Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries www.fhlglobal.org

Seeing Congo (Text From the Photo Book)

Front Cover: Seeing the Needs, Seizing the Opportunities. Faith Hope and Love Global Ministries. The Democratic Republic of Congo

Spine: Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries: Seeing Congo

Page 1: Seeing Congo. Faith Hope and Love Global Ministries. Teaching, Inspiring and Encouraging.

Photos ©Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion. Text: Tim and Jill Geoffrion.

Page 2: Our vision: "Better equipped, spiritually vitalized leaders serving Christ in strategic positions of leadership throughout the world."

Our mission: "To teach, inspire, and encourage ministers and leaders, equipping them to serve Christ more effectively."

We pray that by looking briefly at life in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you will be increasingly transformed by what you see. Everywhere there is both tragic suffering and wonderful opportunities to come alongside our traumatized, yet courageous and determined, African brothers and sisters in Christ.

Page 4: The ongoing war has killed over 5.4 million people and has left millions of survivors traumatized. As long as there is instability, people cannot adequately rebuild their lives.

Page 5: Yet, hope is irrepressible. Joy and laughter still flow.

Page 6: Church leaders hold a vision for a brighter future in every area of life. They seek what is possible, even when most everything they long for seems impossible.

Page 7: As long as the violence and violation of women and men continue, the suffering will go on. Displacement, hunger, poverty, fear, and weariness will remain widespread.

Page 8: See the beauty, pain, joy, and suffering of the Congolese. The pastors and leaders we worked with have so little by way of material resources, yet they have so much faith and dedication. Many work with hardly any pay, and no guarantees for themselves or their families. They use whatever tools they have. They're not giving up.

Page 20: In 3 1/2 weeks, we taught and met with nearly 100 pastors, theological students, leaders of ministries, faculty, and administrators in three different African countries--Kenya, Rwanda, and D. R. Congo.

We built three labyrinths and introduced meditative, walking prayer through the two intensive courses we taught in Congo.

We created a 75 page Student Guide and translated it into French so that every participant could take a book back to his or her home, church, and village.

We also preached four times, coached, counseled, encouraged, and shared rich times of fellowship and prayer with many different people.

Page 21: "Thank you very much for accepting to be used by God as a source of blessing, edification, encouragement, and consolation for many leaders in the world. I truly do not know how to express my gratitude for the sacrifice you have made this week.

My prayer for you is that God will grant all that you need to accomplish this grand and fruitful ministry. Do not stop your path before you have attained your goal. May God bless you!" (Spirit-Led Leader Participant, Butembo)

Page 22: "You have no idea how much your message means to some of these doctors and patients, who will remember this day and your words for years to come when they are out in the bush." Dr. Jo Luci, Founder of HEAL Africa after Tim preached at HEAL Africa (A holistic ministry and hospital which treats patients effected by violence, including many women waiting for surgeries to repair damage caused by rape.)

Page 23: "Labyrinth prayer was a moment of gathering of my thoughts [and] experiencing the moving of the Spirit...." "A highlight of the week was when I was connected with God in prayer on the labyrinth."

Page 24: "Thank you again for your spiritual, material and brotherly care in Christ. It touched us profoundly--to the bottom of our hearts. Please convey our gratitude to all those who help Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries.

Truly, everyone who was in the Spirit-Led Leader Course says that you are a couple with a good heart, a good head, and a good spirit.

You have been a great blessing for the church in Congo.

I greet you in the name of Christ." Rev. Kambere Bolingo



HOME MINISTRIES RESOURCES AFRICA ASIA EUROPE USA ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PRAY CONTRIBUTE CONTACT US LINKS	Seeing Congo (Text From the Photo Book) Front Cover: Seeing the Needs, Seizing the Opportunities. Faith Hope and Love Global Ministries. The Democratic Republic of Congo Spine: Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries: Seeing Congo Page 1: Seeing Congo. Faith Hope and Love Global Ministries. Teaching, Inspiring and Encouraging. Photos ©Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion. Text: Tim and Jill Geoffrion. Page 2: Our vision: "Better equipped, spiritually vitalized leaders serving Christ in strategic positions of leadership throughout the world." Our mission: "To teach, inspire, and encourage ministers and leaders, equipping them to serve Christ more effectively." We pray that by looking briefly at life in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you will be increasingly transformed by what you see. Everywhere there is both tragic suffering and wonderful opportunities to come alongside our traumatized, yet courageous and determined, African brothers and sisters in Christ. Page 4: The ongoing war has killed over 5.4 million people and has left millions of survivors traumatized. As long as there is instability, people cannot adequately rebuild their lives. Page 5: Yet, hope is irrepressible. Joy and laughter still flow. Page 6: Church leaders hold a vision for a brighter future in every area of life. They seek what is possible, even when most everything they long for seems impossible. Page 7: As long as the violence and violation of women and men continue, the suffering will go on. Displacement, hunger, poverty, fear, and weariness will remain widespread. Page 8: See the beauty, pain, joy, and suffering of the Congolese. The pastors and leaders we worked with have so little by way of material resources, yet they have so much faith and dedication. Many work with hardly any pay, and no guarantees for themselves or their families. They use whatever tools they have. They're not giving up. Page 20: In 3 1/2 weeks, we taught and met with nearly 100 pastors, theological students, leaders of ministries, faculty, and administrators in three different African countries--Kenya, Rwanda, and D. R. Congo. We built three labyrinths and introduced meditative, walking prayer through the two intensive courses we taught in Congo. We created a 75 page Student Guide and translated it into French so that every participant could take a book back to his or her home, church, and village. We also preached four times, coached, counseled, encouraged, and shared rich times of fellowship and prayer with many different people. Page 21: "Thank you very much for accepting to be used by God as a source of blessing, edification, encouragement, and consolation for many leaders in the world. I truly do not know how to express my gratitude for the sacrifice you have made this week. My prayer for you is that God will grant all that you need to accomplish this grand and fruitful ministry. Do not stop your path before you have attained your goal. May God bless you!" (Spirit-Led Leader Participant, Butembo) Page 22: "You have no idea how much your message means to some of these doctors and patients, who will remember this day and your words for years to come when they are out in the bush." Dr. Jo Luci, Founder of HEAL Africa after Tim preached at HEAL Africa (A holistic ministry and hospital which treats patients effected by violence, including many women waiting for surgeries to repair damage caused by rape.) Page 23: "Labyrinth prayer was a moment of gathering of my thoughts [and] experiencing the moving of the Spirit...." "A highlight of the week was when I was connected with God in prayer on the labyrinth." Page 24: "Thank you again for your spiritual, material and brotherly care in Christ. It touched us profoundly--to the bottom of our hearts. Please convey our gratitude to all those who help Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries. Truly, everyone who was in the Spirit-Led Leader Course says that you are a couple with a good heart, a good head, and a good spirit. You have been a great blessing for the church in Congo. I greet you in the name of Christ." Rev. Kambere Bolingo	The Mission Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries exists to teach, inspire, and encourage ministers and leaders, equipping them to serve Christ more effectively. The Vision Better equipped, spiritually vitalized leaders serving Christ in strategic positions of influence throughout the world.