30.09.2021

"In the difficulties of everyday life, God remains at our side".

Pastor Dr John Wesley Kabango (r) and his wife Angélique Uwumuremyi sing together with the congregation's choir. © Photo: Pastor Hans-Jürgen Gärtner/RIO - Rheinish Service for international ecumenism Region Saar-Nahe-Mosel

It is a tradition for UEM members to celebrate partnership services in Germany, Asia and Africa. It is also an occasion to thank people for their donations and commitment to the UEM and partnership work. On 19 September 2021, the Saar-West Protestant Church District of the Rhenish Church and the Goma Church District of the Baptist Church (CBCA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated their partnership service together in Mettlach. The service was musically accompanied by the congregation's choir.

"In the difficulties of everyday life, God remains at our side" was the theme of the sermon on this Partnership Sunday. A video with four impressive statements from each of the two church districts was shown during the service. They gave testimony of how God has acted in difficult situations. The current situation of the believers and their daily problems in Goma and Saarbrücken were also discussed. Barbara Johann, chairperson of the Saar-West Partnership Group, read, among other things, from the letter of Pastor Moise Ndemesi Musekwa, superintendent of the CBCA Goma parish. Believers are confronted with life-threatening situations on a daily basis, the letter said. "We thank the UEM and our partnership with the sisters and brothers of Saar-West." In his message, Musekwa also included a prayer for the believers who had lost loved ones in the recent heavy floods in Germany.

Since 1986, the Saar-West church district has maintained a partnership with the Goma church district in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It belongs to the Baptist Church (Communauté Baptiste au Centre d'Afrique, CBCA).

More information about the partnership work can be found here.