The Indiana e-Christian

Rev. Ilumbe celebrates his joy at being in Indianapolis. Rev. Sandra Gourdet (left), Africa Executive for Global Ministries and Rev. Richard Spleth (right), Regional Minister for the Christian Church in Indiana, were among the delegation welcoming Rev. Ilumbe and Rosette to Indiana.

Rev. ILUMBE Ndjongo and his wife, Mama Rosette, arrived in Indianapolis Thursday evening, July 2.  They will be guests of the Indiana Region for five weeks.   Over 100 Hoosier Disciples gathered at the Indianapolis International Airport to welcome the couple.

Rev. Ilumbe is Principal Supervising Pastor (PSP) of the Mbandaka District of the 10th Community–Disciples of Christ in the Congo (10-CDCC).  He expressed great joy at being in Indianapolis, a place he has known all his life as the home of the missionaries who came to his country beginning over 100 years ago.

The Mbandaka District and the Christian Church in Indiana entered into a mission partnership in May 2008.

Hoosier Disciples have the opportunity to welcome other Disciples guests. Rev. BONANGA Eliki, General Secretary and Legal Representative of the Disciples Community in the Congo and his wife, Mama Anna, will be arriving at the Indianapolis International Airport at 5:29 p.m. on Sunday, July 26.

130 Hoosier Disciples gathered at the Indianapolis International Airport on July 2 to welcome Rev. Ilumbe and Rosette from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rev. Bonanga will be a major speaker at the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada when it meets in Indianapolis July 29-August 2. All Indiana Disciples are invited to come to the airport to welcome Rev. Bonanga and Mama Anna to Indiana.

On Thursday, May 21, ABC’s Nightline aired a report by Dan Harris, a reporter for ABC, on the practice of child exorcisms in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After consultation with church leaders in the Congo, Sandra Gourdet, Africa Executive for the Division of Overseas Ministry, issued the following statement.

ABC Nightline recently aired a special program on child exorcisms in churches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although this is a serious matter in the Congo and a few other African nations, I wish to state unequivocally that this is not a practice found in any of the churches with whom we have a relationship. Neither the Community of the Disciples of Christ nor the Church of Christ in Congo is involved in this horrendous behavior and abuse of children.

Most of this abuse is happening in the capital city of Kinshasa and the lives of many children are threatened. It is not happening in mainline churches, but rather in what one calls 'Revival Churches' or 'Churches of the Holy Spirit.' One of the renowned organizations is 'Spiritual Combat' that has gained an international following. Pastors of these organizations have generally not received much education and have not been trained theologically. They claim that their authority comes from the Holy Spirit and proclaim themselves pastors, doctors, apostles and other.

Children are accused of being a source of evil in some families – some thought to be possessed by evil and others thought to be the source of family misery or loss of employment. Given the already fragile socio-economic and political state of affairs in the country, this situation has worsened the plight of children and increased the number of street children in main cities of the country, especially Kinshasa.

Many families have been torn apart by this phenomenon. In some cases where the father has divorced and remarried, the step mother feels threatened. If she joins one of these 'churches,' the husband is often faced with the choice of choosing between the wife and the child. Children are often forced to admit that they are sorcerers. They do not feel safe at home and many prefer to live on the streets of Kinshasa.

The government is ineffective as it deals with this issue, the issue of violent rape and sexual assault on women, looting of natural resources in the country, stability in war ravaged part of the country and many other problems.

Mainline churches are working to make a difference. The Community of Disciples of Christ churches in Kinshasa are offering some counseling to children who have been abused. The Church of Christ in Congo through its Department of Women and Family is assisting children with finding a safe haven and counseling.

Read Harris’s report on the USA Today website.

The Regional Assembly did more than offer Indiana’s Disciples an opportunity for worship and fellowship.  It even presented more than the mission partnership with Disciples in the Congo.  The theme of the asssembly and one person’s experience among Congolese Disciples inspired two songs written by Hoosier Disciples that were presented for the first time at the assembly.

V.J. Stover, pastor of First Christian Church in Sheridan, translated the assembly theme into a six-verse hymn, Have You Heard (That Nothing Is Impossible with God).  The hymn was woven throughout the Friday evening worship service and sung as the closing hymn of the Assembly on Saturday.

In addition to an M.Div. from CTS, V.J. holds a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Evansville and a Master of Arts from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.  He has been a public school music director in southern Indiana and does not recall a time when he could not read music. 

V.J. has been composing since high school.  He has written a piece for every performing group that he has directed, including two cantatas for the Sheridan Community Choir that were performed during Easter sunrise services.  He also composed a musical for the Indiana region’s 150th anniversary.

Susan McNeely, a member of Southport Christian Church, was a member of the delegation that visited Mbandaka in May.  Her experience while there inspired her to write The River and the Tree. 

Susan wrote most of the devotional guide that Indiana Disciples used while the group was in Congo.  Although she has written some poetry, this was the first song that she has written.  During the trip, the group spent a full day on the Congo River, visiting churches in the Mbandaka district.  Feeling that was the day that the partnership was really forged, she felt that it must be making God happy.  The verses talk about the river, the tree and the people and how each makes glad the city of God.

Once the poem was down, according to Susan, she realized that it could work well as a song.  She added a chorus and began working on a melody. 

Susan had some musical training as a child but took up playing the mountain dulcimer two years ago.  Using the Applachian folk instrument to compose the melody gave the song an American folk air.  She hopes to hear the tune combined with Congolese drumming to bring together both musical cultures.