Saturday, April 12, 2008

Congo Ministry endorsed by Missions Team, Elders

The Congo ministry team has recently sought and received the approval and endorsement of both the Elim EV Free Missions Team, and the Board of Elders.

I am attaching here for your information the proposal document that was submitted by Cal Kierum, seeking this endorsement.

The Congo Team Proposal

PURPOSES

  • To seek endorsement of the Congo Team as an ongoing ministry team by Elim leadership; additionally, to clarify what such an endorsement means.
  • To explain how the Congo Team can continue to function, under the oversight of the Missions Team, in a way that promotes the vision of the leadership of Elim EFC.
  • To review the past and possible future involvement of the Congo Team with the ministry of the CECU (Congolese Evangelical Free Church) as sponsored by the EFCA.

BACKGROUND

Starting in December 2005, a few members from Elim began responding to a call that the Lord had placed upon them for the situation with HIV in Africa. Given a desire to partner with our denominational mission when possible, contacts were made with what is now called Touch Global, the compassion ministry of the EFCA. A Congo Team was formed consisting of individuals from Elim who felt called to be involved with what the Lord was doing in the Congo. This was an informal group, based upon interests and focus of the individuals. The composition of the team has varied somewhat over time.

As the Congo Team continued to pray and meet about this, plans were made to take a group from Elim to the Congo on a Vision Trip with leadership from EFCA. The proposal for the Vision Trip was taken to the Missions Team and approved.

The Lord raised up three people, namely Pastor Martin Schlomer, Linda McCoy, and Cal Kierum, to go to the Congo in the summer of 2007. In preparation for this, the Congo Team held the first Congo Banquet (an informational session and fundraiser) in January 2007. The Elim team joined with 14 others from around the U.S. under EFCA leaders Kevin Kompelien, Rachel Martin, Thelma Landrud, and Dr. Tom Cairns as we went on a Vision Trip to the Congo. This trip focused primarily on the work in the part of Congo where the CECU predominates, namely the Ubangi region in northern Congo. In this region, roughly half the size of the state of Washington, there are over 900 CECU congregations. These Christian brothers and sisters face many problems but also have seen much blessing.

While in the Congo, Linda, Cal and Martin felt that the Lord had impressed upon them His heart for the Congolese church and their people. They returned from this trip understanding that the Lord had called them to this place at this time in order to help raise awareness of the Lord’s work in the Congo with their fellow believers.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The team presented their experiences to the congregation as a whole the Sunday following their return. An opportunity for people to come and learn more was presented in Fall 2007 at the home of Steve and Lorna Kearns. Each team member has taken other opportunities to enlighten people about their experiences. Both Cal and Martin have stayed in touch with EFCA leadership since our return for updates on the work of the CECU. Additionally, Cal has remained in contact with the Christian doctors he worked with while in the Congo.

A second Congo Banquet was held in February 2008 in order to continue to increase awareness of opportunities for partnership with the CECU, including explanations about orphan sponsorship (Global Fingerprints ) and financial support for the CECU-sponsored Elikya Center for training widows and older orphans. Also, request was made for those who felt they might be called to be part of team(s) to return in 2009, that they would prayerfully consider taking next steps. Fund-raising for this team was initiated.

Dr. Tom Cairns was invited to visit Puyallup in February 2008 to do several things, including being the banquet speaker, speak to EFCA leadership at the District Conference, and speak to various small groups of people interested in the Congo partnership.

NEXT STEPS: Endorsement

The Congo Team is seeking “endorsement” from the Missions Team and, ultimately, the Elder Board. The word “endorsement” is being chosen specifically for several reasons. Endorsement implies that the leadership of Elim EFC recognizes the Congo Team as consistent with Missions policy and the mission statement of Elim EFC. Endorsement implies that, rather than the Congo Team originating from the leadership of Elim, it instead originates from Elim members who feel a calling for involvement with the Lord’s work in the Congo. Endorsement implies that the leadership of Elim EFC supports the Congo Team insofar as allowing them to seek prayers, participation, and financial support from Elim members. Endorsement presumes that the Congo Team functions under recognized church leadership structures, in particular the Missions Team and the Elder Board.

