Covenant News

CEUM Leaders Consider New Mission Model

BANGUI (March 7, 2001) - Leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church of the Ubangi-Mongala (CEUM) and the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) met recently in this Central African Republic city to continue reconfiguration of a mission organization model, work that began following a Covenant missionary evacuation in 1997.

The meeting represented World Mission Executive Director Jim Gustafson's sixth visit to Bangui, with missionaries Pete Ekstrand, Keith Gustafson and Ken Satterberg joining Gustafson. Bangui has proved to be a safe meeting site since increased fighting forced missionary evacuation from Congo four years ago.

In preparation for the talks, David Stockamp met earlier with CEUM leaders, many of whom Stockamp has known for more than 20 years. Stockamp is coordinator of church relations for World Mission and is a former Congo missionary.

"Covenanters need to remember that there's still a civil war going on," Stockamp said. "Continue to pray for our CEUM churches and leaders and the over-all situation." Stockamp said one important purpose for the meeting was to reassure CEUM leaders "that we (the Covenant church) still care for them and we love them. You can't just do that by letter or email messages. Presence in an African culture means everything," he continued.

One of the byproducts of the civil war is the division of families, Stockamp observed. "Dr. Jeanne Konziase ministers in Wasolo and has relatives in Kinshasa," Stockamp said, noting Konziase cannot get back to see them because the Congo capital is in the opposing force's hands. "I saw a lot of sorrow in her face as she told me that," Stockamp said. CEUM Vice President Kafi Nubea said he has not seen some of his children living in Kinshasa for more than five years.

Stockamp is encouraged by the recent strategy sessions and the fearless attitude of the CEUM leaders. "They've been through the fire and are emboldened to make a difference no matter what the circumstances," he said. "We're not looking back at the past now, but rather are focusing on our future and what God would like us to do," said Cabinet Director Fohle.

Stockamp also spent time in Cameroon and the Central African Republic updating Covenant missionary staff members on ministry developments throughout the Covenant and briefing them on the new Missionaries in Residence program for those on home assignment.

For more information on World Mission efforts in Congo and other countries in Africa, contact Byron Amundsen at 773-907-3317.

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