2024 Congo Mission Network Conference

Thursday, March 14, 2024

8:00 – Registration Open

• Displays and Mission Market open
• Setup and refreshments courtesy of Second Presbyterian Church and Aimwell Presbyterian Church

10:00 - Congo 101 - Country, Churches, Partnerships

• Jeff Boyd, Regional Liaison, PC(USA)
• Presentation: Congo 101 - Country, Churches, Partnerships - By Jeff Boyd

10:30 - History of Education in the Congo

• Prof. Muenyi Kamuinga
• Presentation: History of Education in the Congo by Prof. Muenyi Kamuinga

11:00 - Welcome & Opening Worship

• Led by Rev. Dr. Charles Heyward and Rev. Cibele Santos
• Video: Opening Worship by Rev. Charles Heyward: Wow!
• Video: Opening Worship by Rev. Charles Heyward: Wow! (with French Subtitles)
• Program: Thursday AM Opening Worship Program

12:00 - Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett

• Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, PC(USA)
• Presentation: Matthew 25 Movement to Eradicate Poverty

1:00 pm - Lunch

• Drinks compliments of Second Presbyterian Church

2:00 - Explanation of Localization [USAID] - Larry Sthreshley

• Video: Explanation of Localization by Dr. Larry Sthreshley
• Video: Explanation of Localization by Dr. Larry Sthreshley (with French subtitles)
• Presentation: Localization: Locally Led Development

3:00 - Break

3:30 - Mission Co-Worker Reports

• José Lamont Jones (Click image below for PC(USA) information card)

  
  • Mission Co-worker update for José Lamont Jones
  • José's PC(USA) Newsletters

• Larry & Inge Sthreshley (Click image below for PC(USA) information card)

  
  • Larry Sthreshley: IMA Cook Stove Project Update
  • Inge Sthreshley: Scaling up Nutrition for Women of Child-Bearing Age in DRC
  • Sthreshley PC(USA) Newsletters

5:00 - Break

5:30 - Mission Co-Worker Reports

• Jeff & Christi Boyd (Click image below for PC(USA) information card)

  
  • Jeff Boyd: Update on CPC Education
    • Report on the Importance of Education in the CPC by Rev. Mpongo Mutombo
  • Boyd PC(USA) Newsletters

6:30 - Dinner

• Courtesy of First Scots Presbyterian Church and St. James Presbyterian Church
• Chicken Stew Recipe (Congo style) by Hank Martin of First Scots Presbyterian Church

7:30 - Overview of Education in CPC & CPK

• Youtube Video by Rev. Isaac Kalonji, Elder Ilunga Puni, Elder Muamba Samuel, Dr. Samy Ntumba

Friday, March 15

7:30 – Continental breakfast

• Courtesy of Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church

8:00 - Devotions

• Led by Elder Sandra Otero-Agosto of Misión Presbyteriana, Mackay

8:30 - Keynote Address and Discussion - Rev. Mboyamba

• Legal Representative of the Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC) and Director of the Department of Evangelization and the Life of the Church
• Article about Rev. Mboyamba, our keynote speaker
• Presentation: Education for Transformation
  • Report on Vocational Training in Congo by Principal Kabunde

10:00 - Break

10:15 - The value of Education, Especially for the Girls - Rev. Cheryl Barnes

• Africa Area Coordinator, Presbyterian Mission Agency, PC(USA)
• Presentation: The Value of Education, Especially for Girls
• PC(USA) Article on Rev. Barnes talk on 'The Value of Education, Especially for Girls'
• PC(USA) Article on Rev. Barnes appointment as Africa Area Coordinator

11:00 - Exploration of Localization [USAid]

• Discussion

12:30 pm - Lunch

• Drinks compliments of Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church

1:30 - Church and Girls/Women's Health

• Youtube video by Dr. Samuel Ntumba Mukendi

2:00 - Ten Year Educational Goals of Congolese Government

• Youtube video by Dr. Freddy Nsapu, Coordinator of CPK Schools

3:00 - Break

3:30 - Updates on Partnerships (presbyteries, churches, and individuals)

• Report on Friends of IMCK from Dr. William Pender
  • Text of Friends of IMCK Presentation by William Pender
  • Friends of IMCK website
• Update on Congo Helping Hands by Woody Collins
  • Congo Helping Hands website
• Update on Build Congo Schools by Jan Sullivan (presented by Anne Crane)
  • Build Congo Schools website
• Report by Bill Reinhold on his recent visit to Congo
• Report from New Castle Presbytery Partnership 2023 Trip to Congo by Laurie Loveless
  • New Castle Presbytery Partnership website
• Report by Myers Park Presbyterian Church on their recent trip to Congo
  • Myers Park Presbyterian Church Congo Partnerships (note the "Upcoming Events page!)
  • Myers Park Presbyterian Church Congo Ministries Winter Newsletter
  • Note: The Myers Park Presbyterian Church team reported on their recent trips to Congo. They also described how they had revitalized their Congo team over the last several years and involved younger people. Contact their team to find out how they did that and how that approach could be applied to your congregations!

5:00 - Dinner

• Courtesy of Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, Palmetto Presbyterian Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and Edisto Island Presbyterian Church

Saturday, March 16

7:30 - Continental Breakfast

• Courtesy of Summerville Presbyterian Church and Yeamans Park Presbyterian Church

8:30 - Devotions

• Led by Rev. Perry Griffin of Aimwell Presbyterian Church
• Saturday AM Devotions Program

9:00 - Introduction to Rebuilders Ministry - Rev. James Byensi

• Addressing spiritual, socio-economic and educational challenges in eastern Congo
• Rebuilders Ministry Trifold Flyer
• Rebuilders Ministry website

9:15 - Open Discussions

10:20 - Close of Zoom session (due to technical problems)

10:25 - Further Comments by Rev. Mboyamba

• Strengths of DRC Educational System
  • Sacrificial service of teachers
  • Families sacrifice to send kids to school
  • Church involvement in education leads to moral training
  • Present government is strongly involved in education
• Weaknesses of DRC Education System
  • Lack of finances to build good schools, pay teachers
  • Lack of teaching resources (books, etc)
  • Poor nutrition: In practice we only eat once a day
• Planning to move forward (wants to leave with concrete plans)
  • Focus on technical training

10:40 - Next Steps in Partnership

• Discussion
• Announcement from Charles Nash, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley:
  • Next CMN meeting, November 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

11:00 - Adjournment and Lunch

• Drinks compliments of Summerville Presbyterian Church and Yeamans Park Presbyterian Church
• Cleanup thanks to Second Presbyterian Church