Back to School:

Back to school

Going back to school in September is a happy event in Kikimi. The kids are so hungry to learn and very thankful for the new uniforms they receive, including notebooks and pens (thanks to SOFIA SPRL), and even a treat of popcorn and juice (Thanks to Mr. Mahesh).

Thrilled to be back in school

Thank you SOFIA SPRL for the notebooks and pens

Thank you Mr Mahesh for the popcorn and juice

During the holidays, the high school and tailoring classrooms were tiled, and the kids can now get drinking water from the solar well fountain.

Tiled classroom

Forum in Vannes:

Our booth

On the first Saturday of September the city of Vannes organized a forum for all the associations where Espoir Congo had a booth. We had a lot of visitors this year, including children who enjoyed the balloons we made for them. People were also very interested in the solar pump well project.

Posing with volunteers from another African association

Giving sculptured balloons to children

Graduation ceremony for Bible students:

Gino with some of the graduates and teachers

Our five leaders Dr Gerse and Dr. Patrick, Cedric, Olivier and Thierry, are teaching Bible classes in different locations in Kinshasa. When their students have completed the 12 FS course, they organize a graduation ceremony annually for them. There were 19 of them this year. We were very happy to count 3 women among them.

There was inspirational singing and praise time at the beginning and the end of the celebration. Introductory speeches were given by the main teachers, including some from past graduations who became teachers themselves, like Jimmy, Aristotle, Josue, Jacques and Fabricius, also Daniel who specializes in teaching eschatology classes. Some of the teachers gave their personal testimonies. Jacques shared a very inspiring testimony of how the 12 FS changed his life. He has now become a strong youth leader.

Youth leader Jacques sharing his testimony

Then each graduating student was presented with their diploma and a package of material on a CD, as well as a Bible. Each one was called upon to give a testimony and a reaction to the 12 FS classes. One of the girls gave an outstanding and very enthusiastic testimony as her life was changed (see below). She was bubbling over with joy to finally be free to speak and teach as a woman.

A snack was served at the end while everyone fellowshipped and took pictures.

Below are some of the most inspiring reactions shared by some of the students:

1. My name is Aimée BOLA. I discovered the 12 FS course thanks to Aristotle. I really enjoyed this course because it taught me how to read the Word of God, and how to memorize verses that helped me become familiar with the Bible. I learned that the Holy Spirit descended on all flesh without distinction of gender.

Previously in my church I had been taught that the apostle Paul forbade women to preach the Word or to speak before men; many churches have turned this idea of Paul into a doctrine, they forbid women to work at the reception, to read the Word of God in church before men, to preach the Word, even to sing in church.  They say, “singing is a whole teaching in itself, and it is forbidden to women to teach the Word. The woman is only there to applaud, to look, to support the men of God with offerings, tithes, alms ». They are there only to cross their arms without doing anything while Acts 2:17 tells us that in the last days He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh.   Today this course gives us power, encourages us to preach the Word, reminds us of the mission to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to all nations.

Here women are marginalized on all levels: religious, politics, etc…; whereas women are a power capable of changing the world. 

I learned (in the 12 FS) that prayer has principles. How to communicate with God, how to receive prophecies. God is not deaf. If the marabouts can speak, if the fetishists can speak, why would our God not speak?!  I learned how to succeed in relationships, and that love is the solution. I was taught Bible knowledge and that prophets are men like us.  I learned a lot in those 12 Foundation Stones classes. I’m going to be a teacher. I too will teach this Bible course, and will become a missionary.  I thank you for giving value to women.

Aimee

 2. My name is Gerard LUKASI KAMASA. I discovered this course in our church through Aristote. I am a servant of God in our church, and when I heard about the twelve Foundation Stones, I humbled myself and agreed to take the course. That course made a big impression on me. The golden rule is not a slogan, but a love founded on Christ and truly visible. When I was very sick, to my surprise, the missionaries from Espoir Congo came to assist me. 

Being a servant of God, this course had added many innovations to my Christian life.  The key verses are in me an indelible memory.  Today, I accept to continue serving God as a missionary and teacher. Mark 16:15 says: “Go everywhere in the world to announce the good news to all men.” This mission is mine too. Thank you very much.

 3. I thank you in the name of Jesus Christ on this day, in the name of my church Ark of the Covenant of the Mountain and in my own name Gold ETEWA BOPE. May I thank God the Father and my Lord Jesus Christ for the breath of life He has given me through His goodness.  My thanks also go to all those who supported me from near and far with prayers and advice, to help me complete this training to the end.

I discovered the 12 FS course, thanks to the missionaries who solicited our church through Aristotle AVALI.  I thank God the Almighty for the course of twelve Foundation Stones which has taught me so much and strengthened me in the Christian faith. This proves the effectiveness of this course and also its importance.  Through this, I learned many good things: how to memorize the verses by heart, how the Holy Spirit is able to transform a person’s life like He did with Peter, how to approach Jesus through prayer, how to put Jesus first and others second, how to identify problems and overcome them, how to discover God’s will in my life.

Having obtained my certificate, I intend to become a missionary, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ recommends in Mark 16:15. I accept to become the teacher of this course as it is written in 2 Timothy 2:2:  “What you have learned from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to persons capable of teaching them to others.” Thank you very much.

L’Or

« If kids come to us from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important. » – Barbara Colorose

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