Africa Journal Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission International Central Council
P.O. Box 744 Goshen, IN 46527; 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Canada
Phone: 574-535-0077 Email: [email protected] Web: www.aimmintl.org
Vol, 19, September 2014
Explosion of Baptisms helps prompt
Theological Reflection
Christmas 2013 and Easter 2014 together saw 9 congregations of the Evangelical Mennonite
Church of Burkina Faso (EEMBF) baptize a total of 107 new believers. This church
community was listed with Mennonite World Conference in July 2013 as having 420
members. A year later, that figure has jumped to 563, a 34% increase. Part of the response
of church leadership to this growth, has been to develop a catechism for the instruction of
baptismal candidates, to be used by congregational leaders across the church.
This initiative, led by the committee pictured below, is a sign of the growing confidence of
Burkina Faso’s church leadership in their ability to articulate theology and ethics which
respond specifically to their context, rather than relying on “cookie cutter” catechisms,
many of which would be easily available from outside sources.
The initiative builds on the recent
development of “Basic Bible
Training”, EEMBF’s first self-
designed, taught and administered
leadership training program, which
prepares young potential leaders to
serve the church through a 3 year
Jula language series of courses.
Left side: Pastor Daouda Traoré, Nancy Frey (Mennonite Mission
Network), Pastor Abdias Coulibaly Right side: Pastor Siaka
Traoré, Calixte Bananzaro, Kari Traoré, Fabe Traoré.
In our cover photo Lydie Yougbaré
declares her faith in Jesus, is baptized
and joins the Bobo Dioulasso
congregation of the Evangelical
Mennonite church of Burkina Faso.
God is growing the church in Burkina Faso…
Newly baptized believers in
Sidi, Burkina Faso
The Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso is experiencing tremendous
growth as new believers receive baptism and become members of the church. According to
recent reports by Mennonite Mission Network and Siaka Traoré, national president of the
Burkina Faso church, many are making the decision to be baptized in a context where
Muslims make up the majority of the population. Each individual counts the cost and still
desires to be baptized.
When asked about the expanding church Traore said, “I cannot explain this wave of interest,
other than to say that I believe God wants to grow the church.” He went on to say
“Those who choose baptism are people fully conscious of what they want.” The choice to
receive Jesus as Lord and Savior may result in ridicule and persecution, yet in the face of this
reality many still choose a new life in Christ and membership in the church.
Adapted from a news release by Mennonite Mission Network.
Hakilitiguiya
Primary School,
Colma, Bobo Dioulasso
Hakilitiguiya is a Jula word meaning “wisdom”. It is the name that leaders from the
Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso (EEMBF) have given to the new primary
school taking shape in the Colma district of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second city.
This school is being born out of EEMBF’s mission vision. Church leadership was seeking a way
into the Colma community, a way in which the church’s witness could be shared through
building relationships. The idea of a primary school was shared with the circle of AIMM
partner churches. Help to finance the 3 classroom school came from the Caisse de Secours of
the Mennonite Church of France;
the Evangelical Mennonite
Conference; and AIMM. Church
President Siaka Traoré applied to
the National Ministry of Education
for permission to run a private
school, which has been granted.
Teachers are being recruited from
the ranks of the Evangelical
Mennonite Church, while
construction on the school building
continues. President Traoré states,
“We give thanks to God for how
each part of this project has come together.
While our friends in the North were mobilizing in order to make this project a reality, our
national authorities in turn have approved our contribution to educational work by according
this school legal status. Thanks for your prayers. We will make every effort in order that for
Colma’s population and for our authorities, Hakilitiguiya would become a positive point of
reference.”
AIMM’s International Central Council (ICC)
Visits Sierra Leone At the request of AIMM’s International Central Council, ICC President Siaka Traoré,
accompanied by Kari Traoré, traveled to Freetown, Sierra Leone March 24-April 1, 2014. The
trip was planned because the Christ
Salvation Bible Ministry (CSBM) church,
based in Freetown, is seeking
membership with Africa Inter-
Mennonite Mission.
CSBM Pastor Solomon Bandor became
aware of Mennonites and AIMM through
a friendship with Canadian Mennonite
businessman Brian Dyck. Dyck has
played an intermediary role, contacting
AIMM and encouraging our organization
to connect with CSBM, while at the same
time encouraging CSBM to explore a
relationship with a Mennonite organization.
