Espoir Congo
By Dom and Marie, Congo
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.—2 Timothy 2:2
Last month we held another graduation ceremony for the next group of young people who completed the 12 Foundation Stones (12FS) course. This is the fourth graduation event we’ve held since coming to Congo in 2008. We see this as a visible fulfillment of 2 Timothy 2:2. In our lives as missionaries, we don’t often get to witness the fruit of our labors, so to speak. We usually sow the seeds, do our best to follow up on people, and trust God for the increase, without really seeing how far that first seed has gone.
Patrick.
Gerse.
These nine young people who just received their certificate have all been met and taught by Gerse and Patrick, who graduated from the 12FS in May 2014. They had met Olivier at the University of Kinshasa while they were completing their medical studies. Olivier, who was met by Andre and Mary back in 2009, had completed the 12FS course in 2011. It was after the retreat we had organized in October of the same year that he felt called to start teaching the 12FS at the university. It was inspiring to have the “old timers” testify during the ceremony, pray for the new graduates, and give out the rewards, while Gerse and Patrick led the show.
And for us, it is so rewarding to take a backseat and just marvel at what the Lord has done, by His Spirit, to win and train these very potential young people, who now love to call themselves by the Family’s name.
We will let some of the graduates speak for themselves, and pray it will be as inspiring for you as it has been for us. Isn’t it wonderful how the Word is so alive and transforms lives from every nation and culture?
A few months ago, Gerse started giving me tracts, which I found quite interesting. I knew the intensity of his faith, and that he was serving the Lord. Each time we met, he would give me more tracts and Activated magazines. I was wondering what to do about it, because I’m his pastor, I’m a theologian, and I was wondering what could this child teach me? So I decided to look more into it. I felt like a fish who is used to swimming in a small river, and who all of a sudden finds himself in the ocean. So I made the decision to study the 12 Foundation Stones Bible course from beginning to end, and I understood why it was so important for me to get to know the Family International.
I’d like to share a small testimony. I had gone to visit one of my church members who had been so ill for over a week that he could no longer get out of bed. He and his wife were very distressed by this situation. I started sharing with them the message of love I had learned in the Foundation Stones, and while we were talking, I felt within me the strong desire to pray for him. All of a sudden, I told him, “Get up in the name of Jesus Christ!” He got up, and that was it, he was completely healed! I want to give the glory to Jesus and to thank the Family International for these teachings which gave me the faith to pray for this sick man.
Now that I have completed the course, I want to give myself more fully to preaching the Gospel, because the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few. Also, I see the importance of putting 2 Timothy 2:2 into practice—what we have learned, we must pass on to others, so they in turn can pass it on.—Pastor Sukari
Pastor Sukari.
I thank the Lord to have helped me discover the Family International, thanks to Gerse. I have received wonderful training, and what I liked the most in this course is lesson #5, about the Golden Rule, how to love others. It has taught me how to better show love to those I meet. My vision is to spread the message of John 3:16, to show people how much God loves them, no matter what problems they face or what conditions they live in, to teach others how to put their trust in Jesus and to believe that Jesus is able to solve all of their problems.—Ruth
Ruth.
In the beginning, when Gerse would come to talk to me about the Family International, I wasn’t really interested, but the day I discovered what it was really about, my life changed. Before, I was incapable of reading the Bible, but thanks to the 12FS course, I am a different man, and I can only thank God for that. My desire now is to obey Mark 16:15 to go into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, and give to others what I have been entrusted with.—Jimmy
Jimmy.
It is thanks to my brother Gerse that I have discovered this Bible course. I heard him talk about it, and it made me want to take this course as well. Now, I want to do what it says in 2 Timothy 2:2, and teach others everything I have learned.—Munduku
Munduku.
One morning, while I was charging my phone in a shop, I met Gerse and he invited me to the 12FS Bible course he was teaching. In the beginning, it was not easy for me, because of the timing and the difficulties of transport because I study at the University of Kinshasa, which is quite far away. I also had health problems and was generally very depressed. So I cried out to the Lord, and today, I can testify that it is thanks to the Family International that I was able to overcome my problems. Now I thank God because necessity is laid upon me to share His Word wherever I go. Woe is unto me if I don’t preach the Gospel!—Patrick
Teacher Patrick and Thierry handing out graduation certificates.
If you could see my face right now, you would understand that I am filled with joy! I can’t even find the words to say, because today is the day that I am becoming a missionary! I feel so blessed to have met the Family! I see people here in Kinshasa who haven’t had that same opportunity, so I thank God to have chosen me. In the beginning it was easy for me to come to the classes of the 12 FS because I lived right there in Massina, but then when we moved to Kingansani (a different part of town), it became very difficult for me to attend the classes. It was so hard that I almost gave up. But I asked the other students to pray for me. I remembered the verse that says that if one falls, the other will pick him up. So thanks to their prayers, I was able to continue and to finish the course and now I am a missionary. My vision is to fulfill 2 Timothy 2:2, because I can’t keep this course to myself, I’m going to share it with others.—Olga
Olga.
Please pray for all these new graduates from the 12FS course, for the Lord to help each one to find their calling, and open avenues for them to witness and share their faith. Pray also for the supply of all their needs. Thank you!
If you would like to help them continue their work, communicate with them on their facebook page.
