Redeeming Tragedy with the Good News

The electricity was out, again, and I lay there sweating in my bed unable to sleep. The moon shone through the window and provided enough light for me to locate my phone and check the time. It was 1:00 am and I knew that in just four short hours I would be awoken by the gonging noise that my host, or perhaps one of the neighbors, makes in order to wake up their household. I was exhausted and needed to drift off to sleep, but the events of the day raced through my mind keeping it alert.

Earlier that day, I had witnessed the birth of a new district. Perhaps it is just an administrative distinction or perhaps it wouldn’t mean that much to other people, but a new district in a place where the gospel is still taking root

means a lot. A new district is a symbol of God’s faithfulness and a reminder of the sacrifice of believers. The Church of the Nazarene first came to Kisangani because of the “Great African War” (Sometimes known as the First and Second Congo Wars or the African World War) that took place in the 1990s. As violence spilled over from Rwanda into the DRC (then called Zaire) war was ignited and spread throughout the region. Goma, in the North Kivu Province, was one of the first places where the conflict came as thousands of people set out on foot towards the west in an attempt to escape the violence. Some of these people were Nazarenes, and one of those Nazarenes ended up in Kisangani. 

The Pastors of Tshopo District - Kisangani, DRC

But the district didn’t start then. That one Nazarene soon became a pastor and was a part of discipling and raising up leaders in order to start fifteen churches and more than seventy schools. During all of this time, some of the worst fighting took place in this city over its rich diamond deposits. This intense conflict had lasting scars on the city. Besides the fact that many families had lost members due to stray bullets and mortars, there were physical scars of war on the buildings of the city for many years. On my first visit to the city five years ago, I found only a handful of cars as most people used bicycle taxis. Yes, people would sit on the back of a bicycle and pay the “driver” to take them around town. Today, many of those images have been erased and the town is recovering its place as the third-largest city in the country. 

For these reasons, the work was slow compared to other parts of the country. But God has been faithful. In many surrounding areas of this city, the Nazarenes have the only school or the only church and the gospel is being preached because of these efforts. That one Nazarene pastor is a grandfather and is nearing retirement now. But there are six other ordained elders and three others who are ready and waiting for their chance to be ordained at the next available occasion. They have over 40 additional pastors being trained for ministry. That first, lonely Nazarene is no longer alone. 

A gift offered to the DS, along with chickens, bananas, and rice.

We are delighted to see how God can redeem the tragedies of war for the spread of the Good News and to know that the Church of the Nazarene has been a part of that. We are witnesses to God’s faithful provision and transformation of lives. We are thankful for our Nazarene family in Kisangani and excited to see how the Lord will write the next chapter of this story that is to come. 

Going Where the Church of the Nazarene Isn't Yet

It’s hard to imagine that in 2019 there are still people who have not heard of the life transforming message of Jesus Christ. But, in Central Africa, we are finding this to be the case. 

In Central Africa, our area of responsibility for the Church of the Nazarene includes overseeing ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé & Príncipe. Since 1990, the church has mostly grown in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In our eight countries of responsibility the Church of the Nazarene just started work in two of these countries in 2019. 

DS of Brazzaville, Rev. On'okoko, pictured in the white shirt,
meeting with the first Nazarene's in Central African Republic

In June of 2019, the District Superintendent of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, took a 3-day trip to Central African Republic to visit a group of new believers who have gathered together and are calling themselves the first Nazarene’s in their country. This was the third trip of leaders from Republic of Congo who invested in a group of believers there and encouraged them to start a church. We are making plans to send a pastor to Bangui, the capital city, to get a master’s degree in theology. He is already an ordained elder and will be a sustained presence of leadership while helping to ensure Nazarene DNA (Christian, Holiness, and Mission) among the group. 

