At the beginning of this new year, we would like to update you on our ministry in Congo.  For the past seven years, the Assemblies of God of the province of Katanga had been praying for a Canadian missionary to come who could speak French.  On February 14th of last year we were the answer to their prayers.  I have been given the responsibility of director,and my wife, Marielle, bookkeeping, to further the ministry of the Bible college [Institut Superieur de Theologie Evangelique du Katanga (ISTEK)].  For the first few months we mostly observed what was going on.  But with the new academic year which began in October, we put into place our vision for this institution.  Actually, we believe that there needs to be a big change in the thinking in the Congolese church particularly, and in African thinking in general.
 
For decades, the African held out his empty hands to the white man to receive, and the whole colonial system encouraged this dependence.  We believe that the time has now come for that hand held out to receive, to become the hand held out to share and to give.  Furthermore, the leadership sometimes acts in a way that is not according to the model that Jesus left us.  We are convinced that ISTEK can play an important role in producing a new generation of servants of God who will embody the message that they preach.            

                                                             The ISTEK students
  
 
This new direction seems to already have borne fruit as 24 new students have enrolled in Lubumbashi, for a total of 51 students.  Furthermore, we now have an extension centre in Kaboto with more than 30 students.  This was the goal of our "African Adventure" of last month. 

                                   Our library and brother Jacques                                                            One of our classrooms  
 
In closing, we would like to introduce you to our new team which has been put into place over the past few months.  In the photo, from left to right, we have Pastor Dieudonne Muteba, our new administrative secretary; your missionaries Marielle (accounting) and Pierre (director); professor Makabu who teaches History and Languages; and finally Pastor Jesse Kipimo who acts as academic dean.  We also have within the teaching staff, the superintendent of the Assemblies of God of the province of Katanga, Pastor Jean Ilunga Numbi.  Together we would like to be agents of change in this country.  

Thanks also to all of you who help us in this work and who are also part of the team. 
     
                                                                                                Happy New Year to all.