Siaka and Kari were very well received during their stay in Freetown. They were able to
participate in worship services and evangelistic meetings as well as in informal discussion.
They were impressed with the ministry initiatives of CSBM including primary education and
soccer ministry. Their visit report recommended further exploration of a relationship with
CSBM. Pastor Bandor and one of his ministry colleagues plan to attend AIMM’s annual ICC
meeting in October 2014.
left to right: Pastor Solomon Bandor of Christ Salvation Bible Ministries; Pastor Emmanuel Mbawa, Bandor’s
mentor; Pastor Siaka Traoré, ICC President.
The Anabaptist Network in
South Africa (ANiSA)
Prepares for the Future
ANiSA is seeking to strengthen its local
leadership base by sending one of its
members for further training to Anabaptist
Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN.
Andrew Suderman (Mennonite Church
Canada), who works as an organizer and
networker for ANiSA, explains:
“Mzwandile Nkutha has over the past three years become more and more involved in the life
and leadership of ANiSA. He began by first participating in the ANiSA Dialogues held in
Johannesburg. He then became part of the ANiSA Planning Team for the Gauteng area (the
team that puts on the Dialogues). He was also one of the planning members for the first
ANiSA Theological Conference that was held in October 2013 and has also become part of
the ANiSA Steering Committee. Mzwandile has a Bachelor of Theology degree from the
Baptist College in Johannesburg and he is currently finishing a Masters Program at St.
Augustine’s College of South Africa. He is very passionate about peace, justice, and
reconciliation, as well as the contribution Anabaptism and its theology and witness has made
and can make in South Africa.
Mzwandile has demonstrated a lot of commitment to ANiSA and we believe that he will
continue to be one of ANiSA’s leaders now and in the future.”
Currently, Mzwandile is completing his application for AMBS. Visa questions still on the
horizon mean that we do not yet know his arrival date. His year of studies is being supported
financially by Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Mission Network, Mennonite Central
Committee, and AIMM.
Mzwandile Nkutha
Mennonite Church of Congo TEE Ministry Receives a Boost Pastor Albert Mulamba, Mennonite Church of Congo
Coordinator for TEE (theological education by
extension) Ministry, did not let a lack of budget and
equipment stand between him and his ministry
responsibilities. In the summer of 2013, he left
Tshikapa on foot and, traveling north towards Ilebo
and then east, shared leadership training sessions in
around 10 congregations while covering over 300
kilometers.
Meanwhile, AIMM family member Tim Bertsche had met Mulamba during the Mennonite
Church of Congo Centennial celebrations in 2012. Aware of Mulamba’s need for a means of
transportation to better carry out his national
leadership training responsibilities across the 800
congregations within Mennonite Church of Congo,
Tim began to share this need with fellow church
members (Tim is pastor at Grace Evangelical Church
in Morton, IL). Generous people responded with
contributions, so that today Pastor Mulamba has a
motorbike with which to make trips in order to
train leaders within congregations. He is also in the
process of printing several hundred copies of his Tshiluba teaching document so that he can
leave reminders of his teaching with students. Thanks Tim and friends for your support for
this important ministry!
Congo Ministry Takes New Forms
From 1997-2005, the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced a devastating civil conflict in
which over 5 million people died, both directly in war and also as a result of the war due to
malnutrition and disease. The relationship between AIMM and our Congolese partner
churches had traditionally been expressed in important ways including missionary presence,
Albert Mulamba
fraternal visits and participation in various projects. Such expressions became almost
impossible, and as a result, the mission-church relationship suffered. Many Congolese
Mennonites felt that AIMM had abandoned them, and said so.
