Forty years of faithfulness 03. On basic Bible training 08. Alain Bakajika: a calling to cultivate 09. Healing in the Kasaï 11

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1 Africa Journal Forty years of faithfulness The Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso marks its anniversary with a grand celebration in Orodara Volume 28 February 2019

Contents Forty years of faithfulness 03 On basic Bible training 08 Alain Bakajika: a calling to cultivate 09 Healing in the Kasaï 11 Remembering

2 Contents Forty years of faithfulness 03 On basic Bible training 08 Alain Bakajika: a calling to cultivate 09 Healing in the Kasaï 11 Remembering Hubert Tshibangu & Charles Sprunger 12 New book: Stargazer s Children by Martini Janz 14 New book: Unexpected Invitations by Angela Rempel 15 02

Forty Years of Faithfulness The Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso T he Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso (EEMBF) blew out 40 candles on its birthday cake, November 23-25, 2018

3 Forty Years of Faithfulness The Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso T he Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso (EEMBF) blew out 40 candles on its birthday cake, November 23-25, 2018 in Orodara, Kenedougou province. The celebration happened in a context of insecurity in Burkina Faso. A call to prayer was sent to all our congregations. We requested help from our national security forces, but we put our trust in God who fights for us (Ex.14:14). The morning of November 23, there was something special in the air. The new church building stood proudly dressed in multicolored decorations, placed by By Paul Ouédraogo Mennonite women. Young volunteers scurried about making last minute adjustments. Everything was clean and orderly with tree trunks painted white and flowers everywhere! Everything was beautiful that morning. At 9am the Master of Ceremonies, Paul Ouédraogo, announced the program to a packed church. Then, EEMBF President, Pastor Abdias Coulibaly, explained the meaning and objectives of the celebration with its four important events: the opening ceremony, the parade across the city of Orodara, the seminars, and the closing ceremony. 03

The Opening Ceremony The singing of the official hymn of the 40 th Anniversary was a moment of great emotion which

As a symbol of unity, representatives from each of the 19 Mennonite congregations in Burkina Faso together intoned the

No one could have through the center of town on market day was a first for Orodara!

4 The Opening Ceremony The singing of the official hymn of the 40 th Anniversary was a moment of great emotion which contributed to the success of the celebration. As a symbol of unity, representatives from each of the 19 Mennonite congregations in Burkina Faso together intoned the hymn with solemnity to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. No one could have through the center of town on market day was a first for Orodara! Approximately 600 people stepped to the sounds of the marching band, which came specially from Ouagadougou. Each congregation delegated 30 participants. imagined such a scene 40 years ago! The Lord has done great things for us, and we are joyful! (Ps.126:3) The Parade A parade in festival clothing 04

The Seminars Rod Hollinger-Janzen presented on Mennonite history and doctrine. He reminded us, Mennonites are a branch attached to the great tree, the universal church.

5 Beyond the festive visuals, this parade was a public testimony that served to diminish fear given the context of insecurity. The parade ended without incident and showed that the many prayers offered up by God s people were answered. This demonstration of answered prayer strengthened the ardor and fervor of the organizers. The Seminars Rod Hollinger-Janzen presented on Mennonite history and doctrine. He reminded us, Mennonites are a branch attached to the great tree, the universal church. He concluded, We celebrate this weekend the arrival of the Anabaptist Mennonite church in Burkina Faso and its growth on Burkinabe soil. You are part of this tree branch and you are bearing fruit. You bear much fruit because you are rooted in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and it is therefore in your nature to bear fruit. Above (L to R): Siaka Traoré, Dr. Etienne Zongo (Fédération des Eglises et Missions Evangéliques), Thomas Traoré (Eglise de l Alliance Chrétienne), Abdias Coulibaly 05

Cisca Ibanda, Mennonite World Conference representative from DR Congo Siaka Traoré, in his presentation, underlined that from 1978 to 2018, 50 missionaries invested their lives in Kenedougou province

6 Cisca Ibanda, Mennonite World Conference representative from DR Congo Siaka Traoré, in his presentation, underlined that from 1978 to 2018, 50 missionaries invested their lives in Kenedougou province to share the Good News among the Senoufo, Siamou, Samogho, and other peoples. They concentrated their efforts on Bible translation in local languages. Siaka accented the importance of the roles of women and youth in the church. He concluded by challenging the youth: Be better than those who have preceded you! The Closing Ceremony The success of an event depends on two 06 essential elements: the welcome and the food. The food commission was presided by the very dynamic sister, Justine Dakuo. The attendees expected large helpings of food served in large basins, around which many would gather to eat, African style. But when the time came to serve the guests, Justine and her team asked everyone to remain in place. They surprised everyone by serving our meals in individual containers! More than 1,000 containers were handed out! Justine s team spent the night in the kitchen, in order to offer quality food to the guests.

