In this issue, we are excited to introduce you to the new Field Staff who have joined the CBM team this year. Both Byron Velásquez and Joseph Lee’s appointments are encouraging signs of a growing ministry despite this pandemic. As our partners struggle with the loss of local pastors, Byron and Joseph will assist in increasing their capacity to respond to needs. We echo the words of Paul as he encourages the Church to build up the body of Christ. I invite you to read the enclosed letter to see how you can help empower the Church in this time of need. Your support builds strong and resilient churches that can weather times of crisis.

Our SENT program has adapted to our new reality and has pivoted in an exciting way. We are taking churches to the field through their computer screens and this is proving to be just as meaningful an experience. It is also an opportunity for churches to get involved and stay connected with Field Staff around the world.

Carla Nelson and Gato Munyamosoko, two CBM Field Staff focused on work in Africa, also share a thoughtful reflection on development and peace efforts ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasizing the importance of local churches everywhere. This is an exciting project that utilizes Gato’s extensive experience in peacebuilding and reconciliation. Exciting progress is being made as Gato and Polisi Kivava work to bring together divided denominations through the shared goals of restoration and collaboration. We rejoice in the unity that is being built, as the poor and marginalized will benefit greatly from this initiative.

At CBM, we believe that millions of lives are directly impacted by every goal we work toward together. Churches play a significant part in community development work. Their impact rarely makes headlines, but it is a living witness to the power of the gospel to transform lives. We are grateful that we have a role to play in God’s mission, to get to stand in solidarity alongside you and our global partners,
together as co-workers in God’s Kingdom.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in the work of God’s mission. Your commitment continues to help bring transformation to the lives of so many.

Grace and peace,
Jennifer Lau
Executive Director

I was introduced to CBM through Conrad and Fiona Kwok, CBM’s Chinese Ministries Team Leaders. When they relocated to Canada, I was encouraged to continue the ministry of CBM in the Golden Triangle Region and decided to apply because of CBM’s global and integral mission vision. I also received the calling from God to carry out mission work in the Golden Triangle Region. I am proud to be part of the CBM family.

Through my work in the Golden Triangle Region, God showed me the need for local churches to be part of a global mission. I find myself bringing the message of global mission through preaching and teaching, and mobilizing local churches to participate in mission work.

I love the mission of CBM because the local church is at the centre, and the expression of the gospel is through word and deed. It has been God’s mission since Genesis 3 and the mission of Jesus. I am looking forward to learning and sharing my knowledge as I work with Canadian churches and CBM’s local church partners in Guatemala and El Salvador. I am excited to see how God is going to use me at CBM.

I learned that the local church is the divine agent of transformation in its community.

As you read earlier in this issue, we have two new National Field Staff, Byron and Joseph. These new team members will be working regionally in Latin America and southeast Asia to support our partners on a strategic level.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these two regions have faced many challenges. Both Byron and Joseph describe two realities in their respective regions.

In rural areas, most churches do not have access to internet, and are continuing to meet in person. However, this poses a large risk, as congregants are in close contact with each other. In urban areas, where there is stronger access to internet, churches are meeting online. However, pastors are reporting that they have lost members, and when they try to call them, people do not want to connect. Another difficulty is paying for the pastor’s income, forcing some pastors to look for other jobs. Several churches have had to close their buildings due to lack of money for rent.

In addition, many pastors and church members have tested positive for COVID-19. Just within our networks, more than 100 pastors in Myanmar have passed away due to COVID-19. Many did not have access to proper PPE and were continuing to meet for in-person services or to perform funerals for congregants.

The Church in Latin America has also been devastated by COVID-19. Within our global church partners networks approximately 300 pastors in Guatemala have died, and around 200 in El Salvador have passed away.

We have seen time and time again how the work of local church leaders can unite communities, promote discipleship and encourage congregations to show the love of God to their neighbours in times of need. CBM is responding to the call to strengthen and build up the body of Christ. Please read the enclosed letter as we invite you to be involved in this work. Join us as we stand alongside our staff in such a time as this.

“Welcome to my home, Paul!” says Joe, as more faces appear on the screen. Paul Mittelstaedt, a pastor at King’s Community Church in Oakville, proceeds to introduce Joe and Alexi to each person from the church that has gathered ingredients and set aside the next hour for making dinner together.

We call this new experience SENT Online. Each year CBM sends over 200 people cross-culturally to visit, encourage, and serve with our partners globally. We’ve not been able to do that physically since March 2020. However, the desire to be with our partners has not decreased. Throughout the pandemic, CBM’s partners and Field Staff have been able to provide consistent updates on the specific situation in each country and report on the work being done. Our churches have been grateful for updates and have responded through financial support, prayer, and encouragement, but there has been a longing for closer connection to our work through such a difficult time.

One of the highlights of our SENT trips is the opportunity to share a meal. The rich hospitality of our partners paired with local cuisine always make meals together memorable. Through SENT Online, we decided to get creative and gather around the table to share a meal without leaving our homes. Over Zoom, Joe and Alexi have been sharing their favourite hummus and tabouleh recipes with various groups. A list of ingredients is provided for participants to purchase and prep, a time is set and a Zoom meeting link is sent.

At each dinner party, the Bridi’s lead groups with step-by-step instructions on making hummus and tabouleh together, but they also share stories about their life in Lebanon. Joe talks about his work with local churches. He tells stories of the clean-up and rebuilding efforts after the Beirut explosion and how the Church is present in the rubble. God is near as guests break bread and learn about life and work in Lebanon.

