Congo Frontline Missions News

Pray for Peace

keithmosier — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:04:04 +0000

Please Pray for Peaceful Elections

With country wide elections approaching on November 28, 2011, we ask our readers to pray. Elections in a new country like Democratic Republic of Congo can be an unstable time and subject to violence. There has been some pre-election violence up to now, but it is post-election violence that is most feared. The open door of peace has been a great opportunity for Congo Frontline Missions to advance the truth in this country that has experienced so much war over the last ten years.

Although most of our team is out of the country during this time, we solicit prayers for safety for those who will remain within the country during the elections. In addition, please pray that the elections will be peaceful so the gospel work can continue to advance.

Angel Escort to to Pygmies

keithmosier — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:03:06 +0000

By Elisha VandeVoort

We looked at the chasm before us that used to be a road. Heavy rains had washed out an 8 foot section of the road just before the bridge. The sides of the gulch were 8 feet straight down. We were heavily loaded with equipment and material to build 2 one day churches. Should we turn back?

Our Pygmy congregation near Nia Nia, about 250 miles east of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was expecting us and this would be the first one day church among their tribe. Their members could no longer fit under the little thatch roof structure built from jungle material. With a prayer on our lips, we laid several 2 inch planks over the wash out and drove over it. The angels kept the planks from breaking and protected us all along the rest of our journey. Through heavy rains we spun the wheels up one side of the mountainous hills and slid down the other side.

Satan threw many obstacles in our path, but with God always at our side and so many people praying for us, we knew we would prevail. Wrecked trucks littered the sides of the road reminding us of what “might have been” without our angel escort. No doubt lives had been lost in some of the crashes. At one check point, Mango (one of our workers) was taken into custody and held at gun point by several soldiers because he had forgotten his Identification card. Fortunately, after some pleading, we were all on our way again. Time and again we were stopped by up to a dozen armed soldiers making various demands.

Finally, after two long days on the worst roads I have ever seen, we reached Nia Nia safely. The Pygmies were so excited to see us! Many came to watch and some helped us to clear a site beside their little thatch roof church. After working for an hour on the church, it began to rain so we took shelter under the small Pygmy church and prepared to sleep for the night. Early the next morning we attended the devotional service the church planter held for the 40 plus people who came. Very few people in Congo have Bibles, so our church planters have a short meeting each morning. I wish you could see these desperately poor, simple jungle people intently listening to the Bible being read and hear them sing praises to their Savior in four part harmony. It’s just beautiful!

We finished building the church by noon and a few of us went to visit some of the Pygmies in one camp to take them some salt and soap. I have never in my life seen

people so poor or so sick, and with so little of this world’s goods. These people have nearly nothing! Their homes are palm branches fashioned in the shape of an igloo. All they have to eat is what they scavenge from the jungle. They showed us where they had recently buried several who had died, and there were many others who looked more dead than alive. We gave medicine to several who were suffering from malaria. We also gave them some rice and beans for which they were extremely grateful.

Sadly, we could only stay with them for a short time as we needed to travel on to the next site where we would build another church for a different group of believers the following day. By God’s grace, we have been able to put up thirty of these one day churches this year across central Democratic Republic of Congo. They have been a tremendous blessing to hundreds and hundreds of people.

Thanks so much to Maranatha Volunteers International and ASI for sending these churches to DRC and thanks to each of you for your prayers and support. May God bless you is our prayer at Congo Frontline Missions.

Three Angels Radio

keithmosier — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:00:06 +0000

By Geoffrey Marube-Station Manager

We want to praise God for the partnership between Adventist World Radio and Congo Frontline Missions. Now, our FM radio station called Three Angels Radio is

officially on the air, broadcasting the name of Christ and the three angels’ messages to the several million people in Kisangani and the surrounding area.

Although we expected to face opposition and even outright rejection of the station by those of other religions, the response has been overwhelmingly positive! Most of those who are coming to visit the station are not Adventists. They tell us how much they have been blessed by listening to the broadcast. Although we have only been on the air since early November, we have now created a help desk at the studio to address their questions and hand out Bible based literature to our listeners.

When I made a call for volunteer help at the studio in our local Adventist churches, I was unsure what would happen. However, we now have 20 volunteers working full or part time. I have trained them in the fundamentals of radio broadcasting prescribed by AWR, and they are helping with the daily running of the studio and

assisting to produce French programs. Currently, much of our programming is rebroadcasting the Swahili broadcast from Tanzania. However, we are already beginning to produce our own programs in French, Swahili, and Lingala.

