Congo Mission Update

Sadly, the Congo Mission fundraising effort for this summer’s mission trip did not go well. Pastor Kalonji and I fell well short of our budgeted goal. The mission, however, does continue. We raised enough funds to send Pastor Kalonji to Kinshasa and Mbuji-Mayi for a three and one half week mission trip. While in country, Pastor Kalonji will carry on the mission work of preaching, teaching, feeding orphaned children and freeing mothers and their babies from detention in clinics. He will also inspect the progress on the construction of the first ever Lutheran Church building in the Kasai-Oriental province. Pastor Kalonji and I worked with Pastor Mozart of Mbuji-Mayi to secure land and construct this building. The new parish has been dedicated as New Jerusalem Lutheran Parish.
While I have not been able to travel to Congo recently, I go with him in spirit. The work that we do in Congo is a very important ministry for the sake of the Lutheran community there, and I deeply miss the friends I have made and serving a people who are so welcoming of the messengers of God’s Word. While saddened that I cannot visit Congo this summer, I am pleased that God continues to provide for our Congo Mission efforts.
I am committed to making the trip next summer. As the ambassador for Congo Mission International, I have already begun efforts to encourage our mission partners within the NALC to support this ongoing mission. Unlike other global mission entities, Pastor Kalonji and I do not have support from large sponsoring charitable organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse, Thrivent, or Habitat for Humanity. We depend on the generosity of congregations and individuals to continue to do the mission we have engaged in since 2014. Anyone who feels called to lend a hand may help with a small monetary gift to our mission using the St. Jacob’s Vanco online giving app.
Please join me in keeping Pastor Stéphane Kalonji and his family in prayer as he is away from home making this annual mission trip. He will depart the U.S. on Monday, July 6th and return on Friday, July 31st.