Oct 5 2008 - Not the Church on the Corner.  Presentation at Philadelphia (Watrous) MB Church. I had an excellent opportunity to enjoy Thanksgiving and to present the work of BYS at Watrous on October 5.  The congregation was warm and all age groups were well represented.  I had the impression of a vital faith and genuine vitality. I strayed a little from my message text because they gave me lots of time.  I talked about the prior "home" of some of our kids, an abandoned Belgian pool complex.  You can see a picture of it here. When I was in Congo, our BYS leaders sang a song with the kids on those grandstands and explained again what we were trying to do, also leaving them some help. I also explained that kitty corner to that complex is a church.  It's very nice looking on the outside, rather expensive.  Kapay explained to us that the church was a product of a "health wealth" pastor, who demanded that his charter members pay $10,000 USD to become members on the promise that it would produce even more wealth for them.  When members dried up, he lowered the price to $5,000 then $2,000.  I asked if this church had done anything for these street children whom they would see nearly every time they came out the doors.  The answer was "no". Darren Holland, the pastor at Philadelphia MB spoke a prayer at the end of the service that was profoundly moving.  His prayer included the phrase, "may we not be that church on the corner." The Batela church, the one that is helping these kids was across town, is making an effort to go and minister.  In some ways it's a miniature picture of the global church at times.  We can close our eyes to the need and make sure we get the dollars per member while revelling in our prosperity.  In the mean time, other followers of Jesus are sacrificing from their little to make an extended effort to go meet real needs.  Many churches are breaking out and it's exciting! I welcome any comments -- just click on the forum or contact links above.
	Maturing and Expanding:  Sept 2008, by Clarence Peters The streets of Kinshasa buzz with activity, day and night. The streets swarm with people, as they are about their businesses. In many areas, they will be almost invisible, but they are there, by the hundreds and thousands. They are the street children of Kinshasa, abandoned by their families to survive on their own. I had the privilege of visiting this colourful, noisy, distressed city in November of 2007. I came with a team to see what was being done and what could be done to bring some hope to those with little hope. Yet ultimately, we would leave with more than we came. BYS is short for the Lingala Term "Home of New Life" which the originators have aptly named this ministry. The vision is compelling -- to indeed give children an opportunity at a whole new life in all its dimensions after having been exiled to the streets. And knowing that children do best in families, their first priority remains that of restoring the children to their families of origin. Sometimes, all it takes is a little economic assistance and the family is reconciled or is rent a modest home. Nanou, age 12 when I saw her, was a hopeful young lady. She had suffered hardship on the streets and had been homeless along with her family. Her father is blind and had no way of supporting the family. The mother was not in the picture. BYS provided them all the opportunity to move into a home. Their despair was turned to hope and they were given a future.  Unfortunately Nanou (top right) died a few weeks after we visited with them. We also visited several foster homes. There, often five to eight children were placed. With living expenses being subsidized, these children form a new family unit along with their foster parent or parents. When homes can't be found, or during the transition phase, the children are housed in an orphanage style setting. The house we visited was perhaps four hundred square feet, housing over a half dozen youngsters. Beside it was a drinking hole where about a dozen men could observe the children and teens coming and going -- not ideal, especially for girls who once survived by prostitution. It was all they had, and it was certainly better than the street. However, its cramped quarters made it difficult to house more than just a handful of children. Thankfully, with the initiative of our Congolese brethren and the generous donations of the BYS North American family that has all changed, in a big way. Instead of a small rental house, a large two story gated house is now theirs, also known as the Mercy Home. Our walk-through in November showed that many renovations are yet needed, but the house is livable. We spent a morning painting, but it was just a very small start. Most of the work will be done by our African friends. Almost all the local work is initiated and carried out by members of one amazing little church, as well as the Congo MB Conference missions chair, Kapay. The Batela church in Kinshasa bears both the vision and some of the expenses for the ministry. They try to include the children as their own. For instance, last Christmas they threw a big party for the children at the church. This welcome and attention and care contrasts with the treatment many of them receive on the streets, where they are frequently the subject of military or police scrutiny, manipulation or abuse. Given that many must steal to survive, the situation is difficult. Traditionally, Congolese families have been very attentive to their children. A few things have changed since the early nineties. With the swelling city population and war, families have often been stretched to provide even food. Sometimes parents will take turns fasting on a given day so the children can eat. Just as troubling are the practices of a so-called "revivalist" church which blames any problem in the family on a child, alleging practices of sorcery. Some sources estimate that as many as 70% of the children have been so accused. This is consistent with the stories we heard from "our kids" at the Mercy Home. Sometimes, to elicit "confessions", that they are indeed sorcers, children are put under extreme pressure and even torture. Thank God for the faithfulness of people like Pastor Muller, who builds relationships with these outcasts, wary of any adults. He spends time on the streets with them and frequently gives out food or other necessities. When we were with them, we visited one of these communities of street children. An abandoned Belgian built swimming pool complex seemed an appropriate home for abandoned children. About fifty or so children and young adults were sprawled on the grandstands. Yet when Muller came with his guests, they seemed eager for conversation and news. They cheered when he handed a little aid to their leader. We sang a song or two and he gave a brief devotional. He explained that we were trying to do more, but that it would all take time. Providing the house has been one step, but the ongoing expenses are really going to be the test of North American support. I believe we have the people who have this heart for the poorest of the poor -- for those who really cannot help themselves out of their situation without a hand up. While some sponsorship agencies claim to be able to house, feed, clothe, and provide for the medical and education needs of a child for about $1 a day, we find that even with very frugal management and using local caregivers, that costs approach closer to twice that amount in Kinshasa. So while not every donor may be able to afford $2 a day, we are so grateful for all gifts, smaller and larger, which serve to bring tremendous hope and practical care. And at present, while linking up sponsors with individual children would prove difficult and more costly, we hope to strengthen the North American "BYS Family". When I first read these verses after returning home from Congo, they took on a whole new potency: "Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them." Psalm 10:17-18 (NLT)

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