The delegates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who hosted the guests were: Mr. Roussel Kumakamba, of the Comité National Inter-Mennonite [CONIM] Rev. Masolo Mununga, Rev. Mwaku Kinana, Mrs. Kadi Tshinyama, and Mr. Tshiseleka Felha, of the Communauté des Églises des Frères Mennonites au Congo [CEFMC] (Mennonite Brethren) Rev. Fimbo Ganvunze, Mr. Mackunya Shalukombo, Rev. Ghymalu Kianza, and Mrs. Ketendende Lwadi, of the Communauté Mennonite au Congo [CMCo] (Mennonite Church) Rev. Misakabu Nzala Kalonji, Rev. Kabangu Kombe Mbuyi, Rev. Kasongo Mumona Bambi, and Rev. Mukala Mwamba, of the Communauté Évangelique Mennonite [CEM] (Evangelical Mennonite Church) Mr. Edouard Epampia mbo Wato, of the Mennonite Central Committee [MCC] The members of the French-speaking delegation from Europe and Quebec were: Neal Blough (France), Annie Brosseau (Quebec), Claude Hege (France), Hotsche Kikkert (The Netherlands), Deborah Martin-Koop (Switzerland), Juan Jose Romero (Belgium), and Elisabeth Trummer (Switzerland).

Strasbourg, France--A group of seven French-speaking Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren from Europe and Quebec, Canada, recently had a week-long visit with Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren church leaders from the Congo in Kinshasa. The visit, which began on February 8, was made under the auspices of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC). At the conclusion of the visit the fourteen church leaders from the Congo and the seven representatives from France, Switzerland, Quebec, Belgium and The Netherlands drafted a joint letter to the MWC Executive Committee. In this communiqué they stated, "This experience has enabled us to establish good contacts and is a significant step towards closer relationships between French-speaking Mennonites." The letter stated that the two groups had come to an agreement on the following points: To develop relationships on the basis of fraternal cooperation. To reinforce reciprocal relationships that already exist. To look at the possibility of a Congolese delegation visiting Europe. To ask the Mennonite World Conference to facilitate building a French-speaking Mennonite network. "This ... first meeting," they agreed, "holds promises for the future and gives us hope for greater communion in the worldwide family of faith." The delegation from Europe and Quebec carried a message from MWC to the Congolese church representatives. The letter, which was signed by Mesach Krisetya (Salatiga, Indonesia), the MWC President; Bedru Hussein (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), the Vice-President; and Larry Miller, the Executive Secretary, stated: "All of us are interdependent members of the body of Jesus Christ. Communion in Christ leads us into communion with one another locally, across national boundaries, even between continents. As the church becomes fully international, we seek new ways to incarnate this vision. Your visit with one another is a wonderful and concrete example for all, helping us to see how to become the church of the future." Hosting a visit such as this, in a country which is experiencing fighting and political turmoil, was a significant challenge for the hosts. When the visit was drawing to a close, Mrs. Kelendende Lwadi, one of the members of the Congolese delegation and President of the National Women's Association of the Mennonite Church of the Congo, wrote to Larry Miller at the MWC head office in Strasbourg, France, "It is with great joy that we welcomed our French-speaking Mennonite sisters and brothers from Europe and Quebec here in the Congo. For one week we prayed that God would keep them safe during their stay here, and tomorrow they leave...."

From left to right: Fimbo Ganvunze, Kilembe Mabaya
Shista (see his article), Mrs. Ketendende Lwadi and Mesach Krisetya.