Three of our countries just officially became a part of our area of Central Africa this month, adding two districts, two missionary families, 13 churches, and one country where we currently have no work. Chad is a primarily Muslim country, and as such, we will need to be a part of new methods and strategies for planting churches there. Gabon and Cameroon are still new works where we have no organized churches. So many people have yet to hear the Good News, while so many others have yet to put their faith in Christ. At the same time, there are vast areas of people that our church has not yet reached in our most established countries of Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. There is so much to do.

Our call and our prayer is to make Christlike disciples in the nations. This is a big task. A task that takes many leaders joining together and taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ where it hasn’t previously been. Please join us in praying for our Jesus Film teams, who are taking backpack film sets on motorcycles and traveling to interior parts of countries previously unable to reach. Pray for our District Superintendent’s and evangelism leaders, who are boldly sharing their faith, teaching about the one True God and exemplifying through their actions the life lived in obedience to Christ. 

Home Assignment Thoughts

What is Home Assignment? Most of us know, missionaries go back to their home or sending country and share about all that God is doing in the part of the world where they are serving. An added bonus is spending time with family, friends and partners in ministry.

Over the last 11 weeks, we have spent time in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nevada, Washington, Arkansas and Kansas. Gavin has also made short trips to Colorado and New York. It has been wonderful and exhausting all at the same time. In our short 12 years as missionaries, we have had this opportunity 5 times. We’ve shared in over 150 Nazarene churches across the United States. That has given us an interesting glance into the Church of the Nazarene. I think all missionaries will attest that we know this is a unique privilege. Like the people of God, each congregation has its own personality and make-up. Some are doing really well, some are hurting, some are struggling, some are older, and some are just starting out. But, it’s a beautiful reminder that we are ALL the body of Christ. We are connected, we need each other and we are meant to live this life in community. 

In two short days, we start our 36-hour journey back to Brazzaville. It is District Assembly time across our area of responsibility. This means Gavin will be traveling to preside over these gatherings. Please join us in prayer for safe travels, connecting back into routine well, good internet for the kid’s schooling and our leaders who are on the ground serving Christ in some difficult situations. 

We got to eat at our favorite restaurant - Taco Cabana

We spent many hours in the car. The kids took many naps!

We got to see family!

The kids got to spend time with their cousin

This is one of eighteen congregations we shared with this summer

First Central Field Women's Ministry Conference

First day praise and worship

Gavin and I’s responsibilities include ministry taking place across eight districts in Central Africa. You can imagine my joy when we received word that a partner, together with our Africa Regional Women's Ministry Council, could help us host our first Women's Ministry Conference. The Central Field hosted its first Women’s Extravaganza from 11-13 April, 2019. It was hosted by the DR Congo Central North Kivu district in Goma (our first phase 3 district). Over the course of three days 450 women gathered to worship the Lord, encourage one another and learn more about being women of God. Under the leadership of Rev. Marie Jeanne Munanga Hamuli and the District Superintendent of Central North Kivu, Rev. Désiré Bughesi, this event brought Nazarene women from three districts (DR Congo Central North Kivu, DR Congo Virunga & DR Congo South Kivu) together to remind them of their purpose in serving Christ, that we are a holiness people and we are all called to make Christlike disciples. 

While teaching was important each day, there were also times of fellowship and small groups, dancing and singing, learning the Articles of Faith, prayer and sharing meals together. Leaders also took this opportunity to minister through compassion ministries to women who had come from villages without medical access. Over 65 women were treated at the Nazarene clinic. Many women left in better health than when they arrived. 

We are proud of our leadership that organized this event and made it a success. We pray that women take what they learned and share it in their home churches and more Christlike disciples are made. 

The Lord is good and is continually revealing Himself to advance the Kingdom of God in Central Africa.  