The special grace displayed by team was observed by one of the photographers who made the following remark: Your service was correct, there was no distinction between

7 The team brought food to everyone, and there were leftovers in baskets, just like in Jesus time (Mat.15:37). This meal offered by Justine and her team evoked the Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Rev.19:7-9). Congratulations to the food Commission and its leader, Mama Justine Dakuo. The special grace displayed by team was observed by one of the photographers who made the following remark: Your service was correct, there was no distinction between important and unimportant guests. All ate the same quantity and quality of food. There is love in your community. Paul Ouédraogo is a co-founder and elder of the Orodara Mennonite Church Edited by Jean-Paul Pelsy and Zac Bowman Cooke 07

A boubacar Cessouma is a third acquire knowledge in order to help the year student in the Evangelical faithful in church to understand God s Word Mennonite Church s Basic Bible and to bring the light

8 A boubacar Cessouma is a third acquire knowledge in order to help the year student in the Evangelical faithful in church to understand God s Word Mennonite Church s Basic Bible and to bring the light of salvation to the Training program in Orodara, world. I also want to help the faithful to Burkina Faso. Recently Nicodème Coulibaly know their gifts and to put them into asked him about his experience, and this is practice. what he shared: This Basic Bible Training program is It s a grace for me to be a part of the Bible necessary because, in order to better serve training center. I used to read my Bible personally, and I acted according to my understandings. I was motivated to help others as much as I could, but I felt limited. With the training I am receiving, I On Basic Bible Training see a great difference in how I respond now, compared to what I did in the past. My biblical understanding is helping me to teach others better. Also, in terms of evangelism, I know how to engage on the basis of God s Word and I see improvement in my strategies and actions. What is motivating me in my studies is to 08 Aboubacar Cessouma God, people need to be well trained and equipped in the knowledge of the Word. We students want to thank all of you who are accompanying this training. May God bless you! Please pray for us. Pray that the Lord would accompany each student until the end of the studies. Pray that the Lord would help us to put into practice what we are learning, in the places where we serve. Pray that God would raise up others to be trained for his service.

9 Bakajika in his peanut field Alain Bakajika a calling to cultivate By Jean Felix Cimbalanga 09

I n its concern that the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo (CEM) would benefit from a trained, active and enterprising development agent, AIMM gave a second agricultural scholarship for CEM to

10 I n its concern that the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo (CEM) would benefit from a trained, active and enterprising development agent, AIMM gave a second agricultural scholarship for CEM to the Songhai Center in Benin. Alain Bakajika was chosen by CEM s National Management Committee for this opportunity. Once his application was accepted by AIMM, he was enabled to travel to Benin and Songhai, while his family was also cared for during his 6-month absence. Upon his arrival in the Beninese city of Porto -Novo, where the Songhai Center is located, Alain began his training. He succeeded brilliantly, and upon completion returned immediately to Mbuji Mayi. CEM members, focusing respectively on raising crops, raising animals and on transforming agricultural products for market. Alain is stepping into the roles which AIMM had envisaged for him: to be able to make his own living through sustainable and innovative agricultural practices in order to be a model for others; to assist others in learning those practices and increasing incomes through agricultural activity and in so doing, to be a blessing to his church community. Peanut harvest Upon his return, Alain began to practice what he learned in a field he purchased before his departure for Benin. During the first growing season in the fall of 2018, he raised peanuts, corn and legumes both for his own use and for sale. He also gave some of his produce away to others. I myself benefitted from his generosity. Alain took what he had learned and immediately put it to work. In conversation with our National Management Committee, he presented a very interesting action plan which includes 3 training modules open to 10

