Bishop Ndoricimpa of Burundi has been living in exile in Nairobi for the past several years. If the gathering of bishops had been asked to document the blessings that this unique Advance Special program has brought to the life of the church in Africa, two of them would have testified how they received scholarships and hence a key educational opportunity before becoming bishops. Others would have reported on the construction of church buildings. If Bishop Arthur Kulah of Liberia could have been present he would have shared stories of church structures damaged or destroyed during years and years of war and Bishop Emilio de Carvalho of the West Angola Annual Conference would have testified to the rebuilt churches in Angola and to the hope that such renewal brought to the church. Bishop Christopher Jokomo of Zimbabwe would have spoken of the new church at Murewa where he once attended high school and now more than 800 students hear the Gospel on Sunday mornings.
Liberian church destroyed in war needs restoration.
All of these blessings have been facilitated through the Africa Church Growth and Development Program. But, the real necessity of this meeting is to lift up the deep need for this Advance Special, highlighted during this quadrennium. Many churches in the United States, Europe and Africa have gladly responded. However, the rate of giving has drastically fallen.