FEB.

2024
VOL. 38

WHAT'S
INSIDE

3 A
Rehabilitation
of Faith

4
Shining a
Light on
Literacy
The Glass is Half Full

7
Seeing the glass as half full was one of the themes as leaders from the
Mennonite Community of the Congo gathered in Tshikapa last August. They
spent time identifying gifts, resources, and capacities present in their churches
and communities.
There was a 20th century move from non-resistance/pacifism to nonviolence
AIMM provided the workshop focused on mapping local assets that can be mobilized
Evangelism Theological convictions: 1 centralizing Jesus is integral to our realities and faith, we
to increase the resilience and effectiveness of ministry and development initiatives.
Drive in are not interested in Anabaptism as an end in itself, but as a lens through which to
Sierra Leone The discipline of community members starting with that they have, the glass half full,
re-discover Jesus and his call to witness and discipleship, Anabaptist is an
helps them move beyond a feeling of powerlessness as they face challenges. It
accompaniment to engaging the world, 2 a critique of Christendom that both
avoids the dependency that results from assuming solutions are lacking or must come
Catholic and Protestant traditions embodied in the Reformation and post-
from somewhere
Reformation else,
period, thechurch
3 the glass as
half-empty mentality.
an alternative Participants
political considered assets
body, the Messianic
they had identified
community, 4 we areand
at adeveloped plans
distance from to mobilize
power, and
a critique of increase
the state the
andcapacity
civil of their
churches and communities.
society in South Seeing
Africa, a radical the glass
alternative, as half(shalom)
5 peace full is the
andbeginning
justice areofatcommunity
the
transformation through
heart of the gospel. AIMM's Assets Based Community Development 160 project.
words

A Participant in the Angola Poultry
Project cares for the herd of goats.
Angola
Kalonda Bible Institute Lays Foundation for Change
Kalonda Bible School is working
on walls in the library, meeting
room, and women’s school.
DR Congo
2 aimmint.org
Angola Poultry Project Expands to Goats
In the rural areas of Uige, Angola, chicken production is one
way that poor farmers, especially women, have been able to
increase their food security and generate income.
In May 2023 the Evangelical Mennonite Church purchased
150 chicks with the help of Schowalter Foundation and AIMM.
Two unanticipated challenges arose almost immediately due to
management differences between production flocks and small
flocks: the threat from wild animals and the larger flock in an
enclosed space was more susceptible to disease.
To solve the problems, the Angola Poultry Project moved
the chickens to a site better for larger-scale poultry production,
and instead used the Uige site to raise goats, which are not as
susceptible to the threat of wild animals or to disease. While
the sale of chickens to hotels and restaurants was the primary
focus of the business plan for the poultry project, there is a
lucrative market for goats during holidays when goat meat is
roasted and shared at large, festive gatherings. The solution of
raising both chickens and goats is beneficial to all
participating in the Angola Poultry Project!
After going through the ABCD (Assets Based Community
Development) training, the Kalonda Bible Institute decided that
their version of seeing the “glass as half full” was to make
bricks out of the soil and use them to repair their buildings.
Students and staff participated in the brick-making project; they
made 6,000 bricks.
CMCo provided funds to hire masons to build the walls, and
Kalonda Bible Institute students moved bricks, as well as
brought sand and water to the worksite.
Kalonda Bible Institute’s Director Bercie Mundedi says that
students are interested in purchasing a modern brick-making
machine, which would allow them to produce even more bricks
than the current method of making one brick at a time. With
better production, KBI’s goal is to continue the multipurpose
conference hall project, which would have two bedrooms for
trainers and visitors and would provide income for the school.
Additionally, KBI would like to build classrooms for the women's
school and free up the library.
Currently, students and staff are working on windows,
doors, plastering, painting and refurbishing the library.
1-574-535-0077 aimm@aimmint.org
LEFT: CMCo’s Kimia Church building before the
damage incurred on March 23, 2023, which is
pictured on RIGHT

$29,980
On March 23, 2023, bulldozers destroyed parts of CMCo’s Kima
church building due to an inexplicable decision by the governor of
Kinshasa City and the Kinshasa City Council.
After long waits and negotiations with the government authorities Total estimated
of Kinshasa City Hall, the CMCo (Mennonite Community Church of cost to repair the
Congo) and Kinshasa City officials are at an impasse as to who is Kimia Church
building
responsible to repair and renovate the demolished sections of the
church building.
Considering the high
cost of renovation
compared to their income,
A Rehabilitation of Faith
the members of Kimia Kimia Church sees a path forward, step by step
Church have decided to
undertake the repairs step by Reverend Damien Lukak Kakhenda, Lead Pastor of CMCo’s Kimia
by step. The total cost of Church, Kinshasa, DR Congo
repairing/rebuilding the
structure is estimated to be $29,980.
Kimia Church’s congregation has already completed the first step.
It involved replacing the door, raising the roof, erecting columns, and
To date, city officials have
beams to support the roof (labor and materials), and constructing a
warehouse space to store construction materials. This step cost
neither taken any initiative nor
$1,330. made any promise to restore
Subsequent steps include rebuilding demolished walls, installing the local church to its
25 windows and 5 doors, repairing the roof, laying tiles on the floor previous state. Church
and walls, installing electricity, creating office space, and adding members are choosing to
toilets and showers. rebuild and rehabilitate.

