Indiana Disciples Travel to Mbandaka to Celebrate Partnership

Indiana Disciples Travel to Mbandaka to Celebrate Partnership

In 2008, the Christian Church in Indiana signed a partnership agreement with the Mbandaka District of the 10th Community – Disciples of Christ in Congo.  The goal of the partnership was “to expand the ecumenical and missionary horizons of our local churches in the Indiana Region and the Mbandaka District, to develop a sense of responsibility for each other, and to learn reciprocally from each other’s faith.”  Mutual visits were included as one of the major steps to strengthen the partnership. 

On May 22, eight Indiana Disciples will begin a pilgrimage (“a journey to a holy place”) to Mbandaka.  They will spend a week in the Mbandaka District, sharing with pastors, women’s groups, school children, health workers, seminary faculty and students, choir directors, youth leaders, farmers, and many other Congolese Christians.  On May 25, the day of their arrival in Mbandaka, they will help celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the agreement.

Congo Partnership Week will be celebrated in Mbandaka and Indiana this year from May 22 to May 29th.  Resources for celebration are available at:  http://www.indianadisciples.org/2011/04/congo-partnership-week-2011/ .  On May 25, the day the pilgrims arrive in Mbandaka, they will help celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the agreement. 

The pilgrims are Billie Bertch, Central Christian, Connersville; Toni Colbert, Light of the World, Indianapolis; Beth Crouch, Mt. Summit Christian and First Christian, New Castle; Susan McNeely(trip leader), Southport Christian, Indianapolis; Scott Seay, Christian Theological Seminary; Bob Shaw, Southport Christian, Indianapolis; Vernon Stover, First Christian, Sheridan; and from Ohio, Linda Idoine, First Christian, Kent.  Please be in prayer for them as they travel from May 22 to June 3.

More information about the partnership and a video documenting the partnership is available on the Christian Church in Indiana’s website:  http://www.indianadisciples.org/about/congo-partnership/

You can follow the Indiana group on their journey through their blog: http://kyvoyageur.blogspot.com/