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| The leaders of the ECOC Churches |
The Pastorals of E.C.O.C.
The
president of the Maeva Sev was twice invited to speak at the Pastoral of
E.C.O.C. (read “a co say”). The first meeting was held in Strasbourg in the premises
of the Evangelical Reformed Church led by Pastor Joejo DADZIE, in June 11, 2016
and the second in the Evangelical Assembly Glorious Christ, led by the Rev.
Mado MBUYIL BESOLO in Le Mesnil Le Roi, in the Paris region in September 24,
2016.
The “Entente
et Coordination des Oeuvres Chretiennes” ECOC (the Union and Coordination of
Christian Works) is a French federation of churches of immigrant, notably
African, reflecting the evangelical diversity in France and Europe. It holds an
annuel general meeting and is currently chaired by Rev. J.S. Sampera of
Strasbourg. But it organizes a quarterly pastoral hosted each time by a
different church. It is to this quarterly pastoral meeting that the Presiient
of Maeva Sev was invited.
The
Pastoral meeting generaly proceeds in two steps: first, after making contact over
a snack, we have a spiritual moment in the morning with a time of praise and
prayer followed by an exhortation given by a speaker specially invited for this
purpose. And then, in the afternoon, after a meal together, two or three gests
were asked to work on a particular subject. Then followed some sharing by a few
pastors who asked to speak, and the day ended with a meeting under the office of the ECOC about upcoming
program, communication on the functioning of this “religious family”, that is
to say the Union and so on.
Pastor and Evangelist Daniel MPONDO, President of the Maeva Sev and MANI Coordinator for the African Diaspora, was honoured to be invited to these meetings twice.
The first
time, after having briefly presented the activities of the Evangelistic Mission,
Maeva Sev, he presented a Power Point support of the MANI (Movement for African
National Initiatives), movement of which he is the Coordinator for the African
Diaspora. Then he urged the churches of African expression to engage in the
mission here in France, in Europe and in the world, and to also contribute to evangelization
in Africa, to complete the task in this continent.
The second time consisted mainly to
encourage these churches to join association hands in all areas and work
together. Alone we can do great things, but many we can do greater things. He urged
them to be missionaries there where the Lord has placed them, that should be
their main concern without expecting none other than The One who missiones them,
both in terms of training and of the provisions, because the one who God sends
He gives him His Spirit without measure (Jon 3:34), He equip him and gives him
provisions for all his needs. Daniel Mpondo encouraged them then to make
theirs, two evens that have are rooted in African soil. The first was born there
over fifteen years: the Global Day Of Prayer (GDOP) born of the vision of Southafrican
business man, Graham Power, who received a vision to rent a rugby stadium and
invite there Christians of all denominatons to dedicate a day of prayer and
repentance on Pentecost Sunday. The second began three years ago, the Gobal Outreach
Day (G.O.D.). This takes place on the last Saturday of May. Christians are
invited to devote this day to personal evangelism. On Sunday the churches could
devote their worship to the mission.
The E.C.O.C is a Union of Churches
from African immigration that should be known among the Churches of African
Expression so many in France and Europe. It could allow them to know each other
and be able to work together, to collaborate for the advancement of God’s
Kingdom. It is one of the founding members of CNEF, the Nationaal Council of
Evangelicals in France.
Be blessed!
