Mtelo Ministries renovated six of the duplexes that are used as rentals. These rentals help to provide an income stream for FATEB. Improvements include painting, tearing up old concrete floors and pouring new concrete floors, new tile on the sink counter tops and backsplash.
The children’s program began a week ago Monday, with the help of my amazing translator, David Mowa. Without him, this would be impossible. He loves these children! We sing, pray, memorize a Bible verse from the lesson, Bible story time, we then play a modified game of hangman (without the drawing of a hangman) for the older children (using words from the lesson), and then the much-loved time of coloring. Yesterday’s devotion was on salvation and the memory verse was Isaiah 1:18. We meet three times a week and each time the children color a picture from the Bible story and lesson.
| FACULTE DE THEOLOGIE EVANGELIQUE DE BANGUI called B.E.S.T. in English, abbreviation for BANGUI EVANGELICAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Dear friends, Warm greetings from our colleagues in Bangui . We have some sobering news to share with you today that directly impacts FATEB. Ten days ago the highly respected New England Journal of Medicine published an article called, “Africa in the path of COVID-19.” Its authors wrote, “Africa has so far been largely spared the kind of impact that has thrown China, the United States, and Europe into chaos.” But, “the numbers from Africa are like the early drops of rain before the clouds open up. Despite the slow arrival of COVID-19, a storm is building, and the 1.2 billion people living in Africa are at tremendous risk.” Central African Republic is now experiencing what these scientists predicted. The rate of infections is picking up speed. In the past few days it went from one case to eight to twenty two and yesterday to fifty known cases. These numbers are, so far, insignificant compared to the devastation wrought by COVID-19 in other parts of the world. But, because of the fragile health of so many people in C.A.R., combined with a weak health system of the country, the epidemic could explode very quickly with devastating consequences. For the past two weeks the country has already been under a partial lock-down. Schools, including FATEB, churches, and businesses have been closed. However, more stringent confinement measures may be necessary to slow the spread of this deadly virus. FATEB’s general manager, Dr. Paul Mpindi writes, “At FATEB we are confronted with the practical but hard reality of personnel salaries. The school is closed to the theology students and to the more than 3,000 children and youth in the general education programs. Our facilities and guest rooms may not be rented out. How can we continue to pay salaries when all sources of local income have dried up?” President Dr. Nupanga, with the General Manager, writes, “We have decided to reduce the salaries of the leadership by 50%, 40%, and 30% according to seniority. We have also laid off non-essential workers and reduced most of our daily expenses except for water and electricity. “Given the seriousness of the situation, we wonder if you could consider making a gift to help us cover the cost of salaries for seminary teachers and for water and electricity for our employees. “We know that COVID-19 is having a negative impact on the world’s economy, but your small sacrificial gift will go a long way here at the seminary where a single dollar does a lot. “Thank you for praying and supporting us during these trying times. Persevering through this pandemic is hard on us all. But we thank God for the way you and others have sustained this institution of Christian education and leadership training for the past 43 years. You have also greatly encouraged the men and women who have taught and mentored and served its students as well. Many blessings! Rev. Dr Nupanga Weanzana, PhD President FATEB/C.A.R. If you wish to assist FATEB through this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may make a gift to FATEB through its IRS approved fiscal agent below: www.mteloministries.org for “FATEB COVID-19 assistance” Or, you may send a check made out to Mtelo Ministries. Memo: “FATEB COVID-19 assistance” Address: Mtelo Ministries, 302 W. 5th St. Suite 210, San Pedro, CA 90731 |
The work continues at FATEB’s Leadership Center! The center is able to be used now as the North wing is almost completed. The conference rooms are completed and 8 of the guest rooms are completed and six of them have been used. Solar power has been installed for the guest rooms and more solar power is to come for the kitchen and south wing.
FATEB is grateful to God and to the donors that provided a new bus for FATEB after their van had been totaled in an accident. The bus is used to transport visitors and students and is vital to the operation of FATEB.
A dedication service was held on Saturday, February 1st. It was followed by the “maiden voyage” around the city of Bangui, Central African Republic.
The loud clap of colliding, crunching metal left the driver temporarily in a coma and all that was left of the van was an unrecognizable heap of scrap metal. After twelve years of faithful service, the van was gone and along with it all means of transport for FATEB Seminary in the Central African Republic.