However, towards the end of the civil war, God’s Spirit began to do something new. AIMM
and MCC Congo alumni have been called into a new model of mission involvement in Congo
over the last decade. North Americans who at one point in their lives had lived in Congo,
either as missionary kids or as mission/service workers, are “returning”. It is a particular
kind of return that involves making part of one’s time, money and expertise available in
order to be blessed by, as well as to bless the Congolese people in some way. In general, it
takes the form of occasional (often once yearly) 2-
4 week mission trips that both receive and bring
hope and encouragement, at particular places
connected to AIMM’s partner churches. These
are not one time trips, but become regular
occurrences. This is important, because repeated
trips make it possible for participants to renew or
learn Congolese language and culture; form lasting
relationships; learn how to receive and give in ways
that strengthen (rather than weaken) Congolese initiative; and build up a support network in
North America to make ongoing involvement possible. Following is a list of people who are
currently involved in Congo, either directly through AIMM or in some kind of fraternal association
with AIMM:
Charles Buller- developing church leadership support within Mennonite Church of Congo
Ron Goertzen- working through Dayspring Ministries at church support/development
projects in and around Kamayala
Brad Graber & Stan Graber- working through Hope for Congo at church support
development projects in and around Ndjoko Punda; also working across Congo in support
for technical schools, Congolese language Bible/songbook printing and distribution, hospital
equipment upgrades, etc.
Arnold Harder, Joe Shetler, and David Rocke- assisting with Mennonite Church of Congo
construction projects
John Martens- collaborating with Mennonite Church of Congo medical work, by providing
training opportunities for Congolese doctors and medical equipment for hospitals, and
assisting with surgeries
Nancy Myers- developing relationships with women leaders across Congo’s Mennonite
churches
Colette Ramm- working through Reve Kandale in favor of school construction and other
support in and around Kandala (see photo below)
Chuck Regier & Harlan Bartel- working on the Congo Transport to Market Bike Project, an
effort in Congolese artisanal manufacturing, based near Nyanga
Dwight Short- collaborating with Mennonite Church of Congo youth ministry initiatives
Fred Suter & Les Schlegel- working through Congo Water Project to improve access to water
for Congolese households. Fred’s next trip to Congo is scheduled for October 5—26, 2014.
During this time he hopes to meet the six strong interested, young men who have said they
want to be part of the first drilling team (they were recruited by the members of his advisory
team—a group of all women). Fred wants to drill a well in Tshikapa and also scout out some
other drilling sites in Mutena and possibly Kalonda.
In 2014 Congolese Mennonites no longer use the term “abandonment” to express how
they feel about their relationship with AIMM. This is because people, beginning with those
on this list, have responded to God’s call and have become “the face” of the North American
church in Congo.
Reve Kandale supports self help initiatives in the remote and struggling communities of Kandale and its
surrounding villages, through building schools, upgrading existing school infrastructure and investing in the
environment through tree planting. Here women carry rocks to a construction site.
Congo Collaboration Update
The Congo Collaboration group gathered in Goshen, IN on August 9, 2014 after a two
year break. 18 persons were present to share brief reports of their Congo involvements, raise
questions growing out of their Congo relationships and work, share insights, and encourage
each other.
Brad Graber organized the meeting and the agenda, and ably led us through it. Hope for
Congo provided both breakfast and supper meals for the group. Our discussion included both
difficult questions, and much gratitude and enthusiasm for the variety of initiatives which are
currently blossoming. I believe that we all left heartened and encouraged by the cumulative
effect of many different persons who are finding creative ways to express their love and
concern for Congolese people.
Thanks to each one of you Congo Collaborators, for doing so much to help carry
AIMM’s precious relationships and work! Thanks to the many people behind
the scenes who pray and give so that these and others can be a real presence
and encouragement, communicating the love of God.
Back row left to right: Arnold Harder, Joe Shetler, Grace Harder, Lola Gingerich, Merrill Gingerich, Stan
Graber, Ron Goertzen, Linda Goertzen, Fred Suter, Marlene Suter, David Rocke, Cathie Rocke, Harlan
Bartel, Grace Bartel, Front row: Brad Graber, Charles Buller, Rod Hollinger-Janzen, Dwight Short.
Mennonite Church of Congo Youth Bible Camp 2014
Mennonite Church of Congo youth
representing 9 of 11 church provinces
gathered in Tshikapa July 14-20 for the
first national youth Bible camp in many
years. Participants arrived by vehicle, by
river barge or by foot, most having
undergone long and tiring travel.
