recognition during the ceremonies.

Cultural programs celebrated mbaka culture of the past - people are not wearing grass clothing and body paint today.  The group in white are the "majorettes" and dance beautifully! The group includes girls age 7-11.

To my left are Rev. Kikwiti and Rev. Kanda, two of the CEUM's ordained women pastors.  They are my friends, co-workers and co-visionaries for our collective work with women's ministry and development.

Today, I went to the field bordering the new girls school with Rev. Mama Kanda (one of the 3 ordained women pastors) and we prepared the land to plant peanuts and corn.  We are experimenting with a method called “Foundations for Farming” using principles of sustainable agriculture to double corn yields.  Once we see the method working well, we will have the girls in the community learn and share this new technique that will help feed this community where malnutrition is one of the major battles the Congolese face everyday.  

A miraculous expectation, that we find a hope for our future in a seed.