Upon reflecting on this experience, Paul says, “The most refreshing thing (besides the tasty food we made) about this online experience was the level of engagement from our group in asking questions about what was taking place in Lebanon. One question that struck me was from a family with two young children – they asked, ‘Tell us a little bit about what being a family has been like for you during this time, managing time, working at home, online school, etc.’ Joe and Alexi responded by giving us an honest picture of the challenges they faced at home. It was one of those moments where I felt that yes, life is different at so many levels between Beirut and Canada, but those spaces where we live and experience family are not that different, and we can identify with one another in more ways than we might realize.”

SENT Online is the perfect opportunity for your church, small group or family to see what life is like in the Middle East. While learning how to make some delicious food, you will also have the chance to hear what life is like for some of CBM’s Field Staff.

To learn more about this exciting opportunity for online fellowship, contact Louise Hannem

In response to recent violent events in their communities, both church organizations separately approached Polisi, CBM’s Relief and Development Specialist, with requests for assistance to help address the conflict in the area. Polisi wisely ascertained that the place to begin was with each other. He contacted Gato and met with the leaders of both denominations together.

Tribal conflict has existed in the DRC for many years. It started back in 1885 when the Berlin Conference drew borders creating countries to divide resources among the Western Countries at the expense of the African people. These boundaries put some Rwandese in what is now the DRC. These Rwandese became Congolese.

Colonialism under Germany and then Belgium fuelled the tribal divides. Colonialists brought additional Rwandese to settle in the DRC in the 1930s to cultivate their coffee and tea plantations.

For these reasons, people of Rwandan heritage settled in the Kivu area alongside native Congolese, who are mainly of the Nande tribe. Most of the church members of the CEBCE have Rwandese heritage, while most of the members of the CBCA are mainly of the Nande people. These denominations have emerged as separate organizations partly because of the history I have described of two heritages coming to live in the same area and partly because of some misunderstanding with missionaries in the late 1950s over education issues and native Africans’ participation in church management.

Tensions significantly worsened in Kivu after 1994 because several thousand Rwandese, including many members of the military and militia who had participated in the genocide, fled there to escape the new Rwandan authorities. These militias exerted their power over the refugees to keep them as a tool to attack the country. Therefore, there was much fighting – insurgents trying to control the refugees and new Rwandan leaders trying to free the refugees from them. The victims of this first war were mainly refugees. Many Rwandese refugees
returned to Rwanda though some stayed. Some members of the military and militia of the former government during the genocide stayed as well, becoming rebels who continue to fuel the conflict and violence.

A second war involving at least nine African countries ensued over trade in ‘conflict minerals’ – tin, tantalum, and tungsten, all found in electronic devices. This war formally ended in 2003 and resulted in over 5.4 million deaths. However, years of war and conflict have continued in the North and South Kivu provinces resulting in areas controlled by various militia groups, using sexual violence and forced
labour in their pursuit of illicit mining of the conflict minerals (one estimate suggests there are approximately 70 of them). Another tactic of the militia groups is to fuel suspicion and blame between tribal peoples. Destabilizing communities in this way continues to give the militia groups the upper hand.

I am very aware of the danger of oversimplifying a very complex and confusing situation. Ethnic tension, colonialist interests, political factors (especially concerning multiple citizenships accepted in some countries and rejected in others), and economic interests of multinational companies are all at play. But this very reality is what makes Polisi’s and Gato’s work so remarkable.

Polisi and Gato responded to the two separate requests from the two church denominations to help address the conflict in the area by bringing them together. To address the ethnic conflict in the region of North Kivu, we needed to begin with their relationships. Polisi and Gato facilitated conversations amongst the church leaders of the CBCA and the CEBCE on several occasions, resulting in a formal declaration.

We, leaders of the two above-mentioned ecclesiastical communities, declared on May 18, 2021, that our churches shall do the following joint actions:

• To collaborate and work together for peace promotion actions and peaceful coexistence
• To work on priorities related to peace restoration and peaceful coexistence
• To carry out emergency actions for people affected by violence
• To carry out awareness-raising activities on peace through evangelical approaches
• To pool resources for actions related to conflict prevention
• To establish a think tank to reflect on peacebuilding
• And, to use our two logos for visibility on peace messages

We pray and trust that this formal and public declaration will help the members from both church denominations know the goodwill of their church leaders and encourage each member to continue to work towards peace and reconciliation in their own homes and communities.

GOD DOES WORK THROUGH HIS PEOPLE, people like Polisi Kivava and Gato Munyamasoko and the leaders of our partner churches in the DRC. Together with you, we are aiming to further the presence and influence of God’s peaceful kingdom. Thank you for your continued support.

At CBM, we want to help church communities across Canada offer a gift of hope through our local church partners around the world. A gift that can make a real difference.

As we have all struggled through this global pandemic, we have been reminded of how much this world needs the hope that is found in Jesus. We’ve also seen the importance of caring for one another. You may have wondered what you and your church can do or how you can respond during this time of increased isolation and deep need. Around the world, our local church partners have identified what needs are present in their areas and what projects can be accomplished to bring lasting change. The Hopeful Gifts Church Campaign will help your church choose a project and give a gift that is “just right” – exactly what is needed most.

Through our Hopeful Gifts Church Campaign, your whole congregation can come together in mission both online and in-person. Join with
churches across Canada to make a significant impact in the lives of the most vulnerable around the world, and witness to your local community concerning what it looks like to love like Jesus.