According to national youth President
Robert Irundu, the camp’s objectives
included: strengthening the unity, fraternal
love and communion among Mennonite
youth; sharing Anabaptist culture together; getting to know one another and creating an
inter-provincial network, also including Mennonite youth from overseas; and sharing our
gifts with Jesus Christ as our model.
Highlights of the camp included: worship adorned with songs from several choirs; teaching
received from local Mennonite leaders as well as from AIMM MK Charles Buller, who with
his son Andre participated in the camp for several days; a Mennonite youth parade into the
center of Tshikapa; the football match between teams composed of both young women and
men; and above all the 9 youth who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and were
baptized on Sunday July 20.
CMCo Youth Bible Camp discussion July 2014
Hope for Congo Investment in
Bibles
Hope for Congo is strongly committed to supplying
local language Bibles at reduced cost for Congolese
Mennonite believers. Thus far, well over 5,000 Bibles
have been supplied at accessible prices.
July 2014 saw 3 major Mennonite Church of Congo
national gatherings in Tshikapa, including the national
women’s consultation, the national youth Bible camp,
and the church’s General Assembly. Hope for Congo
saw these events as opportunities to supply rural-based
congregations with Tshiluba Bibles. 600 were
purchased for $9 each and shipped to Tshikapa, where
they are being sold for $3 each to representatives of
rural congregations. An additional 150 Bibles were shipped to Ndjoko Punda for
sale in Mennonite congregations there.
Funds have been gathered for a 3,000 Bible reprint of the Kipende Bible. However,
church leaders have determined that this Bible needs to be revised. Since this Bible
was printed before the advent of computers, AIMM is currently
working to scan the Kipende Bible with software that
transforms the scanned material into electronic files that can be
edited. These electronic files will then be entered into a laptop
computer and carried to Congo so that Pastor Ghymalu (and
perhaps others working with him) will be able to carry out the
revision.
A large portion of funds needed for a 3,000 Bible printing of the
Chokwe Bible has been received, with the hope that this
reprinting project will soon move forward. $12,000 is still
needed to complete this project.
Congo Transport-To-Market Bike Project Update
An initial group of 6 bamboo
transport bikes were
manufactured in Khoma near
Nyanga in 2013. Bamboo bike
expert Craig Calfee has joined
with AIMM family members
Chuck Regier and Harlan Bartel
to guide the project and to get
the business to the “take off”
point. The hope is to encourage
the development of a sustainable
local business through the
manufacture and sale of these bamboo bikes. These heavy duty but lightweight bikes are
well suited to play the role of Congolese “Freightliner”, transporting hundreds of kilos of
agricultural or other products often several hundred kilometers over sandy, rutted tracks in
order to supply food to Congolese cities.
The initial set of bikes have been at work now for a year, and news of their transporting
ability has spread far beyond Nyanga. UPDAP, the farmers’ organization which manufactured
the initial batch of bikes, has received
several hundred inquiries- many
others want to purchase this type of
bike!
Parts for a second set of 6 bikes are making their way to Congo. Assuming that this second batch of bikes sells easily, plans are in place to raise funds for a larger parts order that would really launch the business. You can see more photos and read more details at: www.facebook.com/CongoTransportBikeProject .
CIM/AIMM Missionary Kid Reunion
Back Row L to R: Doretta Dick Drey, David Rocke, Darrel Rocke, Faith Eides, Charity Eides
Schellenberg, John Derksen, Carolyn James Mason, Gordon Chambers, Front row: Carolyn Harder
Voth, Lydia Yost Karr, Irma Sawatsky Epp, Fred Epp, Marlene James Koch, Nancy Chambers
Terranova. Not pictured Cathie Rocke took the photo.
As AIMM missionary kids gathered on July 11 in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the annual MK
reunion you could feel the enthusiasm build as each person arrived. Meals began with a song
of blessing including “Nzambi Wa Nkenda”. There were many willing hands as Darrel Rocke
took charge of the meal preparations. David & Cathie Rocke made bidia/luku, chicken
mwamba and saka saka. John Derksen shared pictures of his trip to Congo in 2006 and of
Ecole Belle Vue. Faith Eidse read from the book she wrote about her parents, ‘Light The
World’ . A memorial for Leland Rocke included his obituary, a tribute, and shared memories
of Lee at school. Doretta Dick Drey told her faith journey, Charity Eidse read from her
contribution to the book ‘Writing out of Limbo’. Aunt Irma and Uncle Fred Epp shared
memories, Irma said, One small child asked me, ‘If I am here so my parents can tell people
about Jesus, than I am helping people learn about Jesus, right?’
