Holistic church = strong church
"Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. – Matthew 11:4-5
“In order to strengthen the church in Congo, we must empower our congregations holistically. How can I preach the gospel to the poor when they are concerned about feeding their children and clothing their families? As a Congo church we must help our churches with economic development, health care and education.” John Fumana president of AMED – a local development cooperative – and member at Paroisse Missionaire (MB church) in Kinshasa shared these thoughts with our team and went on to describe many local initiatives among the MB churches that range from medical health to agricultural groups.
“Jesus came to reconcile not only our souls but our lives and communities. When people see that the local church is able to help its members to feed their families, get health care and education, they begin to see a savior who loves them and their families. The gospel is holistic.”
“But don’t people just come to church for their material needs to met?”
“Maybe, but when it is a Congolese church, with Congolese initiatives and Congolese resources, the people know that it is God that is providing, healing and teaching.”
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