Mission to DR Congo September 2016
Congo Mission 2016
We Left UK on Sept 13th arriving in Entebbe, Uganda on the morning of 14th September and transferred to an MAF flight in an 8 seater Cessna to Bunia in DR Congo. We were met there by Pastor Israel Lenge who directs Streams of Mercy ministries in Congo and translates for us.
The ministry commenced on 15th September in the’ Jesus Christ to all Languages’ church (JTL) in Bunia with 2 days of seminars, during which about 12 people asked to be prayed for to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We also visited a primary school and spoke to 200 children, telling the story of the lost sheep using our sheep puppet (called Baa-sil!) On Saturday 17th September we preached the Gospel in Bunia prison and 120 inmates gave their lives to Jesus Christ. The work finished in Bunia on Sunday 18th when we preached at the Sunday service.
On Monday 19th September we flew to Beni and then took a taxi to Butembo (about an hour’s ride on a rough road). We conducted 4 seminars in the Butembo JTL church from 20th to 23rd September. On 24th September we preached the Gospel in Butembo prison and 100 inmates gave their lives to Jesus Christ. We concluded the ministry on Sunday 25th September at the Sunday Service. During one of the seminars Pastor Israel challenged the people about being filled with the Holy Spirit and as there were too many to be prayed with individually he asked them to lay hands on themselves while prayer was made.
We wondered why the people were praying with their hands on their heads until he explained what was happening! Most mornings the church hold an early prayer meeting (Morning Glory) at 7.30 am. Pastor Israel spoke at those. At one of the seminars we had been introduced to the oldest member of the congregation (a lady of 68). The next day she turned up at the prayer meeting, saying ‘if Janis and Laurie can come all that way from the UK to minister to us at their ages, the least I can do from now on is to attend the prayer meeting each morning while I have life!’
On Monday 28th September we travelled back to Beni by taxi and stayed overnight. We flew to Kisangani the next day and led 4 days of seminars in the JTL church. On Saturday 1st October we ministered in Kisangani prison. In each prison, we had taken aid in the form of food (e.g. sacks of Maize flour or rice, beans, salt etc.). The prison in Kisangani wanted the food to be cooked before it was presented, so a team of ladies commenced cooking rice, beans and greens the night before (there are 1000 prisoners in that prison). Quite an undertaking!
Rice and beans The cooks with the team.
We preached in the central prison and 180 inmates accepted Jesus in their lives. In addition, the prison director, and the representative of Justice Affairs who had accompanied us also accepted Christ.
We then visited the juvenile’s (youths under 18) and spoke quite briefly to them about how Jesus could change their lives. One lad shouted out ‘I need Jesus’, and every one (12 in all) responded to the challenge to accept Christ into their lives.
We went to the women’s wing and prayed with them. As we were leaving the prison the director said ‘you have brought miracles here today! After your ministry one man and one woman have been released! ‘No doubt the releases were being processed but obviously not expected so soon! We concluded the ministry in Kisangani on 2nd October, preaching at the Sunday service.
Because of the timing of flights, we were unable to fly to Lubumbashi via Goma as planned, so had to fly via Kinshasa. This meant a stay of two nights there, so Pastor Israel contacted a friend who is Pastor of a church on the military camp and arranged for two days of seminars. He had asked about access to the prison but it was thought at the time that it wouldn’t be possible. However, when we arrived in Kinshasa on 3rd October we discovered that a prison visit was possible. This left Pastor Israel with a problem. He thought that we couldn’t visit the prison and do the seminar as planned, He was worried about the cost of the taxi involved and tried to persuade the Pastor of the church to cancel the Tuesday seminar, to no avail as the elders and the people were expecting us. While we were on our way he become fearful as it was a military camp and he was worried about the security issues and especially thought that they would be suspicious of Laurie’s hearing aids! However, in his words ‘I failed to avoid the meeting but the Holy Spirit over ruled’ and also his friends told him to go in faith and not to be discouraged.
When we arrived at the camp we were given a soldier to travel in the car and lead us to the church. Also there was another soldier who was allocated to attend the meeting to monitor what was being said. (Presidential elections were coming up and there was some trouble, even some riots in places with the opposition, so they didn’t want the ‘foreigners’ to get political.). After the preaching 15 people accepted Christ, including that soldier.
We were told later by the soldier travelling with us (who was also a Christian) that he was pleased the other soldier had accepted Christ because previously he had been planning to walk out into the bush and commit suicide!
Pastor Israel said he had learned a big lesson. The money spent on the taxi became as nothing because 15 souls now belonged to Jesus, and the soldier’s life had been saved in more ways than one! Israel prayed that God would empower him more and find more opportunities to save souls by all means.
We finally visited the prison, a large one of 12000 inmates divided into 11 sections. We were allocated to the youth (12 to 18-year-old boys). After the preaching 190 accepted Christ as Saviour.
We led the final seminar in the church on Wednesday 5th and flew that afternoon to Lubumbashi where we stayed for 1 night with Pastor Israel and his family. On Thursday morning, we drove to see the progress on the Centre we are building, which now needs a roof and the windows and doors to be fitted. Then the floors will need concreting and Israel and family will move in to save paying rent and to keep the place secure. The finishing will take place gradually as funds become available and we hope to formally open it next year.
We flew that evening to Nairobi where we spent the night in an airport lounge before the flight on Friday to UK via Amsterdam, arriving Friday evening, tired but rejoicing in the blessing of the Holy Spirit on the mission and the overcoming of the difficulties and challenges met on the way. We pray that the Pastors involved in each place will be able to follow up and disciple those who responded and will have caught the vision for prison ministry.
With thanks again for your prayer support.
Janis and Laurie Homewood
Pastor Israel adds: We are very thankful to God our Father in Heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks to the team from London, and the people who have supported this mission in any way.
To Pastor Jimmy Wandera in Uganda, leader of one of the big SoM teams supporting us in prayer, and many others.
To my Bishop Kiluba, and my church JTL, who have been a base for us and have met us when we landed in each place and arranged hosts or hotels for us,
And to my wife Lucy who accepted for me to do 3 weeks of mission away from the home and loved ones (eight children!).
May the Glory and Praise be given to our God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Yours in Christ with love. Pastor Israel Lenge.
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