By Olivier Carion
KINSHASA, Congo--What a surprise, upon arriving at Kinshasa airport Sunday, Jan. 18, to see booths and lines for passport control.
No more mad crowd of officials running and shouting in the main hall. I was not threatened by control agents.
The Congo is one of the poorest countries on earth, and 40 percent of the population has AIDS. Yet, the people--on the average--are among the friendliest I've seen.
As I was met by some of our church leaders in Kinshasa, we discussed our trip to the central region. There had been trouble in the south, where the government was looking into religious groups. One group who wanted to join the WCG had reportedly been arrested.
Communication can be a problem within the Congo, but as we were assessing whether we should travel to these parts, we received confirmation that all was well.
So, the next day, Raphael Benza Tsuka, our only elder in the Congo, and I flew to Mbuji-Mayi.
We met with our brethren there, performed seven baptisms and ordained our local leader, Gustave Mwamba Nkanka, a deacon.
Mr. Mwamba and his large family, like many of our members in Mbuji-Mayi, are poor and live in a small room close to a sewer, which is unhealthy for all of them.
Another member, Eugene Chidema, takes care of a food bank helping refugees, including Rwandans forsaken by the international community.
Food and medical supplies are needed. Dr. Chidema is asking if we can put him in contact with people who can help. He came to our meeting with several young handicapped people under his care.
A group of about 100 people would like to become integrated into the WCG. They are called the Worldwide Church of Jehovah by the Holy Spirit. We are registered in the Congo, something not all religious groups can achieve, hence the desire for some groups to be associated with those that are.
We must exercise caution, though. This group has practices foreign to us and to Christianity in general.
We then flew to Lubumbashi. While there, we baptized 10 people, including two representatives of a group of about 100 from Kolwezi, a day's travel away from Lubumbashi.
This group formed after several of its members received our publications. They want to become part of the WCG, which they see as their spiritual home, and 35 are requesting baptism.
They will be under the umbrella of our Lubumbashi congregation and be served by our deacon, Tshibasu Betu-Kumesu.
On Friday, Jan. 23, it was back to Kinshasa, where James Henderson, superintendent of African missions, joined us from Kenya, where he lives.
We met with the Congolese leaders Saturday and Sunday, and ordained two elders during services, Mpinda Ndayi Kakwanga and Mvita Kalume Lunganga. We now have three elders in the Congo.
In January, 29 people were baptized in our congregations. The gospel is moving forward in this country, and the WCG is one of the vehicles God is using for this. It is encouraging to all of us.
April WN, page 14
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