ELKHART, Ind. (Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission/Mennonite Mission Network) – Nearly 150 Congolese youth traveled from nine provinces to attend the first Bible camp sponsored by Communauté Mennonite au Congo (Mennonite Church of Congo), July 14-20. For some, it was a journey of several days by boat, transport trucks, or bicycles, but most of the campers arrived at the church headquarters in Tshikapa on foot.
Mennonite Church of Congo partners with other Mennonite churches in Africa and three North American mission agencies: Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, Mennonite Church Canada Witness, and Mennonite Mission Network.
Home is Where God Calls Us is the story of Lodema Short, her missionary colleagues, and the students they taught who are today’s leaders in Congolese Mennonite churches. To order your copy, call AIMM at 574-535-0077.
Robert Irundu, Mennonite Church of Congo’s national youth president, received inspiration for the camp when he met Dwight Short, who was a member of the North American delegation to the Congolese Mennonite centennial celebration in July 2012. Short went to Congo to conduct interviews for a book he was writing, the biography of his aunt, Lodema Short, who served with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission from 1947-1981.
Dwight Short also has a contagious passion for sharing the gospel through sports, because he sees sports as a universal language. Learning about team work, sacrifice, and a positive winning attitude can help biblical truths come alive, Short said.
“When Christian leaders encourage youth to play within the rules on the field, the kids can also understand why we want them to understand God’s plan for their lives, and, somehow, they listen more closely when that message is tied into a game they love,” Short said.
During Short’s 2012 visit, he and Irundu organized an impromptu sports camp that attracted more than 400 kids. That experience sparked Irundu’s imagination.
“We need to prepare future leaders to take up responsibility in the church, which is called to continue functioning for centuries,” Irundu said. “Sports activities are a good method for evangelism, an attractive way to bring young women and men into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and to grow the Mennonite Church of Congo.”
Short remains a prayer partner for Irundu and the Mennonite young people in Congo. He calls himself their cheerleader from the United States.
Irundu said that he organized the camp to provide a forum for young Mennonites to learn to know each other and fellowship together. Youth from other denominations were also invited to strengthen Christian unity.
The theme, “Young Mennonite, Rejoice in Your Youth but Know that…”, was taken from Ecclesiastes 12.
“This theme was chosen because enjoying life on earth does not mean distancing oneself from one’s creator. Youth is but one stage of life; we need to honor our God by observing his commandments, because death surprises everyone – children, youth and elders,” Irundu said.
Highlights of the camp included a parade through the center of Tshikapa to share the excitement of Jesus’ good news with the city’s population, and a soccer match between male-female mixed teams. At the end of the match, a soccer ball was presented to the Mennonite youth groups in each province, so that they could continue sports evangelism in their home locations.
Most importantly, nine youth made decisions to commit their lives to Jesus and were baptized on Sunday, July 20. After the baptisms, a communion service was celebrated.
Adolphe Komuesa Kalunga, Mennonite Church of Congo president, flew to Tshikapa to speak to the campers and to offer them a cow and sacks of corn and manioc to supplement their meals.
“Your road is very long,” Komuesa Kalunga told the youth. “Pay attention during your journey. Always listen to the Holy Spirit. Mennonite youth are not the church of tomorrow, but of today, because you are already working.”
Irundu is already thinking about ways to improve next year’s camp. He would love to have North Americans join the Congolese youth to increase the global fellowship among Mennonites. He also dreams of holding camps in each province, so that youth who don’t have the means to travel long distances can participate.
“I am always amazed at the ways God uses people and events to further the ministry of reconciliation,” said Steve Wiebe-Johnson, Mission Network’s director for Africa. “Events like this are a great encouragement to the youth leaders and to their home communities. I affirm Robert’s vision for Mennonite Church USA youth to get involved with Mennonite youth in other parts of the world.”
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