1-574-535-0077 Africa Journal, Vol. 38 February 2024 aimmint.org 3


Literacy Brings Hope
to a Single Mother
Elysée Kupani has two children
and lives in the city of Gungu.
Here she is pictured with her
son, Moïse Walembo.
Elysée has attended the
literacy program since 2017.
She is a very poor single
mother with no family in
Gungu. In order to provide for
her two children, she goes to
others’ houses to do their
laundry, housework and weeds
yards and gardens.
Elysée has no education,
and since she is not literate, it is
difficult for her to get her
family out of poverty.
Elysée is trying to change
her circumstances by learning
to read.
4 aimmint.org
Shining a Light on Literacy
By Reverend Marie Fumana
As the coordinator of the Literacy Project in
the Bandundu region of the DR Congo, I
coordinate the work of teaching those who
are illiterate in the province.
The people served by our project are mostly poor adult
women who never got the chance to finish school or, in many
cases, never got the chance to go to school.
Several of us who are women leaders in the church felt the
need for a literacy project as we visited the different
congregations and we saw that there was a sickness. What was
that sickness? Many of our women don’t know how to read or
write. They are illiterate.
This need, this concern, of seeing women who could not read
or write, motivated us to conceive of a project of literacy: the
Evangelism through Literacy Project. Many of the leaders of the
women’s groups in our congregations did not know how to read
or write. They were not capable of explaining the word of God to
others. They were not able to prepare a program or a report to
give to church leaders. They were not able to provide for their
children with their lack of education.
When women can read and when women can write,
there we see the intervention of God.
The literacy project helps people to read and write through the
use of the primers that explain the word of God, as well as how
to read. There is progress in our congregations now. Those who
did not know how to read or write are learning. We have
presidents of women’s groups in our congregations who can
stand in front their congregations and explain the word of God to
others.
Some non-believers and people of other faiths have made the
decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior because of
this program.
This project does good, but needs more funding for the
teachers, the transportation, and the meeting spaces. There is
great need and great good to be done!
In their own words...
The Evangelism through Literacy Project was started by women
leaders of the three Congo Mennonite denominations in
partnership with AIMM and AIMM collaborator Nancy Myers.
Currently, there are a total of 2,803 people taking classes in a
variety of provinces spread out around the DRC. Here are the Pastor Muvuma Kanambua prays for
testimonies of 2 women in the Literacy Project: the offering at the ICMA gathering.
She is one of the denominational
leaders in Luanda, Angola's capital.

Let Us Rise Up and

Build the ICMA!