11 Healing in the Kasaï Growing Food In Kabwela, CEM (Evangelical Mennonite Church) is providing land for 100 families. The farmers have already begun to use their new tools to prepare the fields and plant cowpeas. After harvesting the cowpeas in January, they will plant more and add cassava. In Kikwit, CEFMC (Mennonite Brethren Church of Congo) is providing pigs to 200 of the most vulnerable families. Once the pigs give birth, the piglets can be sold to buy other food, pay school fees and other bills. In Tshikapa, CMCo (Mennonite Church of Congo) is carrying out similar projects with 300 crop farmers and 100 pig farmers. Bolstering unity Learning to distribute food fairly and to plan for future projects has been beneficial for church relief committee members in Tshikapa, said Mulanda Juma of MCC. As members worked together to decide where to distribute food, they had to face their own biases against each other s ethnic groups and those of the recipients. Juma helped the committee learn to make decisions based on the recipients level of vulnerability rather than ethnicity. Ultimately, every member of the relief committee agreed who the vulnerable people were and where to distribute the food. The food assistance has created some kind of unity, Juma said. In Tshikapa and Kikwit, churches added more women to their relief committees than the two required by MCC, Juma said. Initially, the churches hesitated to include women, but as the women s ability to organize became evident, the churches appointed more women and sent them for training. Healing trauma To help address the emotional wounds that burden many displaced people, MCC is supporting trauma healing training and workshops. Trauma practitioners from eastern DR Congo taught 17 displaced people from the three Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren churches how to lead community-based trauma healing workshops. As part of the three-day workshops, the newly trained leaders explain to other displaced people what trauma is and how it manifests itself in destructive behaviors. Leaders create safe space for group members to talk about their personal traumatic experiences and to grieve with each other before they talk together about how to live into the future. Excerpted from an MCC News Release by Linda Espenshade (13 Dec. 2018) 11

Hubert Tshibangu Mpumbua Born in Ndjoko Punda on December 16, 1936, Hubert Tshibangu was the second child of Pastor Isaac Tshibangu Mulenga and Marthe Ngalula Bulengi, in a family of 8 children, 4

12 Hubert Tshibangu Mpumbua Born in Ndjoko Punda on December 16, 1936, Hubert Tshibangu was the second child of Pastor Isaac Tshibangu Mulenga and Marthe Ngalula Bulengi, in a family of 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls, 3 of whom have already passed on. He attended primary school in Ndjoko Punda where his father had joined the Mennonites via Congo Inland Mission. His high school studies took place in Kolwezi in the current Lwalaba province. Hubert was married in both a civil and a religious ceremony on April 7, 1964 to Marie Katanda Mukuna, at Kabeya Kamuanga, the place of her birth. From this union, 8 children were born, 4 boys and 4 girls, all of whom survive Hubert. He served in a number of roles during his life. He was a primary school teacher, school director and teachers counselor with the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo (CEM), of which he was a member until death. He was obliged to leave the education 12 profession because of church politics. A leadership conflict found CEM s first leadership team in opposition with the former accountant for the church, Pastor Zacharie Nkumbi, in Reduced to unemployment through a vindictive act, Hubert found it better to be hired as Manager of Hotel Moukasha, which was owned by one of his relatives. He worked there for the rest of his life. A descendant of a Christian family with Mennonite roots, Hubert Tshibangu was consecrated as deacon of the church at the Sangilayi Bipemba local CEM church, by Pastor Pascal Misakabu, around Hubert was elected member of the National Management Committee of CEM across 3 consecutive administrations, first of all as National Administrative Secretary, and then as General Treasurer and Accountant from 1995 until his death, 4 years into the current Administration. In fact, Elder Hubert Tshibangu has been a Mennonite Christian from birth to death, and has served CEM as a leader across several generations. On April 24, 2018 the Lord called Hubert to himself following an illness which did not seem serious at the outset, but which progressed rapidly. May your soul rest in peace with your Creator, Papa Hubert. Jean Felix Cimbalanga

Charles Sprunger 1932-2019 Charles Sprunger was born and spent his growing up years in the Congo, as the son of Congo Inland Mission missionaries Vernon and Lilly Sprunger.

13 Charles Sprunger Charles Sprunger was born and spent his growing up years in the Congo, as the son of Congo Inland Mission missionaries Vernon and Lilly Sprunger. During this time of his life, he learned Congolese languages and absorbed life in that cultural context, as only children can. These learnings turned out to be foundational for his experience as a mission worker with Congo Inland Mission (now Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission). Charles married Geraldine Rieff, or Gerry, on August 29, They were accepted as CIM missionaries and were in Congo by late A first term assignment took them to Nyanga. Barely a year and a half in, they evacuated to Angola as part of the sudden withdrawal of all Congo Inland Mission workers and their families, because of the declaration of Congolese political independence in July Their second term, , began in Mukedi. In January of 1964, the Kwilu rebellion swept across the eastern Bandundu region, including the CIM mission stations at Kandala and Mukedi. On January 20, Charles and Loyal Schmidt arrived at Kandala with fuel. On their way back to Kandala that evening, they were stopped by rebels, who forced them from their vehicle, menaced them repeatedly with knives or bows and arrows, and threatened to kill them. They were led, hands tied behind their backs, all the way to Kandala. By God s grace and protection, they were able to rejoin the missionary group at Kandala, who were subsequently evacuated by U.N. helicopter. Just a few weeks after these traumatic events, missionary representatives from CIM and the Presbyterian mission determined to launch a cooperative recording studio, in order to prepare taped Christian audio programs in the Tshiluba language for radio broadcast. Charles was appointed Director of the new ministry. After 15 years of service in the Congo, Charles, Gerry and their children Kathy, Joel and Charlene, returned to the USA where Charles worked in electronics and pastoral ministry until his retirement. We at Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission are humbled and grateful for the service in which Charles, Gerry and the children participated during their years in Congo. 13

unfolded through family disagreements, cultural misunderstandings, and evidence of God at work in her own life as well as in what is now Democratic Republic of Congo.

and great love. H. David Brandt., PhD Martini served for many years as both a mission worker and an office employee for AIMM.