The group gathered in a meeting room to share stories and slides along with singing of the
old songs from their childhoods at Belle Vue. According to Carolynne James Mason “the
singing was one of the highlights and the smiles on people’s faces as we caught each other’s
eye was very telling as we were taken back to those days of childish worship so long ago.”
Carolynne shared her story of God’s work in her life on the Shakenge station, at school and
then back home in Canada until now. With her permission I share her reflections about this
time of sharing. She said, “I tried to be as honest as I could without getting bogged down
with details… after I shared my story there were questions specifically with reference to my
use of the words ‘corporal punishment’ and ‘separation anxiety.’ This opened up the room to
a time of honest sharing for an hour or so and it was evident that there were many issues
that people were dealing with just under the surface. My opinion is that this kind of
discussion has been good and should be continued in our reunions because there is much
healing in the sharing of similar experiences. This was helpful to me because for many years it
was buried in me and I thought it would stay there...I think that telling our stories and hearing
each other’s stories validates what many have come to think was a dream/imagined or false
memories and buried. We talked about forgiveness and the world/generation that teachers
and our parents came from. People in different stages at this late age may have not dealt
with their youth and are only now realizing that they were not alone and that their
upbringing was so unique and it affected all the years to follow.”
Marlene James Koch’s post on Facebook said “I just returned from the missionary kids school
reunion lots of tears and much laughter. I will never be the same again!” Carolynne agrees
that this is a good enough reason to continue to have annual reunions as long as we can. I
hope many more will make the time to come next year.
David Rocke includes: “These MK reunions are for all AIMM kids and all DRC missionary kids,
regardless of denominational background. Come share your experience with other MK’s just
like you. Preliminary plans for the next reunion are being contemplated. Somewhere in
Kansas is the current thought and the first two weekends of August are suggested dates.”
French-speaking Mennonites Gather in Congo,
Strengthening Connections and Ministry The first consultation on theological education among French-speaking Mennonites was held
at the Centre Universitaire de Missiologie (University Center for Missiology) in Kinshasa, Feb.
26-28. Forty-five participants came from nine different countries: Benin, Burkina Faso,
Canada (Quebec), Chad, Congo, France, Ivory Coast, Switzerland and the United States. The
initiative for this gathering was taken by the
Francophone Mennonite Network, a loosely
organized body of Anabaptist theologians and
church leaders which attempts to foster global
relationships and encourage Anabaptist
understanding among French-speaking
Mennonites. An important objective of the
consultation was to learn about the Mennonite
context in different parts of the French-speaking
world. The importance of theological education
in a Mennonite perspective was strongly
affirmed, for the good of the church and its
mission within the world. Follow-up ideas
include: the development of online courses,
upgrading libraries, the development and
publication of French-language resources, and
teacher exchanges. Another consultation in Africa is being planned for 2016. AIMM
contributed financially toward the consultation.
-excerpted from an article by Neil Blough, for Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Mission Network
Botswana Prison Ministry Nathan and Taryn Dirks (Mennonite
Church Canada) are investing time and
energy in ministry together with youth
leaders from the Spiritual Healing Church.
These youth are strong followers of Jesus
who spend time reading the Scriptures to
know what Jesus is all about, and then they
try to live like Jesus, building loving relationships
as they volunteer in local prisons, help in a school for special-needs children, and coordinate
sports development projects. “The Bible encourages us to serve people in captivity, in
L to R: Professor Dr. Nzuzi Muzawa and Pastor Eric Mukambu, principal organizers of the French-speaking Mennonite gathering in
Kinshasa held February 26-28, 2014, receive recognition from Max Wiedmer, coordinator of Mennonite World Conference’s Francophone
hospitals, and whosoever needs our attention,” said Khumo Mosalagae, one of the youth
leaders. One of their ministries takes them inside Gaborone’s First Offenders Prison. “We
look forward to worshiping in prison every Saturday,” Taryn said. “It’s actually our favorite
place to do church. It’s a community there and everyone’s walls are down. So often in the
churches outside of prison, we all keep our guard up.” In the prison, people who committed
horrible crimes are experiencing conversion. “Hearing the stories of the inmates, and getting
to know them as friends, we are seeing transformation from hate and selfish consumption, to
love and selfless sacrifice. We are witnessing the power of God in its subtly revolutionary
way,” Nathan said. The Dirks continue an AIMM-initiated ministry of Mennonites walking
alongside the African Initiated Churches of Botswana that dates to 1975. They work with
congregations in the areas of sustainable community development and Bible teaching.
