SACRIFICE: BELGIAN CONGO

foreign [Music] one of the Great Rivers of the Belgian Congo is yubangi winding its way out of the Jungle vastness in the northwest corner of this Colony yubangi flows into the mighty Congo River Lifeline of the interior boats carry Freight to Inland points and passengers to their destination the Rhino Street stops along the shore after taking on wood for her steam engines she continues to WAND her way up the wide and shallow Congo River in some places this river is over 15 miles wide and as many as 10 Islands lie opposite each other River captains must be good Navigators to follow the ever-changing channel during the dry season much of Congo remains as it was when the first missionaries arrived here is the last great Frontier where game is still abundant everywhere may be seen water Buck other species of antelope Buffalo elephant wild pigs and occasionally fleeting glimpses may be had of monkeys leopards Python and crocodiles going on there are three main species of elephant a Plains elephant which sometimes attains a height to 15 feet the Forest elephant somewhat smaller but more vicious and a sedan elephant plentiful in the north the largest elephants travel alone sometimes male elephants having reached a great age are no longer able to fight off the younger males and are driven from The Herd it is these older elephants that carry the huge and valuable Tusk survivory when a younger elephant encounters one of the older ones they fight driving their tests into each other's shoulders a wounded elephant makes his way to the nearest stream to wash his wounds elephant meat is highly prized by the African for food so its life is continually menaced by hunters foreign [Music] foreign foreign [Music] of a pagan dance nearby a girl ties on a grass skirt another girl finishes braiding a companion's hair laughs [Music] when all is ready younger girls join the others this dance has real significance for them they have just completed their training in preparation for marriage and may now take an adult's place in their society [Music] foreign [Music] this is a disciplinary organization it is found in many villages if a wife misbehaves the husband contacts the head man of the society and the wife is captured as she goes to the streams she has taken Inland for discipline occasionally a young girl who refuses to marry is disciplined by this organization she has taken Inland and forced into marriage the captured individuals are taken to a Grove of trees where sacrifices are first made days gone by human sacrifices were made in these places and many believe this still happens even today in 1951 a relative of one of our Christian workmen was murdered by gawk oil [Music] [Applause] the head man of garcola by blowing into the end of The Fetish is praying to his Heathen God um into this setting of savagery sin and darkness murder wickedness of all kinds has come a message a message of light that shines in darkness a message of Hope to those without hope it is the message that God so loved the world that he gave his only son that men everywhere maybe leave and have life Everlasting this gospel the only hope of man finds a wondrous response among these people they come for miles around to hear the gospel recently necessary of me she worked by the murdered by a mighty Revival the spirit of God was present in power both Africans and missionaries were renewed and strengthened in their Christian walk churches were filled with capacity for some time missionaries had been praying that Revival would come to this field after much prayer God gave us a faith that prayer for Revival would be answered church services that began in the early morning continued throughout the noon hour without stopping when the Revival came to Kerala our largest Mission Station gospel Services continued for more than a week after which the fires of Revival spread to the surrounding villages African Christians listened attentively as their own people preached with power okada even some of the members of the gakwala society accepted Christ many others went forward for confession and rededication [Music] with the stirring of the spirit of God in these meetings there came a profound and deep witness among the Africans throughout the day missionaries and Native Christians alike were wholly given to the searching of the scriptures to prayer and to the consideration of spiritual matters this revival brought lasting results to all Covenant Mission stations and Kerala [Music] where the Covenant has its largest school Revival came into the classrooms you're not lying Villages native Christians were quickened in their Witness perhaps one of the most stirring stories to come out of this revival period is that of bajir and his wife Alima they were deeply troubled by evil spirits at night Alima said she heard strange voices and observed other strange phenomena as the oppressive weight of the evil spirits grew Halima asked for a Bible to sleep on thinking this would Chase evil spirits away what a privilege and opportunity for a missionary of the Gospel to counsel and guide these people into knowing Christ the only one who has power over all [Music] we close with prayer confident that God would give them Victory and peace of mind never before in the history of our mission had witchcraft been swept out of the villages like this fetishes were broken Idols of the secret society of gakora were burned charms were taken from the necks of children and cast Into the Fire during these days fires burned in many villages in the hearts of men and women a flame of dedication was kindled that was to spread everywhere among the African people we were reminded of the Old Testament admonition that if my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their Wicked Ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land missionaries and natives gathered around the dying Embers of this fire ties with Pagan ways and rights were forever severed many converts have now been baptized and taken into the steadily growing African church of over ten thousand active members [Music] [Applause] significant in Covenant missions of the growing Trend toward development of a well-established