14 unfolded through family disagreements, cultural misunderstandings, and evidence of God at work in her own life as well as in what is now Democratic Republic of Congo. Stargazer s Children would be very useful to all those working and planning to work in other cultures, exhibiting the learning that can take place when the other culture is approached with respect and great love. H. David Brandt., PhD Martini served for many years as both a mission worker and an office employee for AIMM. Stargazer s Children A Memoir by Martini Reimer Janz Available from the AIMM Office for $15.00 USD with FREE US shipping! Contact zac@aimmintl.org or call the office to order. Art and Martini Janz were among the last generation of American missionaries who went to Africa to do basic evangelism. Now, almost 70 years later, Martini writes the story. Stargazer s Children merges Art and Martini s call and preparation for ministry in Belgian Congo with the involvement of extended families in a small, ethnically homogeneous town in Manitoba, Canada, and the Janz family s return to North America. She holds nothing back in telling the story as it 14 Martini Janz with editor Nancy Myers (L) at a reading of her book hosted by AIMM

Church, but God led them to serve in its denominational center in Kansas and its eventual merger into Mennonite Church USA.

Erwin has served on the AIMM board for many years and continues to chair the AIMM- USA board. Their families experienced loss and estrangement.

Unexpected Invitations Surprises, adventures, and opportunities in Mennonite ministry by Angela Rempel with Erwin Rempel To order go to: www.unexpectedinvitations.

15 Church, but God led them to serve in its denominational center in Kansas and its eventual merger into Mennonite Church USA. That path included a Pennsylvania pastorate and missionary assignments first in Brazil, and then in Botswana with AIMM and MCC. Erwin has served on the AIMM board for many years and continues to chair the AIMM- USA board. Their families experienced loss and estrangement. They were challenged by new languages, new cultures, plus lifestyle and technology changes. Even more surprising invitations awaited them in retirement. Unexpected Invitations Surprises, adventures, and opportunities in Mennonite ministry by Angela Rempel with Erwin Rempel To order go to: earempel@yahoo.com Home Phone: (540) Mobile: Shank Drive, Apt. 136, Harrisonburg, VA An unexpected invitation to spend a summer with a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania impacted Erwin and Angela Rempel for the rest of their lives. They each grew up on the fringes of the former General Conference Mennonite Angela and Erwin Rempel 15

Contributing financially to AIMM ministries... THANK YOU! Once again, as faithful partners in AIMM ministries, many of you have participated generously over the last year.

16 Contributing financially to AIMM ministries... THANK YOU! Once again, as faithful partners in AIMM ministries, many of you have participated generously over the last year. At our fiscal year end, January 31, 2019, we had received right around $300,000 U.S. in general fund contributions, in addition to contributions made for specific ministries, which totaled $437,000. Without us working together in this way, AIMM ministries would quickly cease to exist. Thank you for pouring your love, care and hard work into AIMM and thus enabling good works to flow, in Spirit-led collaboration with all the love, care and hard work from our African partner churches! Back to that $300,000 received for our general fund- this included a $70,000 estate gift from longtime AIMM mission worker Anna V. Leichty. Through this gift, Anna made a statement that matches what her life has been about. Even beyond her passing, she is making an impact through AIMM. Please consider making plans for an estate gift to AIMM. Such gifts are critical to our ability to serve a growing number of African partner churches, working with them to increase their own capacities for ministry. More and more AIMM supporters are also providing gifts for AIMM from their minimum IRA distributions. Please give thought to whether this might be an option for you. If you have questions about these or other kinds of contributions, please contact our office: ; zac@aimmintl.org. Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission International Central Council Phone: +1 (574) aimm@aimmintl.org Web: aimmintl.org PO Box 744 Goshen, IN USA 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 CANADA The Africa Journal is designed and edited by Zac Bowman Cooke. 16

Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission International Central Council P.O. Box 744 Goshen, IN 46527; 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Canada

Africa Journal Vol. 16 March 2013 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: aimm@aimmintl.org