As I travel, I have observed a pattern, a strange historical phenomenon of God “moving” geographically from the Middle East to Europe, to North America, to the developing world. My theory is this: God goes where He’s wanted. -Philip Yancey Through my admittedly superficial exposure in the three trips I have made to Congo, each time I was delighted by the sweet marks of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Congolese believers I interacted with. These were marks I discerned not because I’m some authority on the matter, but because their other-worldliness is so striking, you can’t miss it. After my 2012 trip, I wrote: I was expecting to find a people beaten down, cynical, and hardened. Instead I was disarmed in a game of Bananagrams with a colorful, and delightfully sassy group of students the first night of my arrival. Their laughter was free, and made even the wild jungle feel confined. All the students I interacted with had youth spraying through their veins like a broken fire hydrant. When I talked with them about the conflicts and the corruption of their country, their plans for transformation were fearless. The students acted like they could run and not grow weary. “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Losha was one of the dreaming old men. I met him during my 2015 visit. He wore a bright red, tattered backpack that stood out against his crisp grey suit. The suit was tailored to fit his missing arm, which he lost when they sent out the kids to pick-up leftover explosives littering the streets after the Simba rebellion of 1964. A man probably in his sixties, his face beamed in a charming schoolboy smile. With remarkable dexterity he single handedly chauffeured me all over Bunia on the back of his 125cc Senke motorcycle. Losha was second in command for one of the largest school systems in Bunia. As one principal told me, “He is a very humble man.” I need to point out how remarkable that statement is. Against the backdrop of strong-man authoritarian values prized in Congolese leadership, Losha is an anomaly. Covertly operating off of a whole new reality, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Encountering these believers was paradigm-shifting for me. Suddenly, I was compelled to serve in the D.R.C. not because of a principle of deficit, “Congolese lack the gospel and need my help,” but because I saw clearly the Spirit of God moving in his people in Congo and I want to join in. |
No matter how hard you throw a dead fish in the water, it still won't swim.
-Congolese saying For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.. -Jesus Wesley & Mindy McKnightThis blog will address critical questions regarding our vision of ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is meant to last only until we depart the U.S., with each post being 500 words or less. Archives
July 2016
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