Congo: Christ for Future Generations | 309 | Report 23

Two years ago Bill Vinton and a team of nine pastors and educators began to concentrate on the evangelisation of the students in the elementary and secondary schools administered by the Grace Churches in Congo; they prayed earnestly for God to bring 1,000 children to faith. The number seemed out of reach though still possible through prayer. Yet last year alone, over 3,000 students received Christ.

Vinton says, “I’ve never seen such openness. The door is open now, and we want to make sure we enter in and do as much as possible during this time.” Grace Ministries International (GMI) is doing all it can to strengthen these new lives in Christ. “The first response that people make is not really the most important; it’s what you do with that response in follow up,” notes Vinton. Bill Vinton has created several small follow-up booklets. GMI has printed about 15,000 copies, and teachers are being trained to use these materials as well.

Vinton believes this generation is bridging a gap in Congo. “We do have a lot of Christians who are the older generation, and I think there’s been a gap,” says Vinton. “We’re very much interested in making sure we have literature in their hands and actually have mentoring and one-on-one discipleship, because we believe this really is going to be the future way for the church.” This ministry is growing and developing in ways GMI never could have imagined. Vinton says the most vital need right now is prayer for the nine leaders who often travel hundreds of miles to reach various schools.

Source: Mission Network News

BIBLE STUDY: Galatians 3:13-14

PRAISE: God for such openness among these children. Pray that they may grow to maturity as leaders for the future. Pray for their mentors.

First Lady of DRC’s Call to Prayer | 303 | Report 3

Marie Olive Kabila is one of the youngest First Ladies on the African continent. Her husband, President Jospeh Kabila, runs the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mrs. Kabila is a strong Christian. She rarely appears in public, so her participation in a recent Christian event came as a surprise to many in her country. “People of God, this is a very special day for me,” declared a confident Mrs. Kabila from the pulpit. “I am here to tell you that I will never be ashamed of my Lord’s name… We need Him desperately to heal our country.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC has everything - diamonds, copper, gold, cobalt, zinc, the list goes on. However, for all its riches, the DRC is a mess – politically, economically, socially and, according to Mrs. Kabila, spiritually dying. The CIA reckons more than 5 million people have died in the country since 1998 from famine, violence and disease. Eastern Congo, home to the majority of the country’s wealth, is also ground zero of the worst war on the continent at the moment.
With the blessing of her husband, Mrs. Kabila launched a prayer campaign placing billboards in all the major cities. She took to the airwaves, pleading for her countrymen to join her. And the response was overwhelming. For three days, Congolese around the country gathered in their churches. For someone who is shy, reserved and often shuns the public spotlight, it was the image of their First Lady raising her hands and crying out to God that touched so many people.
Mrs. Kabila urged her countrymen not to stop, but to keep praying. ”This is just the beginning,” the First Lady said. “We want to be set free from the devil and the evil spirits that ran to and fro our nation. God is going to set our nation free.”

Source: CBN News

BIBLE STUDY: Ezra 9:6-9

PRAISE: God that the First Lady is showing spiritual leadership to the nation. Pray for revival, and that real changes will take place and peace will come.