See the church at work in the Congo
The Department of Women and Children for the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa (CPK), supported by the PC(USA), identifies and provides for the needs of women and children in their community. To address the growing number of orphaned and vulnerable children, the CPK’s Department of Women and Children has established seven feeding centers that provide the children with nutritious food (using the Moringa powder) and teach the children Christian songs and Bible verses. The women, who are at high risk for HIV, learn ways to support their families through a variety of income-generating projects. Women learn how to produce a product, how to manage money, how to count and do basic math. The girls are taught sewing, and if there is enough money they receive a sewing machine upon graduation. You can support ministries with Congolese women and children. [View photo album]
Addressing the root causes of HIV through a community development model
In April 2009, 32 community volunteers representing churches, schools, community organizations and neighborhoods throughout the city of Kananga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were transformed into community health evangelists (CHEs) during a five-day “training of trainers” workshop, conducted by Action Pour la Santé et Développement Communautaire (ASADECO). The training in Kananga, the seat of the Congo Presbyterian Church (CPC), marks the expansion of this community development model. Each volunteer trainer received a solid foundation in Christian community health evangelism and prepared a clear action plan that they will use in their respective community health (including HIV/AIDS, orphan and vulnerable children and home-based care) and development work. Keep reading.
Mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo
In May a group of representatives from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) made a special trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group visited hospitals supported by the PC(USA) and followed-up on grants given through International health Ministries and Presbyterian Women. The representatives also checked on the work of the Women's Guilds and followed-up with participants from the Training for Transformation workshop, which took place in May 2006.
The Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa (CPK) has been a partner church of the PC(USA) since 1960 in the metropolitan area of Kinshasa and the western provinces of Lower-Congo and Bandundu. The CPK has many programs to address HIV and AIDS such as Bible Studies and Income-Generating Activities. [Read more]
A second chance for Luanga with Moringa
Luanga is an 18-month-old boy who was abandoned by his mother a few months after his father's death. By the time he arrived at Centenary Health Center's nutrition program, he was severely underweight and malnourished. The center houses a feeding program run by the Presbyterian Women and Family Department of the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa (CPK) and the Presbyterian Health Department (DPS). [Read more]
June 2005
... The Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa (CPK) is alive and having an impact on HIV/AIDS through various activities such as the production of AIDS-related Bible studies that will be published this year; small-group training done in conjunction with Sally Ivaska of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, so that the Bible studies will have impact in the local church; income-generation groups that prevent women from turning to prostitution; a program in maternity centers that identifies pregnant HIV positive women, makes preventive drugs available to them, and supports them with pastoral care and nutrition.
The youth of the church are active too, and they are doing income-generation and skills-training activities, too. This church is passionate about caring for people with HIV/AIDS and making known God’s love toward them no matter what the circumstances. I am very proud to be partners with them! [Read more] |