Unstable electricity has been our biggest challenge. Throughout much of the city, the power can go off at any time and typically is off about half of the time. Although there is a consistent line of electricity near to our studio, it will cost us at least $4,000 to run the lines to hook up to it. We believe the Lord will provide a lasting solution to this problem. As soon as the elections are over, we will purchase a generator that can be used during power outages and also import the rest of the electronics equipment from AWR that will help us to operate more efficiently.

We still face challenges. Our volunteers would like food and a place to rest when they work long hours or through the night. Also, many of them have never used a computer in their lives. Thus, we need some additional computers to be used in computer literacy training. Amazingly, it is challenging to find people with the confidence to preach in French. Yesterday, another station complained that we are interfering with their signal. Through all these things we move forward in faith remembering how the Lord has led us up to now.

Thanks to the help of AWR and answered prayers, we are proclaiming truth across the airwaves of Kisangani. Please keep praying for our station as we seek to expand this ministry in DRC.

Pastors and Church Planters

keithmosier — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:02:23 +0000

In mid August Congo Frontline Missions was privileged to sponsor a second historic meeting of all the pastors for the Upper Congo Field. We say “historic” because it is only the second time in the history of the field that all 25 pastors have met together. During the war years, many pastors and their members became discouraged and evangelism came to a standstill. These five days of meetings were a great encouragement to them.

During the last two days of the meetings, they were joined by our church planters and their wives. We were truly bursting at the seams with a total of 130 people on our campus!

The pastors were so excited to hear the reports of our church planters and how the work is moving forward into dark areas. So far this year, we have seen over 600 baptisms as a result of the hard work of our pioneer workers and the blessing of God.

The wives of our pioneers were so happy to attend the meeting and fellowship with other church planter wives. We bought two bales of used clothing to distribute among them as a gift. Although life is hard for our church planters, it is doubly hard for their wives. So far, two of our pioneer families have buried children in the areas where they are planting churches. They have left home and family far behind, which is really difficult in this culture.

Those from the Opala area were especially thankful to reach the meeting safely. Their route is currently plagued with hostility between the government and the disciples of a man who calls himself “god”. This dangerous area is full of robbers. One missionary named Zalingo was carrying money from his church plant to buy a portable speaker system. When armed men forced him to show them all his money, he knew they would take it all away from him. However, he was shocked to hear them say, “He is a man of God, let him keep most of the money.”

Another missionary named Bongoa Posho was confronted by robbers who wanted his bicycle. He felt like crying as he saw them walking away with his evangelism bicycle. What would he use for God’s work? How would he and his wife reach CFM for the meeting? Before the men had gone far, his prayers were answered in a strange way. Bang!! He

heard an explosion as one of the tires on his bike exploded. The rebels said, “This

bicycle is worthless. Give it back to the pastor.” His sorrow turned to tears of joy as they brought the bike back to him.

We thank those who faithfully sponsor and pray for our church planters. Their lives are hard, but now there are many churches in dark areas where there was nothing only two years ago. Praise be to the Lord of the harvest!

CFM in America

keithmosier — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:01:59 +0000

In May 2000, Barry & Marybeth Mosier and their family left Minnesota to move to Africa. Little April Mosier was only six years old at the time. The Lord has blessed their efforts during these past eleven years and protected them from harm many times. Some of this is chronicled in their book, Flight 122, which includes their miraculous deliverance from a deadly airplane crash in Congo three years ago.

This summer, while on their furlough, they sensed that their family needs might require them to return to America. However, Barry wished he could still be of service to Congo Frontline Missions. Discussions with the other CFM leaders confirmed everyone’s desire for him continue to assist with the project.

Now, Barry will represent Congo Frontline Missions from his home in Dodge Center, Minnesota. We believe that this will turn out to be a blessing to the project as we have

often wished to have a person to take care of things in America. He will still travel to Congo once or twice a year to help with the treasurer functions and meetings. However, he will now be able to help coordinate other volunteers as well as travel to share about the work in Congo at churches and campmeetings. If your church or conference would be interested in having Barry come to share inspiring reports and miracles about the work in Congo, please contact him atbarrymosier@gmail.com

Although we will miss Barry’s family here in Congo, we are glad that he will remain a vital part of the team–representing us in America. We are also thankful the Lord has blessed us with a strong team in Africa led by Keith & Tammy Mosier, the Msafiri Mtenzi family, Nathan Rittenour, Elisha Vande Voort, Joshua Sunderland, Nadege Apatout and all of our local staff and church planters. Thank you for your prayers for the work in Congo.

