We give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for the grace and mercies that were given to us to undertake this mission to the land of Congo consisting of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC (also known as Belgian Congo or Congo Kinshasa) and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville or French Congo being that it was part of the former French Colonial enclave in Central Africa known as French Equatorial Central Africa, which included the present day nationalities of Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad).
The initial team that made the first part of this mission (21-31 July) were brothers Chijioke Nwauche and Yaguo Ide along with two of his daughters – Beulah and Hephzibah. We all arrived in Kinshasa, DRC on Sunday 21 July evening flying direct from Lagos via Douala, Cameroons on the newly-introduced route of the Nigerian Arik Air flight to the DRC. Passage through customs was smooth and more organised and professional. Driving through the streets of Kinshasa, one was stunned and pleasantly surprised at the remarkable transformation, upgrade and development of the city that has taken place in the past three to four years that we last visited. We were very warmly received by our hosts – Sister Geraldine McEwen and the Johnsons.
We next proceeded to Brazzaville in the morning of the next day, Monday 22, from where we connected a local flight to the oil city of Pointe Noire (which is also served by both Air France and Lufthansa Airlines), and then by road for a six-hour drive through the mountains to arrive at our final destination of Nkayi at about 1 AM the early hours of Wednesday July 23, 2013.
Nkayi, the fourth largest city in Congo Brazzaville is dusty at this time of the year and is famed for its sugar cane plantations and factory. It has an airport under reconstruction and is an important railway station of the also famed Ocean-Congo Railways of the then Colonial Equatorial French Central Africa.
Our host, Brother Alphonse Bonda had arranged with some of the local pastors and ministers for the meetings to take place in a nearby Pentecostal Church. The meetings, which were well attended, were held in the evenings of Tuesday 23-Thursday 25 July, 2013. The response to the word of the kingdom was very good especially from the pastors and church leaders present. They testified that they were receiving this word for the first time and were evidently blessed by the various ministries that went forth, especially the trumpet that is calling the church at this time to make the switch from the Old Testament type outward-based worship to the New Testament soul-based worship and priesthood. A remarkable feature of the ministry here is the emergence of a group of very zealous and hungry young people, some of whom meet with Brother Alphonse for fellowship.
Our drive back to Pointe Noire on Friday morning was smooth and we got to Brazzaville but not on time to catch the last boat across the Congo River back to Kinshasa. Having to spend the night in Brazza, we crossed the River on Saturday morning but could only meet the afternoon session of the camp meeting of the group in Kinshasa due some immigration hassles. The camp meeting had started the previous night and was taking place in an Anglican Church-owned guest house which was very conducive for this retreat type set of meetings that ended on Sunday evening, 28 July, 2013. It was very well attended by about 60 people, majority of who were youngsters. The ministry here centered on the fundamentals of the gospel and was a platform to strengthen and encourage the brethren especially in the area of bride price and traditional marriage. Brother Ide gave his powerful testimony of how the Lord strengthened him to overcome this yoke when he got married.
A notable testimony of the ministry here is that of a brother named Jeremiah who being on the verge of being married to a sister from the Bakongo tribe of the DRC (who are very traditional and where once ruled by the powerful Kalongo, the head potentate and chief over the whole Bakongo tribe; the payment of bride price is held very strongly among these people) and having heard the word about the correct scriptural pattern of marriage of Christian couples as set forth in Genesis 24, decided not to proceed any further with his plans of paying bride price. We counselled with him and his fiancée on how to glorify and honour God in their marriage and not to give their home over to the devil.
One of the major take home for us from the trip is the clear word from the Lord that He would have us to pay more attention to the Missions to the Central African nations of DRC, Republic of Congo, Gabon and the Central Africa Republic.
As I travel back to Nigeria today, Wednesday July 31, I will arrive back in Port Harcourt in the early hours of Thursday 1 August, 2013. It will be just in time to receive the visiting team of Brother Burt Asbill and others from the United States. I shall be replaced by Brother Urias Irechukwu from the MIS Port Harcourt group who will be arriving in Kinshasa today on the same aircraft that would convey me back to Lagos. Sister Lucy Yaguo-Ide, would be joining her husband, children and brother Urias hopefully over this weekend until they all return back to Port Harcourt on 14 July, 2013 right into the Port Harcourt Youth Camp that commences from 14 to 20 July. They will be attending the conference along with Baraka, one of the young people from the Kinshasa fellowship.
As I round up this report, we bless God for the opportunity He has given unto us to serve as unprofitable servants in His vineyard. Blessed be His Holy Name, Amen.
Your Brother,
Chijioke Nwauche