Bicycles

In 1995 when we were delivering bicycles in Monono, not yet bishop Ntambo said, "This is the best thing we have done." Since that time, Bishop Ntambo and the leaders of the North Katanga, Tanganyika, and Tanzania communities have gone on to do many great things, but putting our pastors and other church leaders on bicycles has proven to be one of the best things we have done together in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The bicycle is the basic form of transportation in a country whose roads are impassable by even 4 wheel drive trucks half the year. The bicycle is affordable at the village level. It is maintainable. All our pastors and lay leaders are bicycle mechanics and spare parts are available in the local markets. We get at least ten years service out of a bicycle that is purchased in stores in Lubumbashi, Likasi, or Kamina.

The bicycle is the horse for our community leaders. On it leaders make their rounds to churches, homes and hospitals. The bicycle even serves as an ambulance. In 1996, it was reported back to us that 59 babies were delivered on our bicycles. (Awkward statement, but you know what we mean.) No other investment has yielded the kind of community transformation that the bicycle has.


Since 1995 the number of bicycles that Hoosiers have provided is well over 750, maybe close to 1,000.


This summer when the Wesley Foundation at Purdue University held its annual mission bike ride, they designated half of the proceeds to go to bicycles for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Purdue campus ministers Glen and Lana Robyne have a strong connection with the United Methodist Seminary at Mulunguishi, where these bicycles will probably be delivered. We're thrilled to have these new, young adult partners. Boiler up!


Bob

Death Notice: Rev. Alexi Aksanti Mwilu

"Rev. Alexi Aksanti Mwilu, United Methodist pastor in Kivu Provisonal Annual Conference in Central Congo Episcopal Area was shot by soldiers at 5 am today, December 17, 2009 in Goma. This is all we know at this time."

reported by Rev. Louis Loma Otshudi
Director of Communications/ Central Congo Episcopal Area

Reading Revelation in Africa

Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church is a leading experiment in what is being called the emergent or missional church. The congregation is lay led by young adults who are drawing on ancient traditions and a strong dose of John Wesley to rethink doing and being church. They include gifted musicians and passionate community organizers.

During the month of January, we will be telling the remarkable story of peace building by the United Methodist pastors and lay leaders in the North Katanga and Tanganyika Conferences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. If you're in the central Indiana area, come out on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm for these special presentations. Come early at 5:00 for our pitch-in dinner.

Here's the text of our community announcement:

Reading Revelation in Africa

Between 1995 and 1999, life in the Congo matched the visions of Revelation, terror for terror, affliction for affliction. Bob Walters and Ntambo Nkulu preached sermons of hope and encouragement straight out of these powerful texts. The result? The Church stood strong against the rage of a war that has killed over 4 million, turned the war with heroic peace building, and emerged as the recognized leaders of community development.

Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church, Earth House Collective, and Friendly Planet Missiology bring these sermons to Indiananpolis during the month of January. You'll be inspired by the stories of courage in the face of terror, and be pleasantly surprised at how hope-filled and helpful this apocalyptic message can be.

Bonuses:

There are over 30 hymns in Revelation. Many of the great hymns of the Church come from the texts of Revelation. Our musicians are having the great fun of creating new and ancient music for us.

Worship at Lockerbie Central is interactive and participatory. The Book of Revelation is dramatic in its literary form. Come expecting to be a part of the sermon.

Revelation takes us through the worst of our fears into an incredible peace. It carries us through our greatest life struggles and into a future that only God can guarantee. You'll find strength for your own journey.


See you on Sunday nights at Lockerbie Central in January.
Bob

Advent in the Congo

The one gift of preaching scripture in the Congo is that I don't have to say, "In Jesus' day, things were like this. . . " Congolese congregations know exactly what the text is saying. It jumps off the page as a picture of everyday life.

The Gospel of Luke has John the Baptist quoting the prophet Isaiah, "Make the road straight. Prepare the way for the Lord's coming." Both in biblical days and in present day Congo, when someone important is coming, the road gets repaired.

Back in 1999, just before being evacuated as the war heated up, I made a visit up to the mountain town of Sampwe. It was rough driving. Our 4wd Land Cruiser spent much of the time on two wheels and ruts were as deep as the truck itself.

As we approached Sampwe, I noticed two things: fields filled with green rice and a smooth road. For the first, Sampwe is a potential breadbasket for the Congo and should be exporting food to all of Africa. However, the road to the markets of Kolwesi and Likasi is impossible in the dry season and impassable in the rainy season. For the second observation, I had to ask how the local road had been repaired and was in such good shape. For the answer, we went to visit the local chief.

Following appropriate protocol, we were taken to the chief's armed camp. Nothing cute about this visit to an African chief's home. We found a well educated, articulate leader who had learned well the lessons of patronage, how to get the resources his community needs. He had invited the governor to come visit. The governor had agreed. The chief had all his people out working on the road. They were ready for the visit of a very important person, one who would see the needs of the suffering people and give great gifts of patronage. This is how the system works. The only problem is that the governor did not come.

If that were not enough of a lesson, he took me out to a field where 12 years prior, the United Methodist missionary pilot, Stan Ridgeway, had made the off hand comment that this field would make a good landing strip. The chief had prepared the field as a runway and was awaiting the coming United Methodist planes. Stan Ridgeway was shot and killed by Mubutu's soldiers in 1987 for refusing to fly an army payroll. The United Methodist planes will not be coming any time soon.

The people of the Congo know what it's like to prepare the road for the coming patron. They know what the prophet is calling us to do in preparation. They know what it is like to wait, and to be disappointed.

Jesus came into a world waiting for a savior. His message to this world? The kingdom of God is already here. "The kingdom of God is within you." The incredible irony of the Gospel is that when our savior arrives, he tells us that God is already here, that God has already given us everything we need.

Bob