New Students Arrive

keithmosier — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:00:45 +0000

What a joy to receive the current group of thirty-two evangelism students for the September - October training session! They all came from Lingala speaking areas and about half of them are men who have joined the church through the work of our church planters. At least two of them are former pastors of other churches who have accepted the Advent message. What a thrill to see the fruits of these last three years of labor!

They are excited to learn how to be effective soul winners for Christ. They are anxious to understand the Bible better and learn principles of health. We gave Bibles to

those students who did not own them and they were so happy! In the evenings, we see students sitting in various places on the campus reading their Bibles.

Many students traveled far to reach us. As they arrived on Aug 30, they looked tired. Those from Nebasa traveled by bicycle for over 2 weeks to reach here. They slept wherever people would take pity on them. They ate a meager diet along the way, buying the minimum amount to sustain themselves. Now, after a few days rest and some food, their faces are aglow with enthusiasm in the classroom!

These are not highly educated people. Most are self sustaining farmers who provide for their families by the sweat of their brow. They remind us of the fishermen Jesus called 2,000 years ago-simple men who would turn the world upside down.

We trust that some of these men will be men of faith who will claim God’s promises with all their hearts and move with their families to the dark, unentered Lingala speaking areas to the north and west of Kisangani. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to mold these students into men of courage and faith who, like Christ’s disciples, will carry the message of truth to this remote part of the world so that Jesus can return soon.

From Iowa Farm to Congo

keithmosier — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:03:40 +0000

My name is Elisha Vande Voort, and as the newest member of the Congo Frontline Missions team I have been asked to share some things about myself and my experiences here. I was born in 1981 and raised in a Godly Christian home on a farm near New Sharon, Iowa. For the past 10 years I have managed and operated a 1300 acre certified organic farm for a Certified Public Accountant, who had his business in a town nearby.

For years God kept calling to my heart to, like Elisha of old, leave the plow behind and come serve and follow Him. I loved my job even though it was very demanding and so stressful much of the time. Instead of me controlling it, it often controlled me. It took me years to recognize this and a few more years to do something about it. I had some really hard decisions to make, but friends, let me tell you, when you give up something for God and fully surrender every area of your life to Him, He will replace whatever you have given up with something so much better.

I had to take a big step of faith and go far out of my comfort zone and do many things I have never done before. I had never been outside of America, flown on an airplane, or spent weeks living in a tent in the middle of the jungle, but God has been with me every step of the way, giving me strength and wisdom, calming my fears, and doing so much more for me. He and I have become really close friends, and I have

found that there is no better friend and guide than the One who cares so much for each one of us!

In the past five months I have been able to help put up over a dozen One Day Churches, scattered all across central Congo, assist in building an eighty foot radio tower in Kisangani and help install the radio antennas which will reach millions of people in the surrounding area. I have helped to drill wells and fix several hand pumps that were no longer working in different villages. I have worked on bicycles, motorcycles, generators, vehicles and many other things and have been able to pass out literature, help with evangelistic efforts, hand many Bibles to new believers who have never before held the Word of God, and have witnessed dozens and dozens of baptisms.

In our work here we encounter a lot of very, very poor, heavily laden, suffering people and children! Many of the things we see and the stories we hear in this war-torn country are heart wrenching to say it mildly! Since coming to Congo I have had a much greater realization of how unbelievably blessed I truly am! I am also so thankful to my Heavenly Father for all His protection and leading in my life; for all the many incredible experiences He has allowed me to have here, and for the privilege of working with the Godly, dedicated staff and workers at CFM!

Please remember our church planters and the staff here in your prayers. Congo is not an easy place to live, travel, or work in! Many of us have become very sick with serious illnesses. The police and military often give us problems, and there are many people in this country that are heavily into witchcraft and can be very violent at times. Really pray for the church planters! I have been in many of their villages for a day and have seen and heard some of what they have to endure and believe me, they have it tough! Satan hates our intrusion into his territory and is fighting back, but with God all things are possible and with His power, strength, and amazing protection, the Gospel is being proclaimed throughout the country of Democratic Republic of Congo. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We can often feel that many are uplifting us in prayer each day. May God richly bless you as you walk with Him along life’s path is our prayer.