Rev. Marie Jeanne

Bukari, fish and chicken

The theme was"Women with Innovations"

Doing Things That Make Us Uncomfortable

In all honesty, I’ve (Jill) always felt more comfortable teaching children versus adults. My words are basic and perhaps, like Moses, one of my insecurities is that I feel I’m not eloquent in speech. Recently, I heard the phrase, “If you’re comfortable, you aren’t living the Christian life right.” While I understand what the phrase is trying to convey, I’m not sure I wholeheartedly agree.  Either way, I believe God calls us out of our comfort zones to learn more from God, to see different sides of God and perhaps for God to show us something new about ourselves. If we are willing to lean into where the Lord leads us, and honestly obey after we’ve prayed, “Lord, show me where you’re working and help me to be a part of it.”, we’ve got to be willing to be uncomfortable. 

Almost 9 months have passed since our family moved from Lubumbashi, DR Congo to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. While our responsibilities remain the same in ministry, we find ourselves worshipping in new (to us) local Nazarene churches, with new faces and the kids are in a new school. So, while some things remain the same, others are brand new. Shortly after arriving, I began praying the prayer, “Lord, show me where you are at work and please let me be a part of it.” The Lord answered! Through a chance encounter at the American International school (that our children do not attend), Gavin met a Christian American woman who had been longing for a Bible study she could attend in English. Another week, we met another group of Americans, when finding out we were missionaries, asked if we could start a church in English, so they could attend church while living here. It appeared the Lord was opening a door for an English ministry, to expats. This isn’t exactly the ministry we were looking for, or had in mind we’d be leading, but over the course of a few weeks, we organized a Bible study for English speakers. Because of Gavin’s travel schedule, I committed to leading this weekly study. 

For the last 3 months, about 6 of us have gathered weekly to study God’s Word together in English. It’s not a large group, but it has become a precious time of fellowship and discipleship. Americans, Cameroonians and Congolese have met together to be formed by the Word of God. We are lifelong learners as Christians. God is constantly teaching us new things. Even though I was quite nervous to teach adults for the first time, I pray that this time will be used to mold and shape us to look more like the image of God. 

Hibiscus flowers are everywhere in Brazzaville. Locals use them to make a delicious juice! 

Getting to Gabon

            I think that it is in times of our humbled brokenness that the Lord really teaches us the most.  In those times when we accept that we don’t know what to do or how to move forward, the Lord speaks and makes His presence known.  It’s been just over two years since I was appointed to oversee the work of the Church of the Nazarene in Central Africa.  To be honest, it has been an incredibly humbling experience.  Much of the time, I’ve had to be vulnerable in admitting to myself and others that I didn’t know the way forward; how we ought to undertake the task of planting churches, making Christ-like disciples, and developing leaders in the five countries of our field.  

            One area of specific difficulty for our team has been in respect to the country of Gabon.  For many years, the Church of the Nazarene has proclaimed a presence in the country, although no Nazarene Churches or ministries have ever existed there. No Nazarene ministers had ever visited, to our knowledge, with the hopes of starting the work. I couldn’t even obtain a visa without a contact in Gabon, and our team was completely at a loss for what could be done.

            After more than two years, God provided us with the contact information of two different Nazarene families who had relocated and were living in Gabon.  We were shocked so much by God’s provision, that within a month I had dropped everything and traveled to Gabon with a member of our team.  We didn’t have a lot planned or any real expectations.  We just wanted to get there, meet these two families, and see what the Lord would do.  After more than 11 years of missionary service, you’d think that I wouldn’t be surprised anymore by God’s faithful provision.  Yet again, I was shocked by what we found there.  I’m still learning a lot about African hospitality and what it means to make people feel welcome.  It’s amazing the way people can welcome me into their home and into their lives in such a natural way that it feels like I have always been a part of them.  During my four short days there, we got to know our hosts and their families, we got to see the city, and were able to pray for God’s direction.

