The May issue of the Outlook reported on the organization of the Reformed Confessing Church of Zaire. This certainly is cause for great joy and praise to God among the Reformed community. It is a particular thrill and cause for rejoicing in the Lord for the Reformed Church in the United States. It is a great honor for us to be the sponsoring Church of this newly organized Church in Zaire.

We thank God for the door which He has opened on the continent of Africa to the Gospel through the preaching of Rev. Aaron Kayayan of the French speaking broadcast of the Back To God Hour. In just a few short years of broadcasting, 10–20 thousand people have responded and now want to be part of this new Reformed Chu rch. The Church is in a very early stage of development. Many groups have not yet been organized into congregations. Yet the people are very enthu siastic and are working hard to advance the work of their Church. Some leaders have already translated a constitution as well as the Heidelberg Catechism into Tshiluba, the native language of Northern Zaire.

The forming of the Reformed Confessing Church of Zaire is in some ways unique. Although the Reformed Church in the United States has officially sponsored the Church in Zaire it is completely indigenous. It is a self-governing and self-propagating Church. The RCUS will merely serve in the capacity of advisors.

Though the Church in Zaire is indigenous it does have a great many needs. These are primarily in the area of diaconal assistance. The people of Zaire are very poor. The average family income is approximately $25 per month. There is a great need for Bibles and catechisms. There are no medical facilities available at all. Most of the groups that are being organized into congregations have to meet outdoors because they have no buildings in which to meet for worship. If they have a place for worship it is probably a very small crude building constructed from dried manure bricks.

     

Though the RCUS has made no commitment to meet these needs, we are making every effort to do what we can. A shipment of Bibles has been ordered and a Heidelberg Catechism in the native language will be printed soon. The need for places in which to worship presents the greatest hurdle. This is simply due to the large amount of funds that it will take to provide useable places of worship.

The RCUS through its Diaconal committee has established a special fund for Bibles for Zaire as well as funded for building projects for Zaire. We invite any who might be interested in helping with the diaconal needs in Zaire to send contributions. The biggest need is, of course, with the building projects of Zaire. Any money sent to this fund would be used to provide places of worship for the Church in Zaire. If you have any interest in this please contact the Chairman of the Diaconal Committee of the RCUS. Maynard Koerner Box 372 Sutton, NE 68979

Not only do we rejoice in the Lord for the beginning of the Reformed Confessing Church in Zaire but also that He has given us an opportunity to minister to the diaconal needs of our brothers and sisters in Zaire. It is our prayer that the Lord will use us in this way to advance His kingdom in Africa.

Maynard Koerner is the chairman of the Diaconal Committee of the Reformed Church of the U.S.