On Behalf of the leadership of the Bangui Evangelical School of Theology I am writing to share with you the immediate need to replace the FATEB van and to ask that you prayerfully consider providing assistance.
Background on Bangui Evangelical School of Theology (FATEB).
FATEB, is an Evangelical Christian educational institution that is equipping leaders for churches and Christian outreach in French Africa. There, Christian churches are in enormous need of well-trained Evangelical leaders. Students come from west and central Africa to study at FATEB’s main campus in Bangui, Central African Republic and at its branch campus in Yaounde, Cameroon. Through its educational programs, FATEB has been graduating leaders to serve a population of 325 million people for 42 years.
For the past 12 years, a donated 13-passenger van, has transported students and family members to local hospitals and clinics when they needed medical care. Visiting professors and other friends of the school have been received, chauffeured to and from the International Airport. Construction supplies and school equipment have been purchased and transported to campus in this van. It has been critical to the operation of the institution.
This past August, the van was involved in a crash that seriously injured the driver and demolished the van. Since then, the school has been without transportation, compromising both the health of campus personnel and the smooth operation of the administration.
A 13 passenger replacement van can be purchased locally with all import taxes paid for $45,000. The school’s spartan budget cannot accommodate the purchase of such a van that is so greatly needed. A small amount of money has been received for a new van, but the majority of the replacement cost is still lacking.
Would you be willing to consider contributing to the purchase of a new van for FATEB?
Donations can be made by check to Mtelo Ministries, mailed to 302 W 5th Street Suite 210, San Pedro, California 90731 or on-line at www.mteloministries.org. Mtelo, a faith-based 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, is a fiscal sponsor for the Seminary, assesses no fees, and sends your entire contribution to FATEB.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me at 310-739-5710 deborah@bergcm.com should you have any questions.
Thank you so much for your past support of FATEB, your prayers and your consideration of this request.
By His Grace Alone,
Deborah Berg
On behalf of Dr. Nupanga Weanzana Wa Weanzana, President of FATEB
Dear brothers and sisters,
God has been faithful to us according to His promise. In the Great Commission Jesus said to His disciples:“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
In spite of many challenges that we were facing, we are very thankful to the Lord because under His guidance we came to the end of the academic year 2018-2019 without any great difficulties.
We are also very thankful to all of you who are supporting FATEB in different ways. We appreciate your contributions,and we would like to assure you that you are making a big impactfor the advancement of the Kingdom of God in Francophone Africa.
The closing ceremonies on both the campus in Yaoundé, Cameroon and the campus in Bangui, Central African Republic took place at the end of July. In both places hundreds of people gathered to celebrate those who completed their training at FATEB. We are happy because FATEB is sending back to the churches and to other ministries 26 men and women who graduated this year: 1 in the Ph.D. program, 7 with Masters degrees in Theology, 5 with Masters degrees in Christian Leadership and Management, 13 with Bachelor of Theology degrees, 4 with Diplomas from the Women’s School, and 2 with Certificates in pastoral studies. They are returning to churches from a variety of Protestant denominations.
We have been blessed to see the Women’s School making progress in practical training. The instruction these ladies received in sewing enabled many to excel. One of the women made academic garb for her husband who graduated in Bachelors program.
The 2018-2019 school year was also a blessing because the financial support from some of you made possible the installation of solar energy in the academic building with its library and faculty offices and in the administration building as well. This may not sound very important to people living in other countries, but in our context where electricity is turned off for hours every day, this is an enormous relief from anxieties and pressure.
Our library is also growing. We received about 1,800 academic books as gift from a New Testament professor who recently passed away. We are thankful to his family for this precious gift to both faculty members and students.
We also thank God for pastor Andre Fegouto, FATEB’s new Director of Administration, and for Marie Angele Kosseke, Chief Financial Officer, who joined the team last year. Their contributions are greatly improving the management of FATEB.
We continue to work on our Strategic Plan in partnership with the Vital Sustainability Initiative project. We hope that by the end of September 2019, the plan will be completed. We look forward to your continued partnership in implementing this Strategic Plan.