            As my plane filled with exhaust and began making an emergency landing shortly after takeoff during my return trip, I thought to myself, “Well, at least I made it to Gabon.” Although I jokingly thought these words in complete assurance that we would land safely back at the airport in Libreville, it’s an indication of how fulfilled I felt on my short trip home.  We don’t know what the future will hold, but we know that a seed has been planted and we trust that God will grow this seed into a beautiful, vibrant church in Gabon during the years that follow.  

"For Christ's love compels us..."

“For Christ’s love compels us…” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

The month of January was a good one. Gavin was able to drive 14 hours north in the Republic of Congo with the District Superintendent of Congo/Brazzaville and a local lay member of the church to visit new preaching points. It’s exciting to report that the church is growing in numbers and in faith. People are hungry for the truth. While in route, they were stopped by police and asked for the usual items required by law to have in your car (fire extinguisher, first aid kit and triangles). When hearing where their final destination was, the police asked if someone could hitch a ride with them to Owesso. Over the next couple of hours, Gavin and the other men were able to share about the Church of the Nazarene with this young man who had many questions about faith and the church. After reaching town and before dropping this gentleman off, they invited him to church. They were all pleasantly surprised when he showed up on Sunday morning. The Nazarenes in the northern part of the country, although young to the faith, are very motivated to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Some of the villages where we have a presence, Nazarenes are the only Christians in the area.  

Because we now live in a capital city, we’ve run into a few English-speaking expats. When asked what our occupation is, and they find out we’re missionaries, a few of them asked if we’d start a Bible study in English. This last week, Jill began a study in English with expats from the US and Cameroon. We’re ready to see where the Lord leads and are thankful for new opportunities in ministry that are a bit different than we anticipated. 

Macy and Connor are going strong in school. They are attending an English-speaking school that partners with an online school in the US, out of Florida. While it’s been a new experience to do most of their schooling online, we’re always ready for a new challenge and are thankful for programs that are accredited for our children. The school here in Brazzaville just started after-school activities where the kids get to learn karate, art and dance. Macy is learning to play the guitar and Connor is learning how to play the piano, as well.

Please join us in prayer over this next month as we get ready to receive a new missionary couple in Lubumbashi, DR Congo; Phil and Monica Carr. Pray for Gavin as he travels to Gabon for an exploratory trip in starting the Church of the Nazarene in that country. Pray for Jill as she takes on a new ministry role of Field Personnel Coordinator, helping and assisting missionaries on our Field as well as working with the Regional Personnel Coordinator. Pray that Macy and Connor would be good witnesses for Christ at their school and remain focused and attentive in their studies. 

Celebrating Six Years in Central Africa!

DR Congo January 2013

Republic of Congo January 2019

Today marks six years of serving the Lord and the Church of the Nazarene in Central Africa! What a joy and honor it has been to be used by God in this part of the world.

Significant events of our 6th year include:
*Watching 21 ministers get ordained
*Installing solar panels for drawing water at the micro farm
*Collecting and harvesting our first batch of fish from the fish farm
*Witnessing discipleship and growth across DR Congo and Republic of Congo
*Sending a Missionary family from DR Congo to Cameroon
*Connor learning to ride his bike and completing 3rd grade through Homeschool
*Macy thriving and completing 5th grade in her first year of English learning
*Macy learning to dive in the swimming pool and how to play netball at school
*Saying goodbye to friends and churches in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
*Moving to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
*Sharing what God is doing in Central Africa on Home Assignment
*Meeting new partners in ministry and keeping in touch with many who have continually supported us throughout our time in Africa
*Spending quality time with our families along the Gulf Coast while in the United States in July
*Seeing District Centers built to stages where they can be utilized for meetings and training centers. Also, churches have been started in these buildings
*Participating in 7 District Assemblies across our Field
*Taking in our first church members in Cameroon
*Hosting a volunteer for a month
*Welcoming Global Mission Director, Verne and Natalie Ward

While these are just the highlights, we've seen God moving and protecting and continually leading our family in ministry. Thank you for praying for us. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Thank you for allowing us opportunities to share about the amazing God we serve!