The Mwinda Project

The Mwinda Project (Say Mween-dah): The Light of God's Word for Coming Generations in Congo. Mwinda means “light” in two of the major languages of Congo—both in Kituba (Kikongo) and in Lingala. Psalm 119:30 says that the entrance of God’s Word gives light. The new generation in Congo is urgently in need of that light to lead them in better paths! The Kituba-speaking people of Congo have had the Bible only since 1982, and distribution has been extremely limited. The Bible is a big book, and it’s still new to many Christians. Many of Congo churches are eagerly teaching their youth the truths of God’s Word, using methods learned from Every Child Ministries’ trainers. Hundreds of thousands of children and youth gather each week in churches in their own communities, all hungry to learn more about the eternal truths of the Bible. Now the constant plea is for Bible lessons aimed at children and youth.  

To meet this need, ECM has now developed the Mwinda Project. Writing directly in the Kituba language, veteran missionary Lorella Rouster is devoting her time and energy to writing, printing, and distributing such lessons. To our knowledge, these lessons are presently the only ones available anywhere.  

Mwinda Project Goals: The goal of the MWINDA Project is to create a library of Bible lessons for children and youth covering all the major events and teachings of God’s Word, specifically applied to the culture of Congo, in Central Africa. Lorella’s lessons are then translated into Lingala, Tshiluba, and French. We hope to add Swahili in the future, offering the light of the Word to all of Congo and beyond. In Kituba alone, the lessons have the potential to teach 3 million children and youth, and through the translations mentioned, about 42 million.  

The lessons are distributed in two ways. For larger churches of means who wish to have their own lessons, they are sold at cost in Congo bookstores. For those in cities with internet access and ability to photocopy, they are posted on ECM’s www.teachingforafrica.com and on the Mwinda Project website, www.mwindaproject-ecm.com . For poorer, financially struggling churches (which is the majority), they are available through free Teachers’ Resource Libraries that the project is developing throughout Congo. There, children’s Bible teachers can borrow teaching materials—Bible lessons, pictures, and sometimes visualized memory verses. They use them to teach in their churches, schools, and homes, then return them to receive other materials. In this way, Bible lessons are used over and over again. Under good conditions, they can last up to twelve years and be used by multiple churches. Each time a book is taught, an average of about 80 children are given weekly Bible teaching. Each lesson includes the basics of the Gospel and an invitation to receive Christ. Lesson books are produced in quantities of a few hundred at a time at Every Child Ministries’ Mission Central office in Hebron, IN. Larger quantities of some are printed in Congo.  

Funds given to the Mwinda Project are used for: 

· the materials to produce the lessons in Kituba 

· translation into Lingala, Tshiluba, Swahili, and French 

· their transport to Congo and distribution there, or for printing in Congo and distribution to libraries and bookstores there. 

· larger quantity printings (1,000 copies or more) in Kinshasa. The Mwinda Project distribution goal: 

The Mwinda Project uses large quantities of Wordless Books made of felt. These easy-to-make books use color symbolism to explain the Gospel to children. Contact Lorella if you ‘can sew a straight line’ and would like to help make Wordless books. Lrouster@ecmafrica.org 

To bring these lessons from the Word of God within reach of every village throughout Congo. Your help is needed to meet the project budget of $60,000 per year. Gifts of all amounts are deeply appreciated. 

How to Pray for the Mwinda Project : 

· That God would guide Lorella as she writes and Congolese colleagues as they translate. 

· That God would help so that the lessons would be engaging, interesting, and easy to understand. 

· That the project would always create lessons that are true to Scripture and make the Gospel clear. 

· That ECM’s Congo staff may find willing volunteer coordinators for the Teachers’ Resource Libraries. 

· That God’s Spirit may guide the growth of the project. 

· That the project budget may be fully met. 

· That many may come to Christ through the lessons. Visit the Mwinda Project Website for more information.