2017 in Review
2017 will be remembered as an emotion-filled turning point for FPM.
Last winter and spring we anxiously awaited the election of the new United Methodist bishop for the North Katanga-Tanganyika-Tanzania Episcopal Area—the first change of bishops for the area since 1996. American FPM members sat glued to live feeds of the Congo Central Conference as we watched friends make it to the final rounds. In the end, our board member the Rev. Dr. Mande Muyombo was selected. We give thanks for Bishop Mande’s vision for the church and all that he has already accomplished these last several months.
With Bishop Mande’s election, FPM and conference leadership are working even more closely together on our shared objectives. FPM’s director, Rev. Joseph Mulongo, has been appointed the Director of Connectional Ministries; FPM’s president, Rev. Taylor Denyer, has been appointed the bishop’s Executive Assistant for Strategic Partnership and Engagement. Other FPM members have also been appointed to posts that utilize their passion and skills.
Our co-founder, the Rev. Dr. Robert Walters (aka Biking Bob) was thrilled about these developments. He was in the process of rolling out a new conversation series on missiology and finishing the manuscript of the sequel to his book, The Last Missionary, when to the shock and heartbreak of all of us, he had a fatal heart attack while on his daily bike ride. We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of testimonies about how Bob’s years of ministry positively impacted others. Contributions to FPM in his memory have already started to be used to help people and projects that were dear to his heart. For example, his fund is buying a special Christmas dinner at the orphanage in Kamina, paying medical bills for orphaned young adults transitioning into adulthood, stepping in when there are unbudgeted crises, and quietly doing things that Bob would have done as a friend to colleagues in need.
After consultation with Bishop Mande and the rest of the FPM board (including our newest elected board members, Rev. Lana Robyne and Rev. Willy Banza), FPM has resolved to continue its work as we discern the next chapter of our ministry. Our plans for 2018 are still developing, and requests for fundraising assistance for many worthy initiatives have been received. If God has placed an issue on your heart, we encourage you to reach out to us so we can introduce you to friends in Katanga with the same calling.
As for our core team members, Taylor aims to complete her ThD in Missiology this spring and transition into more actively teaching on the topic. Joseph also plans to continue his studies. He, Lana, and other team members are organizing a 2018 bike tour. Willy and Joseph are in conversations about how to leverage FPM assets (the truck, boat, our network of friends, etc.) to create income-generating FPM-owned businesses. Teri is taking over the admin tasks in the Indiana office. With the help of Faustin N’Tala and Dr. Kate Koppy, we hope to publish a French translation of Bob’s first book by the summer and an English version of its sequel soon after. Joseph and others have decided to build a new church in Bob’s memory, and an elementary school to honor Teri in her recent retirement from teaching.
How Your 2017 Contributions Were Spent:
Much of our work continues to be in the realm of relationship/team-building and coaching, but we also help our colleagues through finding funding for scholarship programs and other locally-created and led initiatives. Below are some of the noteworthy things done in 2017 thanks to your contributions.
Education
From all of us on the FPM team, we pray for peace and joy for you and your loved ones. Thank you for your efforts to make this a friendlier planet.
Last winter and spring we anxiously awaited the election of the new United Methodist bishop for the North Katanga-Tanganyika-Tanzania Episcopal Area—the first change of bishops for the area since 1996. American FPM members sat glued to live feeds of the Congo Central Conference as we watched friends make it to the final rounds. In the end, our board member the Rev. Dr. Mande Muyombo was selected. We give thanks for Bishop Mande’s vision for the church and all that he has already accomplished these last several months.
With Bishop Mande’s election, FPM and conference leadership are working even more closely together on our shared objectives. FPM’s director, Rev. Joseph Mulongo, has been appointed the Director of Connectional Ministries; FPM’s president, Rev. Taylor Denyer, has been appointed the bishop’s Executive Assistant for Strategic Partnership and Engagement. Other FPM members have also been appointed to posts that utilize their passion and skills.
Our co-founder, the Rev. Dr. Robert Walters (aka Biking Bob) was thrilled about these developments. He was in the process of rolling out a new conversation series on missiology and finishing the manuscript of the sequel to his book, The Last Missionary, when to the shock and heartbreak of all of us, he had a fatal heart attack while on his daily bike ride. We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of testimonies about how Bob’s years of ministry positively impacted others. Contributions to FPM in his memory have already started to be used to help people and projects that were dear to his heart. For example, his fund is buying a special Christmas dinner at the orphanage in Kamina, paying medical bills for orphaned young adults transitioning into adulthood, stepping in when there are unbudgeted crises, and quietly doing things that Bob would have done as a friend to colleagues in need.
After consultation with Bishop Mande and the rest of the FPM board (including our newest elected board members, Rev. Lana Robyne and Rev. Willy Banza), FPM has resolved to continue its work as we discern the next chapter of our ministry. Our plans for 2018 are still developing, and requests for fundraising assistance for many worthy initiatives have been received. If God has placed an issue on your heart, we encourage you to reach out to us so we can introduce you to friends in Katanga with the same calling.
As for our core team members, Taylor aims to complete her ThD in Missiology this spring and transition into more actively teaching on the topic. Joseph also plans to continue his studies. He, Lana, and other team members are organizing a 2018 bike tour. Willy and Joseph are in conversations about how to leverage FPM assets (the truck, boat, our network of friends, etc.) to create income-generating FPM-owned businesses. Teri is taking over the admin tasks in the Indiana office. With the help of Faustin N’Tala and Dr. Kate Koppy, we hope to publish a French translation of Bob’s first book by the summer and an English version of its sequel soon after. Joseph and others have decided to build a new church in Bob’s memory, and an elementary school to honor Teri in her recent retirement from teaching.
How Your 2017 Contributions Were Spent:
Much of our work continues to be in the realm of relationship/team-building and coaching, but we also help our colleagues through finding funding for scholarship programs and other locally-created and led initiatives. Below are some of the noteworthy things done in 2017 thanks to your contributions.
Education
- Scholarships to women and orphaned youth: 37 female nursing students (11 graduated this year); 4 youth studying in Kamina; 3 youth at Africa U. (1 graduated this year)
- Restoration of the Nyunzu Nursing School. (roof had been destroyed in storm)
- Near completion on the construction of the midwife training wing of the El Dorado Nursing school. The building is already in use.
- Near completion on the women’s vocational training center in Mulongo. The building is already in use and some equipment (sewing machines) has been acquired.
- Bicycles and Bibles distribution to church leaders in the Tanganyika conference
- Our boat delivered cholera medicines during the outbreak to health centers along the Congo river as well provided emergency assistance for those in communities along the river.
- The birthing kit creation/distribution program continues to be life-saving.
- Completion of construction on the Mpemba church.
- The grain mill initiative to support clergy salaries in the Mulongo District remains successful.
From all of us on the FPM team, we pray for peace and joy for you and your loved ones. Thank you for your efforts to make this a friendlier planet.