Endorsement recognizes that God has placed a call on a sub-group of members at Elim for ministry in the Congo. It does not imply that God has placed that call on all members or that He has not placed a call on other people for other ministries. It is our heart that each person who calls Elim home will have a sense of calling to some mission or ministry area outside the walls of Elim EFC, whether in our community, our area, our nation, or elsewhere throughout the world. We who serve on the Congo Team do desire to see God’s people, whether they be at Elim or part of another congregation, become enlightened as to how He is working in the Congo through His Church and become aware of how they can be part of His work if they feel called.

Endorsement does not presume that there will be a line item in the budget for the Congo Team or any activities it sponsors. However, it does not preclude the Congo Team from seeking such support in the future through the regular, authorized process that any ministry would use in order to seek such support.

While it is the hope of the Congo Team that more people will hear and respond to the Lord’s calling for His work in the Congo, we also recognize, respect and value the heart and the calling of those at Elim who have other ministry areas as their primary calling. Endorsement of the Congo Team does not imply that the Congo Team is the only such group or activity that could be endorsed by the Missions Team or the Elder Board. It does not mean that activities of the Congo Team preclude people at Elim from participation in other activities.

NEXT STEPS: Exploring Partnerships

The Congo Team believes that ongoing partnership with the CECU under the leadership of the EFCA has the potential to grow disciples at Elim. We believe that there is demonstrable value in establishing ongoing partnership with a particular mission/ministry, in this case the CECU, for long-term involvement. This involvement may be both in terms of prayer and participation; either through giving, local efforts to support the mission/ministry or going to be in fellowship with our brethren. The value of such partnerships has been demonstrated (i.e., Arlington Heights EFC).

Additionally, we are convinced that as Elim members become more aware and involved in the Lord’s work in the Congo, that they will see their faith and their hearts transformed in positive ways. A key principle is that not only do we give blessing to the Congolese through our fellowship with them, but we also receive blessing through this fellowship. Each individual who participated in the Vision Trip can give testimony to how the Lord has grown them, and continues to grow them, in many areas. We believe that as more Elim members are able to participate in the partnership, God will use this not only to bless us and grow our faith but that He will help our hearts enlarge to see people everywhere, from those inside our church walls to those in remote parts of the world, as He does.

One important part of partnership is the organization of a consortium of EFCA congregations with special interest in working with the CECU in the Congo. This model has been used for other mission areas where Reach Global and Touch Global are involved. A consortium allows several congregations to partner with one another and enables American churches to do more than they could on their own. The Congo Consortium has been forming in the Midwest, meeting at Arlington Heights EFC. This consortium is working closely with both EFCA and CECU leadership to develop a coordinated master plan for how churches and Christians in the U.S. can help. The Congo Team has been working with this consortium. We will continue to work with this consortium as much as is possible, given travel constraints, under the authority of Elim leadership. There may perhaps be a need to form a second or sub-consortium here in the Northwest. There is one other EFCA church, Cornerstone EFC in Pullman, WA, that has expressed interest in working with Elim to form a consortium in the Northwest if it becomes evident that this is needed.

NEXT STEPS: Trip to the Congo in 2009

The Congo Team is proposing the formation of a team, or possibly more than one team, to return to the Congo in 2009. Several prospective members have been identified. Unlike the trip in 2007 which was primarily about vision, the 2009 trip will be about ministry, using the Reach Global statement of “equip, empower, release.” The actual composition and activities of this team will be prayerfully and thoughtfully developed by the Congo Team then submitted to the Missions Team in accordance with Mission’s Policy.

There are multiple opportunities to join with the CECU; thus there are multiple options for people to use their gifts and talents. The Congo Team is praying that the Lord will raise up people or groups from Elim to go to the Congo periodically into the foreseeable future as the Lord moves in their hearts.