Congo_Combined_Part_1

Slide 1:

CONGO A Country Torn by War

Set in the Heart of Africa:

Set in the Heart of Africa

In a War Torn Country:

In a War Torn Country The civil war in Congo is an ethnic conflict, but gender has become a crucial factor, too, the most horrible weapons used in the war is rape. The most frequent targets of this hidden war are women. It is, in fact, a war against women, and this weapon is used to destroy them, their families and whole communities. This destroys family unity and making the women of the village "worthless" in the eyes of their peers.

The War:

The War This sexual violence has affected hundreds of thousands of women.  Often, the husbands of these women leave them because of this type of violence.  Many more thousands of women have become widows - their husbands have died or been killed in the war.  Today these Congolese widows struggle to care for their children and families alone

2010 General Conference Session:

2010 General Conference Session A Cry for Help for Congo Widows and Orphans

The Background of the Widow’s Project:

The Background of the Widow’s Project At the 2010 General Conference Session, MARY JO LAUDERDALE Northern California Conference Women’s Ministries Director, met ELDER GAORE BAZUNGU Conference President of the regions of the Congo.

Slide 7:

Elder Gaore & Phébé Bazungu Union Conference Ministerial Secretary of the North East Congo Attached Territory & Women’s Ministries Director for the Union

Slide 8:

Mary Jo, as a widow herself, was touched by the need of the widows. She was also touched by the love and heart Pastor Gaore and Phebe have to help them with knowledge about grief and a HEAVENLY FATHER WHO WOULD BE THEIR HUSBAND. When Mary Jo arrived back home, there was an email from Pastor Gaore asking for help for the widows. She had spent many years working with people in the field of bereavement. Mary Jo felt God’s call to respond with materials on Grief and Loss – From My Heart to Your Sorrow GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WIDOWS OF THE CONGO CAN BE EXPRESSED BY WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD

Slide 9:

copyright 2005 From My Heart To Your Sorrow Mary Jo Lauderdale M.A., C.I.S.M.

“From My Heart To Your Sorrow” was Translated by Pastor Gaore into Swahili and French A Special Sabbath for the Widows was designated in the :

“From My Heart To Your Sorrow” was Translated by Pastor Gaore into Swahili and French A Special Sabbath for the Widows was designated in the Kyeshero Church, in Kyeshero District “Widows Sabbath”. October 31, 2010

Widows of Gama town, in Kyeshero District,:

Widows of Gama town, in Kyeshero District,

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There are 450,000 widows in the districts. WIDOW TO WIDOW, the SDA widows are helping their communities by teaching about the effects of grief and loss but how God’s love can bring peace, joy and love. We can help these widows by giving them goats for support and churches, where they can worship. Seventh-day Adventist Widows of the Congo Learn about Grief

Meeting of widows of Goma-Centre District.:

Meeting of widows of Goma-Centre District.

“The lady who wears glasses is a good preacher and she is the youngest of all those widows. On that Widows' Sabbath she preached strongly, all church members learned to respect widows.” :

“ The lady who wears glasses is a good preacher and she is the youngest of all those widows. On that Widows' Sabbath she preached strongly, all church members learned to respect widows.” Elder Gaore Bazungu

The lady preaching was a Baptist church member who became a Seventh-day Adventist and now is a deaconess and spoke at Widow’s Sabbath in Goma. :

The lady preaching was a Baptist church member who became a Seventh-day Adventist and now is a deaconess and spoke at Widow’s Sabbath in Goma.

Seventh-day Adventist Widows are helping other widows with grief and loss in their villages:

Seventh-day Adventist Widows are helping other widows with grief and loss in their villages

Slide 17:

Mary Jo Lauderdale, took the need to the NCC Women’s Ministries Advisory Board to ask if they would be willing to share this project with NCC Women’s Ministries leaders and churches throughout the conference and Union. The vision was unanimous and the project was presented at the 2011 NCC WM Leadership Conference with overwhelming support. NCC Women’s Ministries Project For the local Church, Community and Around the World

The Project? Goats Churches and Schools Lets begin with Goats :

The Project? Goats Churches and Schools Lets begin with Goats

Why Goats for Congo:

Why Goats for Congo Goats are a valuable asset for families and communities around the world, but many people cannot afford them. Goats can graze even on poor, dry land unsuitable for other livestock. Extra milk can be made into cheese or yogurt and sold to make extra money for the family. Goat manure can be used to fertilize gardens and fields. With their earnings, families can afford food, education and health care.

Goats can also be bred and sold, to generate income to pay for food, education and medicines. :

Goats can also be bred and sold, to generate income to pay for food, education and medicines .

Goats often have two or three kids a year, enabling families to start small Dairies.:

Goats often have two or three kids a year, enabling families to start small Dairies.

Goats can supply important nutrition for undernourished children in the milk.:

Goats can supply important nutrition for undernourished children in the milk.

Fifty Dollars will supply a goat for a a family.:

Fifty Dollars will supply a goat for a a family.

Let God use you to provide each widow a goat or two.:

Let God use you to provide each widow a goat or two. In turn, we ask that each S.D.A. Widow give one offspring to a non S.D.A. widow as a witness of God’s Love for them.

Love goes a long way. Just Look at that smile.:

Love goes a long way. Just Look at that smile.

A church can be used as clinic, a school, or a meeting place:

A church can be used as clinic, a school, or a meeting place

You can help to spread the gospel by donating a ONE DAY CHURCH OR A GOAT TO THE WIDOWS OF THE CONGO:

You can help to spread the gospel by donating a ONE DAY CHURCH OR A GOAT TO THE WIDOWS OF THE CONGO

May 14th, 2011 will be the next WIDOW’S SABBATH. This will be a day that SDA widows will invite widows from their community to come and find support and love in Jesus. Learning Christ’s love of widows. :

May 14 th , 2011 will be the next WIDOW’S SABBATH. This will be a day that SDA widows will invite widows from their community to come and find support and love in Jesus. Learning Christ’s love of widows.

Our Goal $100,000:

Our Goal $100,000 13 CHURCHES TO PROVIDE SHELTER AS WELL AS WORSHIP 2 SCHOOLS FOR THE MANY ORPHAN AND FATHERLESS CHILDREN 1500 GOATS TO HELP SUPPORT S.D.A. WIDOWS SO THEY CAN HELP NON-S.D.A. WIDOWS

MAY GOD BLESS OUR OFFERINGS & PROJECTS FOR THE CONGO WIDOWS :

MAY GOD BLESS OUR OFFERINGS & PROJECTS FOR THE CONGO WIDOWS