People in Congo give the gospel a hearing. Large numbers come to outdoor evangelistic church services. And not only do people listen; they respond. In a meeting of 1000 people 20, 50 or even 100 or more might come forward at the call to repentance. Each year thousands upon thousands indicate that they want to become Christians. 

Sadly there is another side to this encouraging picture.

Training needed 

In a church where the mass of the pastoral leadership has had only a cursory training in the Scriptures, new (and old) believers are generally not well founded. Many who come forward in meetings to repent are repeating an action they have done many times before. Poorly taught the essentials of the Christian life, they do not stand strong in the faith.

The CECCA stands at a critical point in its history. Never was the need of sound Biblically based discipleship more urgent than now. The church is of such a size, its traditions (some of which are dubious biblically) so entrenched, that a serious effort is needed, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to see the mass of church leaders well taught in the Scriptures.

WEC is committed to building strong churches. To see the CECCA a truly strong church, missionaries have a role to play alongside key Congolese leaders in teaching and discipling. The opportunities of effective service are many: in theological institutes and Bible schools, in teaching the educated lay people by, for example, a program like Theological Education by Extension (TEE), in seminars for church leaders, in Christian literature. Bible Schools and Institutes

There are many vacancies for missionaries in the vast bulk of pastoral workers are in dire need of help. Teaching input, counsel, and written course materials are some of the contributions missionary Bible teachers could make. Other training centres in Swahili, Bangala and French languages train the higher levels of church leadership. These too are strategic opportunities to ground the CECCA in Biblical truth. Personnel needs: Bible teachers (Elementary Bible Schools), Bible School teachers, Bible Institute Teachers, Theology Lecturers.

Presently, virtually the only option for a person to be taught Bible knowledge in a formal way is to enter a full time training program. This is a process that takes years and involves a great deal of time doing practical work for church workers. For an educated person such as a nurse or teacher, who wishes to stay in their profession but to grow in the knowledge of Biblical truth and discipleship there is very little opportunity.

Books are rare and expensive, relative to their incomes. There are no programs available to most. 1 on 1 Discipleship CrucialIn 1996 the opportunity was taken up to use some Bible correspondence course material in French which had been made available by a German organisation.

A pilot centre was opened. Demand was overwhelming: students, government officials, military leaders ..... it seemed as though nearly every educated person was keen to do the course. Some people were converted, others were able be counseled about areas of need by the centre's organiser. This illustrates the felt need of a whole section of leaders in society in our area: to understand the message of the Bible. This ministry continues today based in Ibambi, with students also in Isiro.

TEE has been operating for years in church communities to the north, south an east of the CECCA area. Lay people in large numbers have been growing in their knowledge of the Word of God and in discipleship. CECCA has no TEE program or anything like it. We need missionaries with vision, perseverance and faith to head up a program of TEE, or something similar, to bring good teaching to a wider circle in the church.

• Personnel needs: TEE Coordinator, Follow-Up Coordinator.

There is a tremendous need for Christian literature in Congo. Very little is available in Congo Swahili (which is different to East African Swahili) and even less in Bangala. About 60% of CECCA is in the Swahili area and 40% in Bangala areas. These are trade languages; everyone has their own tribal language as well. SIL is busy on the translation of the New Testament into a number of tribal languages. When these are available will people desire Bible helps in tribal languages? In addition, educated people know French.

Literature has the potential to teach and challenge for generations. Commentaries etc may be written or translated. Even better would be sound teaching written by Congolese leaders aimed at their own people, their own culture.

Missionaries could be vital facilitators of this process Personnel needs: Media worker - literature. Leadership Seminars / In-service Training Once they have finished their formal Bible and pastoral training most church leaders receive little to no continuing input. With little by way of literature to stimulate them, it is possible for their teaching and their own spiritual lives to go stale. Thankfully some senior pastors are now conducting seminars for those under them. There is enormous potential for effective ministry in seminars for those who are currently engaged in pastoral work. They need to be refreshed, challenged and taught. Many have had very inadequate training. Seminars can help make up for these lacks. The missionary role here is to teach alongside well trained Congolese leaders. They often seek to challenge traditions and practices which are not Biblical and find that the support of missionaries is extremely helpful.

• Personnel needs: Bible teachers (Leadership Seminars/ In Service Training).