In His service,

Elisha

Daniel’s Birthday Project

keithmosier — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:01:14 +0000

By Shenalyn Page

“Mommy, let’s send them a thousand dollars!”

Our son’s impulsive generosity sent my mind racing through our Quicken accounts. I can’t tell him we can’t do that, but how can we give an extra $1000 to missions? I wondered.

This was not what anticipated when I sat four-year-old Daniel down to show him pictures of “our missionaries” and tell him how God was blessing the Congo Frontline Missions (CFM) church planter we support in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I stumbled through some sort of encouraging response, then prayed about it as I went on about my daily tasks. By evening, God had given me an idea. Why not have Daniel do a bike-a-thon during our daily walk and get sponsors to help him reach his goal? If we went around our half-mile loop four times a day until his fifth birthday in two

months, he could do 200 loops. My husband Tyson and I talked about it and realized it would be a good opportunity for Daniel to learn perseverance, self-sacrifice, accomplishment, and the joy of serving others. We knew it would be a challenge, but knew he could do it with some help.

The next day Daniel excitedly helped me make a chart to track our progress and happily rode his four loops, more than he’d ridden in quite a while. But the devil wasn’t happy about our plans and it seemed we had a lot of problems that day, giving us an opportunity to discuss the great controversy with Daniel.

I sent an email to family and a few friends telling them of Daniel’s desire to raise $1000 for CFM for his fifth birthday, and we soon had sponsorships totaling $1200. Then some church friends surprised us with a check for $1000. We were amazed. Soon others learned of our project, and by the time Daniel finished his bike-a-thon, $4120 had come in for CFM. Truly this was a God thing!

Keith and Tammy Mosier at CFM suggested Daniel’s money could go for a $1000 motorcycle for visiting the church planters. Daniel also wanted to help with the new radio station CFM was starting.

As Daniel’s birthday approached, we prayed much about how to celebrate his accomplishment. His birthday fell on Sabbath this year, so we had a missionary party for him and his friends. To make missions real for the kids we had a treasure hunt for things that pertain to a missionary’s daily life, told mission stories, ate missionary food, and watched CFM’s new video.

Daniel completed his 200 loops the day before his birthday and loved his birthday party. Now, he’s back to playing in the sandbox and pounding nails.

“I’m glad I could do my birthday project because it raised money for the missionaries so lots of people could learn about Jesus,” he says. “You should do it too so more people can learn about Jesus.”

Top Ten Ways to Make Missions Real for your Children

keithmosier — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:00:47 +0000

1. Pray for you and your children to really care about people’s salvation.

2. Give money to missions each month. Make sure your kids know you do it and have your kids regularly give some of their own money to missions.

3. Mission stories – read them, watch them, tell them!

4. Memorize scriptures together about God’s call for us to be missionaries.

5. Adopt a missionary family to support and pray for.

6. Meet real missionaries.

7. Plan a missionary birthday party or other missionary themed event.

8. Talk with your children about how they can be missionaries in their daily lives.

9. Do mission work in your community – pass out GLOW tracts, invite kids to VBS, help out at a homeless shelter.

10. Trust God to give you wisdom to make missions real to your kids.

News in Brief

keithmosier — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:00:38 +0000

Everyone is very busy here at CFM. April and Barry just finished preaching (in Swahili) an evangelistic series after which 16 people were baptized! Praise the Lord!

Frank, Nathan, Elisha, and Craigon are working on putting up our radio tower. When completed, it will be 80 feet tall. We hope to have our radio station operating in a few weeks.

Keith just returned from a campmeeting in Kirundu. Founded in 1927, this was one of the first SDA missions in Congo. Two thousand people attended the campmeeting and were encouraged to keep their faith in the Lord.

After Nathan and Elisha drilled our own well here on campus, they drilled another one in the village of one of our church planters. Elisha said, “The people came running when we went back through that village. They are so happy.” The missionary there said the people are much more open to the Gospel since that well was dug.

Recently, we conducted a training session on our campus for 54 church treasurers and elders. What a blessing to see our new campus being used!

Three thousand copies of The Great Controversy in Congo Swahili are now rolling off the press and will soon be in the hands of colporteurs.

Currently, 2 more evangelism efforts are being held by our key Congolese team members here at CFM.

One Day Churches are going up almost every week. We are grateful to have a dedicated, well-trained team to build churches. We praise God for what He is doing here in the Congo. Please pray that God will continue to guide us in our work here.