MINISTRY UPDATE Rev. Munyamasoko Gato Corneil in DR Congo
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MINISTRY UPDATE
Rev. Munyamasoko Gato
Easter & Spring 2020
Corneil in DR Congo
Greetings from a locked down Gisenyi, Today in our country, 138 people are infected by
Rwanda Covid19 and are under treatment while another
60 people have recovered from this virus and are
back at home. As it becomes a serious problem, we
leave ourselves in His hands for we know He will
deliver us from this pandemic.
We pray also for those who are in hospitals so that
God will deliver them and heal them. Song of
Songs 2:10-12
What has been going on With Peace and
Reconciliation Ministry in DR Congo?
1. Introduction to a new workplace with
Community of Baptist Church in Eastern
Congo (CEBCE)
Since mid-December 2019, CBM’s Africa team
Greetings to you brothers and sisters in the name
Leader, Andre Sibomana, and I have met several
of our Saviour and Lord Jesus. It is now two
times with the Leadership of CEBCE to finalize the
months and fifteen days since we relocated from
Memorandum of Understanding between CBM &
the East Province ( Rwamagana), where we spent
CEBCE and on Dec 26, 2019 the MoU was signed
10 months after our relocation from Kampala, to
by CBM representative John Chan, Director of
West Province in Gisenyi/Rubavu near the border
International Partnerships and two Leaders of
of Democratic Republic of Congo in the purpose
CEBCE. On January 23, several Leaders of CEBCE
of joining my new Ministry assignment with
received me.
Community of Baptist Churches in Eastern Congo
CEBCE began through the evangelism of American
(CEBCE) in Goma, DR Congo.
Missionaries which came from Conservative
Baptist Foreign Mission Society started in 1928.
Since March 20, we have been confined in our
The actual CEBCE were divided in two groups in
home due to the Corona Virus and are living with
1997. Most of the cause of their division was along
our children who have come from their different
tribal lines and a lack of strong leadership. They
schools and universities. We praise the Lord for
identified themselves as Majority and Minority.
having them with us so that every evening we are
It was 21 years of division with two parallel
having Bible study with them and on Sunday we
leadership. Many people have worked for their
organize an at home church service.
reconciliation, even I took initiative to meet the
two sides separately for their reconciliation. By
God grace, they have come to reunification.
During their Celebration of Reunification in After our first day of meetings with the CEBCE
December 2018, they invited me to preach at this Leaders, I was next introduced to the CEBEC office
big meeting of more than 7000 people. staff which is around 26 people.
Last year, Terry was invited by our partner CBCA in After a time of devotions, a group of Reverends
Goma to address 700 pastors. It was where the brought me to my new office which was well
CEBCE leaders met Terry and told him about their prepared with all the necessary equipment. Their
desire for reunification and their need for prayer was a blessing for me and to do good work
assistance to reach this goal. They asked Terry if but also build good relationships and to achieve
CBM could find it possible to send me to aid in this good results in this new role with them. They
process. For the different meetings, CBM sent me prayed for a fruitful partnership with CBM.
to be their representative, in that ministry of See it above.
sustaining this reconciliation of CEBCE.
2. Basic assessment with different CEBCE
The photos below were taken after our first departments in purpose of having the clear
meeting when I started working with CEBCE. On understanding of the causes of 21 years of their
my left is the President of the denomination, next division and what they are expecting to their
to him is the Executive President and the reunification.
coordinator of Peace department. On my right is
the Vice-President of the denomination, and the
development Director.
I met with five groups to begin to understand the
causes of the division of CEBEC. The photo above
is one of the groups which included on my left the
Director of Development, who has a lot
of activities on his job description. On my right, the
Director of Education with more than 560 schools
(primary and secondary schools) but with a lot of
problems in infrastructure. The other person is the
Director of Health, with more than 85 medical
structures (hospitals and Health centers). It was
helpful to talk with them and receive the
questionnaires on which they responded.
At the end of our assessment we had a meeting to
present the findings from all the different groups
MINISTRY UPDATE
Rev. Munyamasoko Gato
Easter & Spring 2020
Corneil in DR Congo
who responded. From their responses they agreed attend that executive committee. The two former
to the findings. sides were represented. I facilitated two topics in
Those are the major findings of their division which which I encouraged them to celebrate our
need to be addressed for sustaining their differences and then to understand being used as
reunification. They identified they need to: humans in God’s purpose. In both workshops
participants really were excited and people
• Address Tribalism as a serious repented their behavior in the period of division. It
problem among the brothers and was really a good time.
sisters of CEBCE.
• Provide training for strong
Leadership and good governance
• Provide education for the good
management of funds and
resources
• Respond to moral and spiritual
questions
• Identify Poverty as part of their
division
We are now discussing the way forward, looking
for lasting solutions to address those 5 findings.
3. Facilitating retreat of CEBCE Executive
committee and Districts Youth Leaders in
South Kivu/ Bukavu, 200kms from Goma The 2020 plan in the perspective
After reunification of CEBCE in 2018 between what We believe that the one who triumphed over death
they called majority and minority came the first will finish this Corona Virus. Let us continue to
time for the President of the denomination and his trust our God and Saviour.
deputy to be together in that area. The area was Among the activities we are planning:
mostly led by the minority, the actual Vice-
President. The Executive Committee went there to • Finish writing the different topics of the
this meeting but at the same time I was invited to Peace and Reconciliation curriculum
join them as Chaplain of that meeting and and then edit them for the use by
facilitate some topics related to Peace and
Reconciliation. The group was 60 people who CBM’s partners in Africa.
• Work with CEBCE leaders to find a
sustainable solution from assessment
findings.
• Working with different CEBCE
Departments, encouraging them to be
catalyst of Peace
A word of appreciation
Your prayers and financial support have enabled
CBM in accompanying Africa partners’ churches to
accomplish their mission through different
programs. CBM works in the areas of Poverty, Kids
at Risk, Building the Church, Emergency Relief and
relating to my work, the area of Justice. The Peace
and Reconciliation work is needed at this critical
time of war, ethnic division, oppression between
social classes and poverty.
As you stay home – stay Connected!!
It is my hope that we will keep journeying together
in this call to Mission through prayers and financial
support. To learn more about the work of
Canadian Baptist Ministries, please see our website
at www.cbmin.org
If you wish to become a Partner in Mission, please contact Barbara
Keys at: bkeys@cbmin.org or you can use the address and phone
number listed below.
Barbara Keys
Partners in Mission Coordinator
CBM embracing a broken world through word and deed
7185 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 5R4 Canada
Direct Line: +1 905.821.7729
www.cbmin.org
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