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Enthusiasm for Global Assembly Spreads Across Africa

STRASBOURG, France — With Africa 2003 less than one year away, Africans in several countries have their sights set on Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The 14th Mennonite World Conference Assembly Gathered will be held there August 11-17 next year.

Administrators in the Bulawayo office, who recently took Africa 2003 registration forms to Zambia, were surprised by the excitement of the Zambians. The 500 forms were snapped up within 20 minutes.

"My prayer has always been getting at least 150 coming [from Zambia]," said Dothan Moyo, national coordinator in Bulawayo. But 256 Zambians have registered. "Some have already paid," says Zambian Bishop Shamapani. "We can expect 500 Zambians to come to Bulawayo next year."

The enthusiasm of the three Mennonite communities in Congo have led them to request 150 registration forms. While Mennonites from the West fly over the vast continent in relative comfort, Congolese Mennonites will spend days of gruelling travel by rail and bus through several countries to get to Bulawayo.

Business people in Tanzania are considering chartering a bus to put the long, expensive trip to Zimbabwe within the reach of at least some eager Tanzanian Mennonites. The idea of a chartered bus is not lost on Mennonites in Malawi, also a long way from Bulawayo.

Meanwhile, young people from the Church of the Mennonite Community in Angola, churches with a link to Congolese Mennonites, are the first to submit ideas for a Youth Summit discussion at the assembly. More than 200 youth in the Luanda area helped complete the survey sent to member churches around the world in preparation for the summit.

"This is the first time these youth have had such an opportunity to express their own views about their life situations," said Domingos Antonio Moreira, youth president. He added that the Angolan delegate to the Youth Summit will bring additional information from youth unable to meet due to restrictions not yet lifted although the 30-year civil war has recently ended.

Many Angolan youth, by age 14, were required to be soldiers in a war that has created much hatred and suffering. The young people say that it is "important to disarm the conscience of the population, both in the church and in society." They hope to cultivate harmony and tolerance toward neighbours and help to reintegrate youth who fled the country and now want to return. The challenges of getting an education in a country torn by war, with an illiteracy rate of about 85 percent, and of evangelizing their peers are two other issues the youth will bring to the summit.

In Zimbabwe, the political situation, a troubled economy, drought and food shortages have created hardships, but members of Brethren in Christ churches there are finding ways to prepare to host international visitors. Many have little cash, but they are gathering "in-kind" donations — like cows for planners to sell or to slaughter for food for the assembly. They are testing other ideas, like beginning now to set aside small quantities of essential commodities that could be in short supply by next August. Many will also plan to host guests in their homes.

Enthusiasm for Africa 2003 is spreading across this continent which for the first time will host the MWC assembly. Many people, for whom this event will be their one opportunity to worship and fellowship with the global church family, are making exceptional efforts to be part of it.