-from a Mennonite Mission Network article by Lynda Hollinger-Janzen
Reuben Mgodeli’s vision for
Bethany Bible School “On Feb. 15, 2014, I was commissioned before the
student body to take lead of the Bethany Bible School.
My goal for this first year is to put my work in order. I
already have a line-up of people to teach this year,
including Brother Andrew Suderman (Mennonite Church
Canada). The executive, disciplinary, and catering
committees are in place. I continue to grow into my
administrative responsibilities by studying computer and
office administration. I am also motivating the Bethany
student body to have confidence in themselves. I believe
that motivation is the fuel necessary to keep the human
engine running. I know that, together, we are capable of taking the school to a higher level. I
encourage them by saying that Bethany belongs to every one of us. I tell them that Bethany’s
rise or fall is in their hands. And I encourage everyone “to work (and study) with all their
heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). I believe that good leadership gives people confidence in a leader, but
a great leader also gives people confidence in themselves. That’s what I want to do. I hope to
Reuben and Phumeza Mgodeli
open a new branch of Bethany Bible School in another town each year to strengthen our
main branch in Mthatha. My hope is that future branches will support Bethany financially
and that soon there will be no need to ask for funds from North America. When I shared this
vision, it was applauded by every student. Pray for unity and that the peace of Christ rules
our hearts, that we may love one another and that the grace of God may abound to us.”
-excerpted from a Mennonite Mission Network article
AIMM Annual Picnic August 9, 2014
Former Merrill Lynch Investment Manager Dwight Short
traveled all the way from Florida to Goshen in order to share
excerpts of his recent book, Home is Where God Calls Us, with
an attentive audience of about 60 people at the annual AIMM
picnic event, held on Saturday August 9 at Silverwood
Mennonite Church. Dwight focused on a couple of big events that occurred during the
missionary career of his Aunt Lodema Short. At the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, Lodema
accompanied a group of nine Congolese Mennonite young men, called
“The Happy Singers”, as they shared gospel music and broke down
racial stereotypes through their many concerts and interactions across
the city. A couple of short years later in the immediate aftermath of
Belgium’s granting political independence to Congo, the entire Congo
Inland Mission missionary team was fleeing for the Angolan border as
a violent backlash against Belgian rule broke out in various parts of the
country. Despite such experiences of instability and volatility, many
missionaries including Lodema, focusing less on the insecurity of the
situation and more on their call from God to serve in Congo, were back
in the country a short time later to continue their service. The persistence and love of this
missionary community has subsequently reaped huge benefits for God’s kingdom through
the strong growth of Congo’s Mennonite churches.
Thanks, Dwight, for attending the picnic and sharing these great stories with us!
Dwight’s book is available from the AIMM office for $15, a contribution to AIMM ministry.
Heeding a call for Christian service, the
author and his wife headed for Africa with
youthful vigor, high expectations and a
three-month-old daughter. Their
assignment: to manage a residence for
twenty missionary teens in Kinshasa, Zaire.
They had no idea what was waiting for
them: a demanding set of circumstances that confounded
their expectations and tested their limits. Unforeseen
challenges to growth assailed both managers and youth in
the exotic setting. Together they crafted a distinctive “third
Will & Estate Planning
AIMM Office Staff wish to express our profound gratitude to God,
and to all of the loyal and generous members of the AIMM family
who, moved by God’s Spirit, contribute funds throughout the year so that our shared AIMM
work can go forward. This ministry in which we all share, simply would not happen without
such contributions.
Each year we are blessed by estate gifts that honor the heart for mission of those who have
gone before us and the surviving family who carry out the requests made by their loved ones.
