vendredi 11 novembre 2016

THE LAUSANNE MOVEMENT: EUROPE DIASPORA FORUM 2016




The Lausanne Movement Europe Diaspora and Refugee Forum in Germany 2016

It was held in Haiger, Germany, from May 30 to 2nd June 2016, a Consultation with the leaders of churches, ministries and organizations from the Diaspora in Europe. This Forum followed and replaced the Europe Diaspora Leaders Roundtable from 2014 and following. In addition, it was called upon to lead the enlargement of the Europe Diaspora Churches and ministries leaders Roundtable to a discussion to address the crucial issues of training on Disapora and refugees.

This encounter was hosted and sustained by Interlink, a German NGO actively engaged in the refugees’ ministry in Herbstein, ARILAC (Asian Research Institute for Language and Argiculture), the Graduate School of Global Development and Entrepreneurship (GSGDE), and the Han Dong Global University of Korea in collaboration Korean Research Institute for Diaspora, Oxford and Wycliffe Gobal Alliance, Europe.

This Forum particularly focused on a long term strategy on the sustainability of training Disapora and Refugees in Europe with many experts in this arena. In fact, Europe is experiencing an unprecedented phase of history in terms of demography and socio-cultural dynamics as well as inter-dialogues among other faiths. Therefore it is our time to reconsider our mission issues and reconnect with each other for partnership and re-create refreshing mind-set for the mission that we are facing in Europe together for our missional engagement for the future of Global Mission.

Every participant was invited to speak in order to share his expriences and his oragnisation’s perspectives. Before this consultation, I had asked to be receiced, as MANI Coordinator for the African Disapora, by the Association of Churches of African expression in Alsace, in order to hear their voices and to be able to express their needs, espeialy in terms of training.

The main concern encountered is recognition among brothers of indigenious Churches: there are some blockages in relation to local Churches. Relations with historical Protestant Churches are more than difficult or non-existant: they have been attempts of collaboration, especially as regard meeting rooms: these churches that are emptying have many unoccupied premises that could be an opportunity for the emerging diaspora churches. The problem is that most of the indigenous churches want the integration of ethnic churches in their midst. Hence collaboration is made difficult and it is impossible to chare premises especially where the Mosaic Project has failed.

Besides, the African religious leaders think they are dispised because of their lack of training, even among the Evangelicals, and the questions they raised are: what to do? Should we go through training? Shall we be recognised for that? Annual general training? How to do? They were even not convinced that if they followed any training process this would make them better considered, and they gave the example of Switzerland:

The Swiss model: the attitudes of Swiss churches are very different from those of churches in France: a collaboration exists in the sens that Swiss Churches have found faith and commitment among the African Churches and they have decided to take charge of their pastors to allow them to be trained without having to care for their livelihood while devoting time to their churches, in ordre for them to seek excellence.

In France the diploma is asked first and you are not considered if you don’t have any when in Switzerland everything happens differently. They find among African church leaders a real commitment and engagement to God’s work, boldness, and they help them improve and find excellence for God. Difficulty encountered in France is to make a secular job in order to support the family and the ministry. This is the situation of almost all of them.

Most of the Diaspora Ministires in Europe faced the same situation solved differently. But we came to the conclusion that:

Fraternal communion at the local level is necessary. They should work in communion considering that the churches and ministries established by the Diaspora in Europe are stakeholders of Europe evangelism.

The Diaspora Ministries are often highly dynamic, but they are aware of their need for training for most of their leaders. Many would like to involve in the reception of refugees. As immigrant themselves, they are aware that they have much to contribute, but they do not have means for this policy, which requires good training in this area and funds.

The Great Commission must be a collective effort that requires the cooperation of the whole body of Christ. Building bridges for cultural interpenetration, that can only enrich God’s work in Europe. Both ingigenous and diaspora ministries have to integrate their differencies for a better life together for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in Europe.
Table groups
Table groups



mercredi 28 septembre 2016

THE PASTORALS OF THE UNION AND COORDINATION OF CHRISTIAN WORKS

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!

jeudi 1 septembre 2016

GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER STRASBOURG 2016


The Global day of Prayer - GDOP - Strasbourg 2016
venue: "Jardin des 2Rives"



The 11th Global Day Of Prayer in Strasbourg May 2016

The Maeva Source of Living Water organized for the 11th consecutive yaer, the Global Day Of Prayer (GDOP) in Strasbourg, on the venue called “La plaine des Jeux du Jardin des 2Rives”.

This year we returned to the fundamentals of the “Global Day Of Prayer”, starting with 10 days of prayer preceding the GDOP: based on the “Our Father” prayer, we exhorted the People of God to join hundreds of millions of Christians who place themselves before God for this repentance and prayer day for this collective adventure for a world desperately in need of His glory, His love and His compassion. From the Ascension Day to the eve of Pentecost, we sent to the churches a prayer request that invited to stand in the gap to intercede for God’s people ans our nations.

This year we have once more received assistance from our brother Serge Bergeret who came from near Lyon to give us a helping and. This time he did not need to bring us a podium, the Events Service of the Eurometropol of Strasbourg having graciously granted us one this year. We do thank the City Council! Many brothers and sisters in Christ also support us every year in the logistics of the event, starting with the Church MIEL who brings the sound and assures praise, Chef Gilles Ostermann who helps with the drink, let us not forget those who positively respond to our invitation to take a prayer request. We say a Big Thank to all and pray that the Lord pours His blessings upon them!

We solemnly opened the meeting by the raising of the flag of Chritianity in the sound of the shofar blown by our brother Serge B. Then we praised and glorifiesd our God in Psalms and spiritual songs in honor of His Name. Praise being conducted by the band of the Church MIEL of Strasbourg. Then we started praying with individual and collective prayer of repentance before placing ourselves before the Throne of Grace to intercede. Some people have asked why we always start with a prayer of repentance? We answer that the Lord does not hear the prayer of the wicked and we quote the Word in Isaiah 1:12-18 “When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Moreover the word pray in Hebrew in the Bible has three radicals that mean to judge oneself, which means that before placing before the Lord, the benliever must first judge himself (introspection) before presenting his “gift” or “intercessory sacrifice” to the Lord, King of the Universe. This step is so important to us in the spirit of the GDOP.

Beside the usual prayer requests, the main ones being for Africa, Europe, Israel and the Nations, as well as for the authorities as the Bible asks us, and for the family according to God, the unity of the Church as Body of Christ and for hot topics, each year, on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we choose a specific topic. Last year we prayed for the Congo (DRC), this year we had chosen to bring before the Throne of Grace the Yezidi people endangered by radical Islam.

This year again we were few, some regulars of this prayer meeting and a few who, after some years of absence, joined us again, and several first-time participants. Wondering why Chistians lose interest in the event that would gather all the children of God of all denominations around a time of prayer, we were encouraged by this passage from Romans 11: 5 “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” But we once again experienced intense moments of fellowship and visitation of the Holy Spirit through songs of praise and prayers we did ascend to the Throne of Grace. The Lord and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be glorified!

Glory be to God our Father and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus-Christ!