08.08.2016
"UEM member churches in Africa are determined to improve project planning management and international fundraising skills." From the 1st to 6th August, 2016 35 church leaders, project officers and UEM Co-workers carried out activities of an international workshop in Douala Cameroon.
Participants were from UEM member churches in Indonesia, Rwanda, DRC, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania and Cameroon.
The facilitators’ team is made of Mr. Pauler Timo ( UEM Executive Secretary for Finances and Administration), Rev. John Wesley Kabango, Mr. Uli Baege, Mr. David Wafo (UEM Africa Department), Mr. Safari Kanyena (UEM co-worker in CDCC and CADELU - DRC) and Mr. Elie Leuwe (EEC Development Officer).
At the opening worship was also a group of 10 Pastors’ wives from the East and Coastal Diocese, Dar Es Salaam/Tanzania and the Rheinish Church of South Africa, Cape Town. They paid their flights to travel and visit the EEC congregations for one week exchange activity as a UEM joint programme.
The church and community in Africa are challenged by poverty related problems that is threatening the today’s world. Many people are frustrated in our society due to lack of basic needs. People are hungry but they also suffer from injustice and lack of transparency in governance systems. Churches should be prepared to work with the community in project planning/management in order to discover and handle our society’s problems. They should make a meaningful difference by proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating the gospel through social work. The EEC president, Rev Isaac Batome Henga welcomed participants to Cameroon. In his speech, he reiterated the importance of project management in the life of a society in general and the church in particular.
"I exhort you to work diligently so as to come out with concrete and lasting solutions for the African church to positively move forward", said Rev Batome who is also the Chairman of UEM Africa board.
Rev John Wesley Kabango introduced the workshop expectations, agenda, context, objectives and a brief UEM history. He continued with the "Introduction to PCM-project cycle management" in which he elaborated on what it is all about and its various phases.
Major key tools and quality factors involved for a successful project were further explored from concrete case studies and experiences from UEM member churches.
Mr. Timo Pauler explained the UEM fundraising history from early times until now. He highlighted its successes and challenges which call for an appropriate action by UEM member churches. UEM Ambassadors in African churches, Church project officers and UEM Co-workers reflected together on how to best improve project planning, design, implementation and mobilisation skills in their churches.
To ensure more success, the UEM code of conduct against corruption and for transparency will be translated in local languages and be disseminated at various segments of the church, church groups, institutions and all areas/villages.
Workshop participants discussed how to motivate church members to increase their offerings and donations. The idea of ownership has to be instilled in people’s minds. African UEM member Churches are called to strengthen the traditional motivation for giving: gratitude, love and obedience to God.
The UEM United Action was explored and appreciated by participants. Committed people in their churches "UEM Ambassadors" shared the skills and expectations as fundraisers/mobilisers in their Churches.
The workshop ended with a commitment of participants to implemented the gained skills. "If we fail to plan, we plan to fail", resolved the Africa church workers.
A closing worship was officiated by the EEC President, Rev Isaac Batome Henga. He concluded by saying: "We all highly appreciate UEM work in general and particularly for the pertinence and the relevance of the themes delegates from Africa churches have discussed during the last 2 weeks." John Wesley Kabango Translated by Katja Romanek/VEM
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