In recent months our shared ministries have received gifts from the Irena Sprunger estate in
the amount of $30,403 and the Lawrence and Alvera Rempel trust in the amount of $59,152.
Each gift represents a life lived for Jesus and we are deeply grateful to be entrusted with using
these funds to increase our African church partners’ ministry capacities.
We invite you to remember AIMM in your end of life planning. By naming Africa Inter-
Mennonite Mission in your will, you leave behind a powerful statement about your faith and
your priorities. Thank you for your life-giving generosity.
culture.” This book is available at www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore, and is also available
in Ebook, Kindle, or iBook Editions. Cover Price: $15.95 John Franz’s previous book Congo
Dawn, explored his days of teaching at TASOK as a single man in Congo.
In Memory of Loved Ones……
Nelly Samba Komuesa was born on October 23,
1978 to a Christian family. Adolphe Komuesa was her
father, and her mother was Sowela who passed away
in 2008. She was the oldest of seven children. After
obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Monetary Economics,
she became the Political Secretary of the South African
Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nelly
was a vivacious and friendly person who made her
family proud because of her achievements. Nelly
passed away February 9, 2014.
Andrew M. Rupp passed away on March 30, 2014 in Leo,
Indiana. Andrew served on the Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission
board from 1968 to 1985 and was chair from 1984-1985.
Andrew was an ordained minister in the Evangelical
Mennonite Church (now Fellowship of Evangelical Churches),
having served as a missionary in the Dominican Republic for 18
years, as a pastor in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio,
denominational president and director of missions. He was a
member of Highland Bethel Church of Ft. Wayne. During his
missionary service Andy helped start numerous churches in
the Dominican Republic and helped train Dominican pastors
and church leaders. Before passing from this life, he looked forward to being reunited in
heaven with many of those whose lives he influenced, especially his Dominican brothers and
sisters. His earthly family was greatly blessed by the Christian heritage and example he
provided, especially during his years of caring for his wife Esther while she was ill, before her
death in 2002. Their surviving children are a son Timothy of Eagle River, AK; Mark of Carmel;
Deborah of Ft. Wayne; Mary Shadowen of San Sebastian, Spain.
James Peters passed away May 9, 2014. Jim was born
May 5, 1940 to Cornelius A. & Louise (Kroeker) Peters in Henderson, Nebraska. In 1959 Jim served with the MCC PAX program at Djoko Punda, a CIM/AIMM mission station, known as Charlesville under the Belgian regime. As a PAX man he gave support to missionaries until all mission workers were evacuated in 1960. The PAX program provided service opportunities for Mennonite conscientious objectors. He married Dara Epp in September 1962. After completing his studies, teaching and receiving a master’s degree he returned to Tanzania under the Teachers Abroad Program from 1966 – 1968 with his wife and young son where they served for three years. We give thanks to God for a life lived in service to Christ!
Robert D. Bontrager (photo 1960) passed away
July 31, 2014. Robert was born Nov. 1922 on a farm near
Elkhart, Indiana. He married Mable Busch in 1946 who in 2011
preceded him in death. Mr. and Mrs. Bontrager attended New
York Theological Seminary at New York from 1946 - 1948.
After receiving their master’s degrees, the couple served
abroad under Congo Inland Mission, now Africa Inter-
Mennonite Mission. They traveled by ship to the Belgian
Congo (later Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo),
where they worked over the following 15 years as educators
and publishers. They were initially stationed inland at
Charlesville but spent most of their time in Leopoldville (later
Kinshasa). They ran the publishing operation LECO (Librairie Evangelique du Congo.) The
couple returned to the United States in 1965 during a political crisis in the Congo. They are
survived by their sons Thomas and Laura Bontrager of New York, New York and Timothy and
Rose Bontrager of Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Bontrager earned his Ph.D at the Newhouse School
of Public Communications. In 1970, the family relocated to Manhattan, Kansas. Mr.
Bontrager became a professor of journalism at Kansas State University. In 1992, the
Bontragers retired to Pennsylvania to be near Chester and Margaret Jump, who they had met
in Belgium in 1950 and had worked beside in Congo.