Churches in Bangui are supporting FATEB. During the 2018-2019school year our students and staff went to various churches to speak about FATEB. We are grateful for their special offerings to help support FATEB financially.
The political situation in the country is improving, although very slowly. Government and rebel groups signed a peace agreement seven months ago. A recent report from United Nations representatives in the country said that there has bee na decrease in the violation of human rights since the signature of the agreement.
Our pre-school, primary and secondary schools continue to attract people from the city. We lack the space needed to enroll all those who wish to take advantage of these opportunities for the basic education that is so important.
There is a continuing need to assist studentsto pay for their school expenses. For many of them, the churches that send them are not able to cover the cost of their training. With your help, part of their school fees and part of housing for students who are living on campus being underwritten. We thank you on their behalf.
On August 4th, our only van was involved in an accident. The driver was injured, but he is recovering well. However, the accident has left FATEB without any means of transportation apart from public vehicles. We need another van to help us carry out our work of moving staff, students, visitors, and handling health emergencies here in the capital city.
Prayer requests for the following:-
-Peace, reconciliation and healing in both countries -CAR and Cameroon.
-Completion and launching of the Strategic Plan in October 2019.
-Provision for operational costs and scholarship assistance.
-Preparations for the 2019-2020academic year.
-The urgent need of a new van.
We appreciate your prayers. To contribute financially to FATEB or one of its projects, support can be given through Mtelo Ministries online at www.mteloministries.org or by check mailed to Mtelo Ministries, c/o Berg and Associates, 302 W. 5th Street Suite 210 San Pedro, CA 90731.
For more information about FATEB please visit our website www.fateb.net.
May the Lord bless you.
Nupanga W.
President
This past July heavy rainfall flooded areas of Nepal once again as we reported earlier. Mtelo Ministries reached out with assistance to one of the harder hit areas. With financial assistance, an Mtelo partner on the ground there, was able to purchase and distribute rice and cooking gas. 150 people received 30KG rice sacks each. Here is an excerpt of a letter from one of the benefactors.
“We are from the poor family and we used to work for other’s farm for food for the family. My husband used to work for the brick factory and bring food for the children.
In last July, immediately flood came to our village and a big river came near our small hut almost at Mid night. I immediately woke up and awoke all the children and we run to the safe place to save lives. My husband was out of home for work for 3 days.
From the floods time he is out of contact and we could not find him. It’s been almost 2 months but he is not at home. Our children are 10,7,4 and 1yrs old.
Now days most of our times spending with tears. No food at home, house damaged by the floods and 2 children are suffering from the flue after floods.
Last week I have got a 30 KG of rice sack with other community people. I was happy for I got food for the children for few weeks. Thank you.”
Mtelo Ministries is grateful to those who have sent contributions to help those in need of food and shelter.
Dear sister,
We have heavy rainfall in Nepal last week (Still continue) and all the South Nepal is over flooded. More than 100 died, 10,000 houses damaged including 3 small churches and about 20,000 families are on the streets now for shelter.
We are in the rescue areas now to save lives. People are suffering from the different kinds of water born diseases and little children are dying due to polluted water as the drinking water sources are damaged totally.
We are trying to distribute the water filter, and some relief package.
We are preparing for the relief package, water filter at the same time.
One package costs $25.00 and we planned to save for 200 people in the floods victims areas.
Total cost we planned is: $25 x 200 = $5000.00
We could raise from here $1200.00
We are hoping for $3800.00 now. It helps to save people physically together as we volunteering for rescue.
Can you please support us for this good work.
I will update you with the reports and financial calculation after the work done.
Please see the attached photos of floods situation here in Nepal right now.
Thank you for your support for Nepal and its poor people.
Regards,
John and the SIL employees of the CAM Shop are converting two guestrooms at the Annex Guesthouse into suites with their own private bathrooms.
Fabrice and Calvin are preparing the bathroom shower walls for tile. Armstrong is building the wall that separates the private bathroom from the shared bathrooms.
Tiling the private bathroom, installing the ceiling in the guest bedrooms and they are burying the plumbing in the wall of the building. The building is made of mud, bamboo, and wood framing. The construction is called pota pota here. They had the water lines under pressure for 24 hours to check for leaks before they covered it up with concrete.