By Dom and Marie, Congo
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.—2 Timothy 2:2
Last month we held another graduation ceremony for the next group of young people who completed the 12 Foundation Stones (12FS) course. This is the fourth graduation event we’ve held since coming to Congo in 2008. We see this as a visible fulfillment of 2 Timothy 2:2. In our lives as missionaries, we don’t often get to witness the fruit of our labors, so to speak. We usually sow the seeds, do our best to follow up on people, and trust God for the increase, without really seeing how far that first seed has gone.
Patrick.
Gerse.
These nine young people who just received their certificate have all been met and taught by Gerse and Patrick, who graduated from the 12FS in May 2014. They had met Olivier at the University of Kinshasa while they were completing their medical studies. Olivier, who was met by Andre and Mary back in 2009, had completed the 12FS course in 2011. It was after the retreat we had organized in October of the same year that he felt called to start teaching the 12FS at the university. It was inspiring to have the “old timers” testify during the ceremony, pray for the new graduates, and give out the rewards, while Gerse and Patrick led the show.
And for us, it is so rewarding to take a backseat and just marvel at what the Lord has done, by His Spirit, to win and train these very potential young people, who now love to call themselves by the Family’s name.
We will let some of the graduates speak for themselves, and pray it will be as inspiring for you as it has been for us. Isn’t it wonderful how the Word is so alive and transforms lives from every nation and culture?
A few months ago, Gerse started giving me tracts, which I found quite interesting. I knew the intensity of his faith, and that he was serving the Lord. Each time we met, he would give me more tracts and Activated magazines. I was wondering what to do about it, because I’m his pastor, I’m a theologian, and I was wondering what could this child teach me? So I decided to look more into it. I felt like a fish who is used to swimming in a small river, and who all of a sudden finds himself in the ocean. So I made the decision to study the 12 Foundation Stones Bible course from beginning to end, and I understood why it was so important for me to get to know the Family International.
I’d like to share a small testimony. I had gone to visit one of my church members who had been so ill for over a week that he could no longer get out of bed. He and his wife were very distressed by this situation. I started sharing with them the message of love I had learned in the Foundation Stones, and while we were talking, I felt within me the strong desire to pray for him. All of a sudden, I told him, “Get up in the name of Jesus Christ!” He got up, and that was it, he was completely healed! I want to give the glory to Jesus and to thank the Family International for these teachings which gave me the faith to pray for this sick man.
Now that I have completed the course, I want to give myself more fully to preaching the Gospel, because the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few. Also, I see the importance of putting 2 Timothy 2:2 into practice—what we have learned, we must pass on to others, so they in turn can pass it on.—Pastor Sukari
Pastor Sukari.
I thank the Lord to have helped me discover the Family International, thanks to Gerse. I have received wonderful training, and what I liked the most in this course is lesson #5, about the Golden Rule, how to love others. It has taught me how to better show love to those I meet. My vision is to spread the message of John 3:16, to show people how much God loves them, no matter what problems they face or what conditions they live in, to teach others how to put their trust in Jesus and to believe that Jesus is able to solve all of their problems.—Ruth
Ruth.
In the beginning, when Gerse would come to talk to me about the Family International, I wasn’t really interested, but the day I discovered what it was really about, my life changed. Before, I was incapable of reading the Bible, but thanks to the 12FS course, I am a different man, and I can only thank God for that. My desire now is to obey Mark 16:15 to go into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, and give to others what I have been entrusted with.—Jimmy
Jimmy.
It is thanks to my brother Gerse that I have discovered this Bible course. I heard him talk about it, and it made me want to take this course as well. Now, I want to do what it says in 2 Timothy 2:2, and teach others everything I have learned.—Munduku
Munduku.
One morning, while I was charging my phone in a shop, I met Gerse and he invited me to the 12FS Bible course he was teaching. In the beginning, it was not easy for me, because of the timing and the difficulties of transport because I study at the University of Kinshasa, which is quite far away. I also had health problems and was generally very depressed. So I cried out to the Lord, and today, I can testify that it is thanks to the Family International that I was able to overcome my problems. Now I thank God because necessity is laid upon me to share His Word wherever I go. Woe is unto me if I don’t preach the Gospel!—Patrick
Teacher Patrick and Thierry handing out graduation certificates.
If you could see my face right now, you would understand that I am filled with joy! I can’t even find the words to say, because today is the day that I am becoming a missionary! I feel so blessed to have met the Family! I see people here in Kinshasa who haven’t had that same opportunity, so I thank God to have chosen me. In the beginning it was easy for me to come to the classes of the 12 FS because I lived right there in Massina, but then when we moved to Kingansani (a different part of town), it became very difficult for me to attend the classes. It was so hard that I almost gave up. But I asked the other students to pray for me. I remembered the verse that says that if one falls, the other will pick him up. So thanks to their prayers, I was able to continue and to finish the course and now I am a missionary. My vision is to fulfill 2 Timothy 2:2, because I can’t keep this course to myself, I’m going to share it with others.—Olga
Olga.
Please pray for all these new graduates from the 12FS course, for the Lord to help each one to find their calling, and open avenues for them to witness and share their faith. Pray also for the supply of all their needs. Thank you!
If you would like to help them continue their work, communicate with them on their facebook page.
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