AIMM Annual ICC Meeting
and Ten Year Review
AIMM’s International Central Council (ICC)
has made the decision to meet for
Partnership Council meetings, AIMM’s 10
year review, and our annual ICC meeting,
in Benin, West Africa this year.
An important reason for meeting in Benin
is to introduce our Partnership Council and
ICC members to the Songhai Center,
located in the city of Porto-Novo. We will
be staying, as well as holding our meetings,
at a guesthouse on the Center grounds. The Songhai Center trains people in sustainable,
manual labor-based, business-oriented agriculture. AIMM has already begun sending partner
church trainees to the Center. It is important that leaders from our partner churches become
familiar with the Center and what it has to offer their communities.
It has been 10 years since AIMM underwent considerable change in its structure and way of
operating. It is time to take stock, to ask ourselves questions. To what extent do our
international, intercultural relationships reflect the mutuality and equality that our new
structure was meant to encourage? What are we doing well? What needs improvement? As
we work together so that God’s kingdom may come, are we “scratching where it itches”, or
are we missing the mark?
Please pray with us, that our review and meetings can be useful for God’s purposes. Our
proposed schedule: October 20-21 AIMM 10 Year Review
October 22-23 Congo Partnership Council
October 24 Burkina Faso Partnership Council
October 25 International Central Council meeting
AIMM Office News
Charles Buller Appointed as AIMM International Ministry Staff
The International Central Council (board) of
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission has appointed
Charles Buller to ministry as an international
staff member of our organization. Charles’
staff duties with AIMM will primarily focus on
walking alongside a Mennonite Church of
Congo (CMCo) ministry leadership team to
provide ongoing spiritual encouragement and
development for CMCo pastors and their
spouses.
Currently, Mennonite Church of Congo has
800 congregations and 370 pastors, and is
spread over a wide geographic area. The goal
is to further strengthen and equip the church
“from the inside out”, “for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of
us come…to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Eph.4:12-13). Charles’ extensive
intercultural experience and knowledge of Congo, combined with his strong teaching and
pastoral gifts, make him uniquely positioned to undertake this ministry of encouragement
together with a Congolese team. Charles will be based in the USA (Goshen, IN) and will work
at this ministry both by making several ministry trips per year to Congo, and by using skype,
cell phones and email while at home. When in the USA, Charles will also work with AIMM
staff at North American focused tasks such as multi-media communication, connecting with
youth, constituency relations and aspects of AIMM leadership.
Please read Charles’ letter (enclosed with the mailing of this Journal) and
consider how you might partner with Charles and AIMM in this vital ministry.
Left to right: Rev. Ngombe Kidinda, Rev. Sidonie Swana,
Rev. Bercy Mundedi, Rev. Sandy Miller, Marcéline Komuesa,
and Nancy Myers at the Congo Mennonite Church women’s
federation meeting in Tshikapa, July 10-13, 2014.
At the end of their July 2-20 trip to Congo,
Rev. Sidonie Swana thanked Sandy Miller
and Nancy Myers for coming as
ambassadors to the Mennonite women of
Congo. According to Nancy that comes as
close as anything to describing this
mission. She said, “We went to build
relationships between Mennonite women
in Congo and the US. We went to learn
how we might support the ordained
women in Congo in their ministry,
especially to women. We went in
response to one articulation of a vision for
such a ministry, hoping to learn how
widely that vision was shared and whether
there are other visions and ideas.”
Françoise Felo, a Mennonite Brethren women’s
officer, chaired the July 16 gathering in Kikwit and her son,
Gracia, interpreted.
“We went to listen and learn from women in all three
Mennonite communities. We did not go to teach but we hoped
to model and encourage unity, collaboration, and transparency.
We went to offer encouragement in every way possible and to
learn how we in North America might pray for our sisters and
walk with them on their challenging journeys.”
During their visit Nancy and Sandy met with the Association of
Mennonite Women Theologians in Kinshasa, they were guests at
the triennial Consultation of the Federation of Mennonite
Women, and they met with women leaders in Kikwit.
Nancy indicates next steps include prayer and communication.
“There is no project ready to be funded. There is not even a
shared vision, though there is a passionate desire, on the part
of both lay and ordained women leaders, to serve the church
and society by helping and serving women.”
Women-to-Women In Congo