indigenous church is the work here at bodocular [Music] an African evangelist preaches a dedicatory sermon it was their own gifts that made possible the buying of this land they also donated their own labor to construct the buildings needed for a missionary home a school and a church [Music] an important part of the program in building an indigenous church is the training of African leaders about seven thousand children are enrolled in our mission schools the school program makes it possible for every man to read God's word for himself and thus to be encouraged to take an active part in the development and Leadership of an indigenous Church in this area [Music] missionary work is emancipating women and making literacy possible among them Christian women like these make Christian homes [Music] but the importance of cleanliness they are encouraged to sew clothing and articles to be used in their homes [Music] the women also gather and share their ties in the responsibilities of the church and assist in sending out their own missionaries into unreached areas teacher evangelists in our Congo area are entirely supported by funds from our African church [Music] pray for these men it is not always easy to witness to their own people [Music] foreign Council for the Kerala Church earnestly prays for God's guidance each Covenant Mission Station has a similar Council they are rapidly gaining experience in governing their own people the missionaries give assistance whenever necessary [Music] [Music] one of the outstanding events in the history of missions in the Congo was the 75th anniversary celebration of the beginning of protestant work in this area leaders from different parts of the world and especially those concerned with Mission work in the Congo are gathered here to praise God for his Blessing through the years and to seek his continued guidance for the years to come on February 8 1953 about thirty thousand people including the governor general of the Congo attended this rally in commemoration of the arrival of the first Protestant missionaries in this area Thomas Comber and George grenfell the work this celebration commemorated could not have been possible without unnumbered sacrifices on the part of God's people everywhere Reverend Thompson acting Secretary of the Congo Protestant Council reads A congratulatory telegram from the minister of colonies in Belgium other National Christian leaders give testimony to the sacrifice of past years and a witness of personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ foreign [Music] disease and death took a heavy toll among Africans and missionaries alike adequate medical supplies and an established medical work has brought relief to the physical suffering in Congo through this medium the confidence of the people is one and barriers are overcome resulting in a more effective presentation of the Gospel a new cell phone drug has done wonders in treating leprosy making it possible for some patients to leave the leper colony because their disease has been arrested the laying of the Cornerstone and the completion of this church made possible a building for the Revival which was to follow in addition to doctors nurses evangelists and teachers many other workers are needed on the mission field an important contribution to the church work has been made by a sacrificial Christian Builder [Music] on the cornerstone in lingala is Colossians 1 13. who has delivered us from the power of Darkness and it translated us into the kingdom of his dear son shins in this area prayed that God would make it possible for them to have a building in which to worship they were eager to contribute their time and materials the women school boys and men all had a part in the building of this church many donated their labor after regular working hours now this beautiful Oedipus stands as an answer to their prayer and it is truly the African spiritual home although the complete building of an indigenous church that is one which is self-governing self-financing and self-propagating is not complete the day when this dream will become a reality is soon approaching the joy of these people was overwhelming on the day of dedication because this was a result of months of Labor [Music] we are happy to report that God is blessing the work among these people new souls are being won constantly churches are being built and Christian Nationals are being strengthened in their faith as the work of Covenant missions in the Belgian Congo moves forward this is God's work and this is God's way to remain static is to be unhealthy the life of the Christian must be one of constant growth the message of the church Goes Forth has a continuing witness to the Pagan peoples so near at hand [Music] typical of the missionary serving here with a mission Covenant our Evelyn Norman Ruth Whitman and Gene Larson little did we realize that God was soon to reach down and take unto himself one of these faithful and dedicated servants about eight o'clock one morning God called Evelyn to be with himself [Music] norn lived one of the most beautiful Christian lives of any person we have ever known [Music] through her death God has spoken to missionaries and Africans that the time is short we must make the most of every moment [Music] foreign gathered at the Kerala Church where Evelyn served for one brief year are hundreds of beloved African Christian friends and fellow Mission workers [Music] to the African this was a real sacrifice one of them said to us we can see that your words are true when you say you love us because though it cost your life you are still willing to bring us the gospel a missionary replied isn't that what Christ did for us how can we do less [Music] thus a story of sacrifice was told with its true meaning [Music] Evelyn Norman has joined those who laid down their lives for the cause of Christ in Congo to these God Is Spoken well done thou good and faithful servant [Music] the souls that have been won in Congo have been one because some of God's people have been willing to sacrifice for the countless thousands yet without Christ for the building of the Congo Church May our all be on the altar of sacrifice [Music] [Music]