CHE Open My Eyes

In July 2010, my son (age 9 at the time) and I had the privilege of a short-term mission trip to the Solomon Islands. My reason for this trip was to open our eyes to the culture and lifestyle of a "developing nation".

I completed a Community Health Evangelism Course in December 2009, which sparked my interest and stirred my heart for such "developing" nations. This stirring came from a realization that living in Australia had sheltered and protected me. The news and media stories on poverty and war were presented so much, that I had perhaps become hardened to the reality of the situation. I thought there was not much I could do about this seemingly cataclysmic issue.

According the World Health Organization, the shocking truth is that over half the world live in poverty (approximately 3 billion) and 1.2 billion of that figure live in extreme poverty (living on less than US$1 per day). Poverty creates ill-health as it... http://au.christiantoday.com/article/solomon-islands-my-short-mission/10125.htm">

More Than 2,000 Gather for Congo Pastors Conference

Grado-Lite, DR Congo (January 20, 2011) More than 2,000 pastors and their spouses have gathered for the biennial pastors conference of the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) that began last Sunday and runs through this coming Sunday. The main sessions are being held at the Gbado-Lite church.

Most participants traveled by bicycle, motorcycle, or on foot said Evangelical Covenant Church missionary Pete Ekstrand. The people living farther from the conference traveled 300 miles over several days using motorcycles and bicycles. A few traveled by pane or other vehicles, although few are able to traverse the country's almost unusable roads.

"The conference is important in the lives of the pastors because it offers encouragement and and opportunity for spiritual renewal", says Ekstrand.

Some of the that encouragement has come from Anthony Mejia of Peninsula Covenant Church and that congregation's pastor Gary Gaddini. The church has a long-standing relationship with the Congo church.

Gaddini (pictured above) is leading morning devotionals. Speaking from Jonah throughout the week, he told the gathering, "The sad part in the Jonah story is that he did not have anyone in his life to stop him from doing the wrong things. I am the pastor I am today because of the people surrounding me in my life. Do you have someone like that in your life?"

Tow sessions are open to everyone following the morning devotionals. Topics include community health evangelism, the government's plans for development, and conflict resolution within the church. Afternoon breakout sessions include discussions of poverty, HIV/AIDS and malaria, and women's ministries in the church.