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[ Home ] [ Up ] [ A Midwife for Kwong Women ] [ Raising up a new Generation ]
Download a brochure in PDF
 What
does it take for a small tribal church in the heart of Africa to endure
for the generations to come? What must happen now,
so that 200 years hence it will still be proclaiming its allegiance to
Christ – notwithstanding
that it is surrounded by Muslims, and sits on top of Chadian petroleum
reserves? Much indeed –
the training of pastors, the translation of Scripture, a critical mass
of believers, and the
establishment of a gospel tradition, just to name a few. But these
efforts will avail nothing if, as the present generation dies, another
generation of believers is not raised up to take their place. Yet within
the Kwong church, there has been essentially no intentional transmission
of the gospel to the next generation.
 In
recent years, however, Mark and Diane Vanderkooi have been doing their
best by word and example to imbue the Kwong church with just such a
tradition of conscientiously training up their children in the fear of
God. They have collaborated with a Kwong gentleman by the name of Jonas
who is a fervent believer, respected village chief, and an engaging
story teller to teach a children’s Sunday School hour. Upwards of 80
children attend this program. They have also started a weekly girls’
club as well as a boy’s club where more personal attention is
possible.
(Read more about Jonas...)
However,
the Vanderkoois are finding that they are not able to give these
ministries, important as they are, the kind of attention that they
deserve. More seriously, they are finding that they are not gifted with
the creativity that the task demands. For this reason, the Vanderkoois
are looking for a couple who is willing to dedicate at least 15 years of
their life to the task of training up an entire generation of Kwong
children.
 Our
vision is to begin with 50 children of approximately 5 years of age, and
then to build into their lives right through to adulthood with a
comprehensive package of beliefs, attitudes, and conduct which befit a
Kwong society ordered by Christ. In this “school of character”,
nothing would be outside the scope of its teaching – the practice of
polite behavior, the valorization of sacrificial service to others,
healthful living, God-honoring marriage, the practice of personal
discipline, an awareness of the outside world, an appreciation of
nature, the pursuit of academic excellence, love for and devotion to
Christ, and finally (and most crucially), a sense of obligation to imbue
their own children with these same qualities. Insofar as it is possible,
we envisage the replication of this school of character in as many
localities as possible in Kwongland.
Prerequisites
for such a ministry are a history of fruitful children’s ministry in
your home country, fluency in French (one year in France or Quebec),
acceptance by one of the sending agencies listed on the back of this
brochure, and a commitment to mastering the Kwong language, without
which this ministry will be impossible.
We prefer a couple for this ministry, believing that both male
and female role models are essential to the kinds of character
development and spirituality we envisage.
If
you believe the Lord might be leading you into this ministry, study the
rest of this website to get a better overall picture of the work, and
then contact us at the email address at the bottom of this page. |