2019 Conference Agenda

Claim a New Day: Partners in Creating a New Congo

Healing the Wounds of War while Laying the Foundation for Peace and
Empowering Women and Youth for Leadership

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

11:00 – Registration and mingle
  • Displays and Mission Market open
  • Lunch on your own at nearby restaurants (recommendations provided)
  • Pre-conference planning meetings (optional)
1:30 – Welcome and Introductions: Overview of Conference Goals
Colleen Shannon and Charlotte Rule White
2:00 – Congo 101-102 – Jeff Boyd, Region Laison for Central Africa
3:00 – Break
3:15 – Return with Singing (Mark Pace, FPC Music Director)
3:30 – Getting to Know our Special Guests from Congo
4:00 – “DRC on the World Stage: Politics and Climate Change” from the UN General Assembly
Ryan Smith, PCUSA Ministry at the UN
4:30 – Congolese refugees in the U. S. – Drocella Mugorewera, Dir. Bridge Refugee Services
5:00 – Screening of “Congolese,” a short film directed by and featuring Congolese refugees
6:00 – Dinner – Catered by Yassin’s Falafel House “The Nicest Place in the U.S.”
7:00 – Keynote: “Laying the Foundations of Peace in Congo”, Rev. Isaac Kalonji Mukendi
General Secretary and President of Congolese Community of Kinshasa (CPK)
8:00 – Vespers in Chapel

Friday, Oct. 18

8:30 – Continental breakfast and check-in for any new arrivals
9:00 – Conveners give brief overview for the day and introduce new arrivals
9:15 – Devotion
9:30 – Keynote: “Empowering Women for Change in Congo” Elder Monique Misenga Mukuna
CPK Office of Research & Projects; Founder, Woman Cradle of Abundance (FEBA)
10:30 – Break
10:45 – PCUSA World Mission Report: Debbie Braaksma, Africa Area Coordinator
11:05 – Mission Co-worker Reports
Jeff Boyd (Regional Liaison, “Bridge Between Partners”)
Christi Boyd (Women & Children & Trauma Healing)
12:00 – Lunch in Fellowship Hall (Browse displays & Mission Market)
1:00 – Keynote: “Healing the Wounds of War While Strengthening Healthcare in the Kasai, Dr. Serge Makolo Kazadi
Director, Institute Medical Chretien du Kasai (IMCK)
2:00 – Mission Co-worker Reports
Larry Sthreshley (Public Health & Ebola Response)
Inge Sthreshley (MPH, nutrition, home gardens & cook stoves)
2:40 – Break and return to sing
3:00 – Ignite presentations (10 minutes each)
  • Friends of IMCK (Bill Rule)
  • Mission:Hope (Jimmy Shafe)
  • Congo Helping Hands (Woody Collins)
  • Build Congo Schools (George Collins)
4:00 – Move to break-out groups
(1) Health, (2) Education, (3) Women and Children, (4) Advocacy, (5) Refugees
5:20 – Recognition of Dr. John and Gwenda Fletcher in James Park Room
5:30 – Dedication of Rule Collection (Mingle with Rule family members in the Atrium)
6:00 – Dinner in Fellowship Hall, Catered by Abundant Life Catering
7:00 – PANEL: “Is it a New Day in Congo? How can you tell?
  • Rev. Isaac Kalonji, Elder Monique Misenga, Dr. Serge Makolo
  • Moderator: Anne Crane
8:00 – Vespers in Chapel
8:30 – “City of Joy” Film about Panzi Hospital & Eastern Congo (74 min., optional)

Saturday, Oct. 19

8:30 – Continental Breakfast, Check-in and orientation for new arrivals
9:00 – Welcome and Introductions (Feedback, goals for day, commitment letters)
9:15 – Devotion
9:30 – U.S. Partners Empowering Women & Youth for Leadership (30 min. each):
  • Beth Ann Caspersen, Congo Coffee Project (Equal Exchange)
  • Nate Houghton (Congo Leadership Initiative)
  • Ayman Nagy Advocacy Manager (The Enough Project)
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Panel on ways to build effective partnerships
  • Rev. Isaac Kalonji, Elder Monique Misenga, Dr. Serge Makolo,
    Beth Ann Casperson, Nate Houghton and Ayman Nagy
  • Moderator: Jimmy Shafe
12:00 – Catered Lunch in Fellowship Hall (Mission Market open)
1:00 – Break-out groups (Add to Thursdays’s work and refine recommendations to the group)
2:15 – Break (Prepare powerpoint reports)
2:30 – Report back from groups (5 minutes each)
3:00 – Response from Congolese leaders and mission co-workers
3:45 – Write commitment letters
4:00 – Business meeting (planning for 2020)
4:30 – Closing worship: Pastor Isaac Preaching, Communion
(commitment letters as part of offering)

Updated: September 19, 2019