The Mennonite Community of

My name is Rose Madituma.
Before I did not know
anything. I did not know how
to read or write. But since we
started to study, I have
mastered reading and writing.
What bothers me now is
that I have problems seeing
well. I have serious vision
problems. There is no way to
read and write as well as I
want to if I don’t have glasses.
In any case, God has
shown me grace. I am able to
read and write well. I can read
the Bible. I ask AIMM to buy
us glasses and to help us
build classrooms because we
are sometimes not able to use
the church when others are
using it. Thank you very much!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Churches in Angola (ICMA) had
its 8th General and Elective
Assembly in Dundo, Angola, in
December of 2023. The theme
I am Mme. Nkapela from the
“Let Us Rise Up and Build the
Misengi center. I am happy
ICMA!” was inspired by
with the literacy training. The
Nehemiah 2:18-20.
training really helps us thanks
The ICMA recommended the
to the AIMM.
following:
As for reading, we are
- National management will
asking for support with
apply for AIMM funds to cover
reading glasses because we
the roofs of 2 temples (Cambulo
now know how to read and
and Luanda/Vidrul),
write, but we have a vision
- The ICMA will promote the
problem given our age.
teaching of Mennonite doctrine
We also want Bibles
and Mennonite history,
written in Kikongo. Our joy is
- The General Assembly calls
to read, but to be able to read
for the strengthening of
the Bible in Kikongo would be
members' capacity for
even better.
community development, and
Despite our age, we come
- The ICMA will back the
with courage and without
construction of a national
inhibitions. We want to take
health center.
exams and obtain a certificate
of end of training.
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 Pray
WITH US
Please join us in prayer.
Clip & save prayer requests
Pray for the Lycée Miodi Girls
school in Nyanga, DRC.
- Pray that the 20 girls in
this year’s graduating class will
complete studies successfully.
- Pray for successful
fundraising to replace the 30
aging sewing machines that
student learn to sew on.
- Pray for successful
completion of the two new
classrooms that are nearly
finished.
Please pray for the Mennonite
Church of Angola.
- With approximately 15,000
members and 30 ordained
pastors, the church is planning
on sending new missionaries to
three provinces: Moxico,
Cabinda and Zaire.
- Pray for successful
evangelistic outreach. Pray the
church would surpass last year’s
count of just over 300 new
members.
- Three women leaders are in
pastoral training: pray for
scholarships to add 3 more to
their number this year.
6 aimmint.org
Community Notices
Marking milestones within the AIMM family
Henry Klassen
Long-time AIMM board member Henry
Klassen passed away on June 29, 2023.
Henry, his wife Ramona, and their
children served as missionaries in Beliz
for nine years. He was subsequently
Executive Secretary of the EMC Board
of Missions for many years.
Read the full obituary at:
https://birchwoodfuneralchapel.com/
Ramona Klassen
Ramona Klassen passed away on
September 25, 2023. Ramona, her
husband Henry, and their children
served as missionaries in Beliz for nine
years. Ramona spoke often of her love
for the Belizean people and of
relationships she formed there.
Read the full obituary at:
https://birchwoodfuneralchapel.com
Allan Wiebe
Allan Wiebe passed away on December 1,
2023. Allan and his family served at
Kalonda in what is today the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. He provided
leadership in Congo and later as a board
member during the crucial period of
devolving church structures and programs
from missionaries to the Congolese
church.
Read the full obituary at:
https://memorials.bollmanstributecenter.com
Africa Journal, Vol. 38 February 2024
8th Annual Evangelism Drive in Sierra Leone
Christ Salvation Mennonite Church of Sierra Leone celebrated their 8th
evangelism drive in Kabasa Newton in January.
According to Reverend Solomon Bandor, this annual event is an
outreach event to spread the good news of Christianity beyond the
Christ Salvation Mennonite Church community. For seven days, the
church celebrates the role of Jesus Christ in the community and they
gather to fast and to pray.
In the Newton and 6 Mile communities, there are between 600 and
800 regular church attendees. The Christ Salvation Mennonite Church
of Sierra Leone is grateful to God for His blessings and grace as they
continue with their evangelism drive.
Reverend Solomon
Bandor in prayer

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10

ANiSA Stimulates Mission Engagement

for both Africans and North Americans
In contemporary contexts we frame our mission practices in a multitude of
different ways. AIMM partner ANiSA (the Anabaptist Network in South
Africa) is living into its own paradigm of mission engagement with local and international brothers
and sisters.
One initiative brought together South African church and community leaders for a time of
spiritual and theological discernment. They took time for retreat and biblical reflection before
spending a week in the township of Soweto, walking alongside people by worshipping together,
helping students with homework, repairing houses with residents, and sharing meals. Afterward
participants again took time to reflect together about how best to follow Jesus. During this pilgrimage
experience the Anabaptist emphasis on discipleship and shalom stimulated their contemplation. It
was different, yet complementary, to what they remembered from their seminary education.
Earlier this past year groups from the International Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and Eastern
Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, VA, benefited from ANiSA’s guidance. They too spent
time in retreat and biblical reflection before engaging with people struggling in different settings.
EMU students stayed with host families, helped children with schoolwork, shared meals with homeless
people, and worked with organizations who assist the most disenfranchised of society. Their
pilgrimage took them to Soweto, Johannesburg, and Pretoria where marginalized people are
struggling to embody shalom. Integrating preliminary prayer and reflection, service and relationship-
building with “the least of these” and theological reflection provides a learning and faith-building
experience for North Americans students, just as it does for African leaders.
 How beautiful upon
the mountains are the feet
of a messenger who
proclaims peace
Africa Inter-Mennonite Isaiah 52:7
Mission International Return Service Requested
Central Council

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Cover photo: Christophe Mangala Muyito is the Pedagogical/ Educational Advisor at the
CMCo primary and secondary school coordination in Gungu. He participated in the
ABCD training in Tshikapa.

Over the last six months, the glass is indeed “half

full” for AIMM’s partners.

Leaders of the Mennonite Community in the Congo met in

Tshikapa to map the talents and resources that exist in their
churches and communities.
Members of the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Angola
used their knowhow to expand chicken flocks and goat herds.
The Mennonite Church in Angola held its bi-annual
assembly in Luanda Province for the first time.
Participants in the Bandundu city village savings and loan Co-Executive Coordinators
associations of the Mennonite Brethren Church in the Congo John Fumana
and Bruce Yoder
drew on their savings accounts for Christmas celebrations.
In all these cases, local resourcefulness got the ball rolling
and AIMM assistance increased capacity and impact. Praise be
to God!

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all

things at all times, having all that you need, you will

abound in every good work. - 2 Corinthians 9:8