certificates fro children's ministry trainingChildren's ministry seminars
After receiving our printed materials and discussing details of how best to plan an effective training seminar with follow-up to develop successful children's ministries, an intensive two-week seminar was held in Bangui in April 2010. It was attended by 51 participants from 10 different denominations, and finally certificates were presented to 42 who completed the whole course and passed the exam. Later in the year Pastor Honoré taught a number of very successful seminars on either training for leadership or children's ministry both in Bangui and in more rural areas of the country. He reports that he has made follow-up visits and has been amazed at the remarkable progress and growth of about a dozen new children's ministry programs that have been started in churches, schools and home groups. Further meetings and seminars are planned and efforts are especially being made to reach out to other areas of the country where children's ministry is virtually unheard of.
initial outreachNew site for CEERCA ministry base and orphanage
In June 2011 Pastor Honoré and his family visited a village on the outskirts of the capital where they felt a special call to focus on developing the ministry. It is a rural area with very poor people, little water and even less hope. They held evangelistic meetings and provided a special meal so they could get to know the people. This photo shows some of the children enjoying the meal. Before they left, a local man approached them about buying a plot of land - from this a new vision quickly developed. It is to build a ministry base and home, and eventually to build an orphanage, making use of the land to help grow vegetables for food.
first church serviceSince then Pastor Honoré, with his wife Clarisse and their family, have made countless trips (often walking) to the property to clear the land; make bricks laboriously by hand; plant and harvest corn and a variety of vegetables and fruit; and (not least of all) hold weekly bible studies with the local children. In July 2012 they held their first church meeting there - outdoors of course, since there is as yet no "indoors"! The property has been legally surveyed and is now officially theirs, and they are hoping to soon begin to lay the foundation for the first building, for which they already have made 10,000 bricks but still need lumber and tin for roofing. They are praying in particular for a well to be drilled since it is several kilometers to a good water source.
Christmas celebrationAt Christmas 2012 a very special celebration and meal were held at the church site, with distribution of clothes and treats for the children. The Christmas Story was shared along with singing and games, and the event was greatly enjoyed by all, including specially invited chiefs from local villages. In the New Year, Pastor Honoré and his family were able to move into a rent house only half a kilometer from the site and so will now be better able to cultivate their garden there; begin construction of buildings; and also become part of the community. Sadly the coup in March 2013 resulted in much panic, brutality and death. But thankfully the ministry property proved a blessing to Pastor Honoré's family and many neighbors, providing fruits and vegetables as food during that desperate time. Also, methods of water purification and other helpful resources that Pastor Honoré was beginning to put to use on the property were shared and proved helpful to surrounding families during the chaos. In late 2013 arrangements were made to drill a deep water well to serve the church and local community, but before it could be accomplished fighting and chaos broke out once more
Honoré ministering in the refugee campProblems and delays due to instability and violence in C.A.R.
Sadly, the violence and horrors continued around the country during 2013, with mainly radical Muslim rebels attacking Christian communities. In early 2014, groups of anti-rebels fought back and weeks of terror resulted in hundreds of deaths and the destruction of countless homes, churches and businesses. Literally millions of people fled or lost their homes; families were torn apart, and children made orphans; and over 100,000 fled to the area around Bangui airport where they continue to live in desperation in a makeshift refugee camp. Many problems need to be resolved in the country, and above all, there is great need of peace, forgiveness and healing. Pastor Honoré recently ministered to many in the refugee camp, while also distributing clothes for children (kindly provided by the organization called Little Dresses for Africa) and he continues to plan teaching seminars and to develop the church on the ministry property as he is able.
Pastor Honore outside a Pygmy home More outreach and new plans to move ahead in 2015
Throughout 2014 the situation was unstable with outbursts of violence preventing travel and causing food shortages. Crime was common and Pastor Honoré reported the theft of the electric cable and most of the bricks from the ministry site, preventing construction. His family also experienced several severe attacks of ill health, but he remained determined to do his best to continue the spread of the Gospel among the people of that war-torn land and held several large events promoting forgiveness and peace. He even made two visits to a remote area where Pygmy tribes still live in the forest (see photo) and was able to present the Gospel to them and even plant a new church. As the New Year starts, Pastor Honoré feels the focus should return to the ministry site where he hopes to assemble new materials and begin construction of a meeting room for the church there, while continuing his work among the local people.
Setting foundation stone
This photo shows the special ceremony in April 2015 when the foundation stone was set for the building on the CEERCA ministry site. Apart from the weekly outdoor Sunday service (now attended by some 90 regular local people) other meetings are also now held weekly, including a Saturday club for children (always attended by dozens of excited kids!), a women's meeting, and bible studies. Many are willing to help with the work of clearing the site and the actual construction of the first building - to be used as a meeting room, base for the ministry, and home for a local guard to watch over the property. However we all pray for God to soon provide the FINANCES to buy the necessary construction materials. Please contact us if you would like to help.
You can read regular monthly updates on our Latest News page and see photos of the progress of this exciting vision here: photo album
Ask us if you would like to contact CEERCA and Pastor Honoré or send an e-mail
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