Rooted in Jesus

SOMA team visit to the Diocese of Nord-Kivu, DR Congo

November 2007   

 

The team, led by Simon Brignall, comprised Geoff Stokes, Holy Trinity Leicester, Joshua Opondo, Youth Chaplain Diocese of Maseno South, Kenya, and Jacob Lihhima, Rooted in Jesus coordinator, Babati deanery, Diocese of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

 

The Diocese of Nord Kivu runs along the border of Uganda covering an area nearly the size of Rwanda and Burundi together.

The conference was held at Butembo, in the cathedral church of the Diocese. Butembo has grown from a village

some 30 years ago when the present Bishop, Muthesela Munzenda established the Diocese, to a city of nearly 1 million inhabitants. Its primary business appears to be smuggling! Precious metals leave and imported electronic goods come in through the unpoliced and porous border.

 

Bishop Munzenda has recently been joined by assistant Bishop Enoch Kayee. He has been invited by the Anglican Province to facilitate reconciliation between factions within the diocese which has seriously undermined the work of the church in the last few 10 years. Since returning we have learnt that Bishop Munzenda has suffered a serious stroke and has been unable to continue his ministry. It is likely that Bishop Enoch will succeed him.

 

The Diocese has about 150 clergy, all non-stipendiary, though they receive a grant of land to support themselves and their families. There are 10 archdeacons, only 2 of them have secondary education and one a university education. The Archdeacons are to be the primary facilitators in the 'Rooted in Jesus' training programme. Working through their clergy they will encourage new groups to equip themselves to disciple others using the 'Rooted in Jesus' material.

 

Of the 300 delegates invited, around 150 came. Many were deterred by the security situation and others by lack of finance to make the journey. Around half of these were clergy, accompanied by Evangelists/Catechists and some of the women intercessors from around the diocese.

We discovered that some 30 had no bibles, and arranged to use some of our funding to supply them.

Language did not prove too serious a barrier though the English members of the Team had to work through Joshua and Jacob as translators. Kenyan Swahili, influenced by English, is different from Tanzanian Swahili (The original Swahili) which is different from Congo Swahili, influenced by French! However we seemed to make ourselves understood!

 

A more serious obstacle to the training process was the difficulty we found in encouraging an interactive discussion. Teaching methods are by rote in Congo and the teacher does not not expect any come back!

Attempting to promote interactive discussion and exploration of issues will require a real change of mindset for clergy and congregations.

 

The 'Rooted in Jesus' material is designed to be taught so that those who are equipped  with this Gospel overview can train others. The principle is taken directly from St. Paul's words in 2 Timothy 2:2: 'And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others'.

 

Bishop Enoch Kayee will be overseeing the implementation of the training programme, working through the Archdeacons. However, previous experience has found that a second visit by SOMA is a great help in establishing local groups and encouraging leaders.

 

Revd Simon Brignall, SOMA UK,  25th Janurary 2008.