“May you continue to serve as ink in God’s pen, writing his story in our generation.” These were the words of Dr Eraston Ligoma, CEO of the Centre of Intercultural Missions and Research (CIMR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, when he visited the UFM office earlier this year.
A country UFM workers have served in for many years over the last century, the DRC has sadly suffered much in recent times, due to the civil war. Whilst the war is officially over, the bloodshed continues in the east. And yet, God is at work and building his church among the Congolese.
In June, I had the amazing opportunity of visiting, at the invitation of Eraston, to see the great work of CIMR which is based in Goma, the largest city in Eastern Congo. CIMR runs several training programmes including leadership and cross-cultural training: equipping students to be ink in God’s pen.
Some of them were clearly traumatised … Some had been kidnapped or their churches destroyed …
It was a great privilege to participate in a conference for pastors serving in the war zones. Some of them were clearly traumatised due to what they had suffered and witnessed. Some had been kidnapped or their churches destroyed, with church members suffering sexual violence. It was moving to hear these men sing in Swahili, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!” One of the most poignant moments was at the end of our time together, seeing the men sharing their experiences and praying for one another.
Later that week, a seminar organised for church leaders encouraged them to think about cross-cultural mission sending. Eraston pointed out that DRC is strategically placed to send mission workers to the least reached areas in the 10/40 window. His vision is that DRC could become a hub to send and equip others to serve in Francophone Africa. He reminded the church leaders of their responsibility to be proactive in identifying and equipping those suitable to serve in mission.
DR Congo could become a hub to send and equip others to serve in Africa.
It was inspiring to talk to Congolese Christians already serving as ink in God’s pen in the midst of huge challenges. For example, Dr Kasareka (Jo) Lusi, a highly respected surgeon in Eastern Congo, opened a hospital in Goma and performs much-needed operations in this war-torn region. In 2002, the hospital was destroyed by a volcano, yet Jo and his wife were determined, by God’s grace, to rebuild it. Jo also has warm memories of serving with UFM mission workers in Nyankunde hospital.
The trustees of CIMR expressed their gratitude for the sacrificial input of mission workers during the 20th century and told us, “Had it not been for mission workers coming to our country, it would be in a much worse state.” They invited UFM to consider partnering with them in taking the gospel to the least reached.
We are excited about the possibilities of learning from one another as we serve together. This could involve providing training and advice, inviting CIMR personnel to conferences with other sending organisations that partner with UFM, financial giving for a specific period, and praying for one another. May we all continue to serve as ink in God’s pen, writing his story.
William Brown, UFM Head of Personnel