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First Annual Meeting of the Mission in Senegal, West Africa Nine Approved as Candidates for Elder's Orders |
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By Mary Beth Coudal Meeting of the Board of Ordained Ministry “They were all well prepared. It was exciting to see the quality of leadership,” reported Dr. S T Kimbrough, associate general secretary for mission evangelism of the General Board of Global Ministries. The candidates were Philippe Jean Baptiste Mendy, Valentin Iloga Baymon, Joseph Bleck, Antoine Ndecky, Dembo Diatta, Jean Pierre Ndour, Leon Mdu Kitete, Dibor Fatou Ndour, and Jerome Bako. It was notable that one of the candidates was a woman. The Board of Ordained Ministry was comprised of the Rev. Isaac Agré, Côte d’Ivoire, Rev. Nkemba Ndjungu, Superintendent of Mission in Senegal, Rev. Philippe Adjobi, Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. S T Kimbrough, Jr., and Dr. David Wu, representing the General Board of Global Ministries, and Dr. Ellis Larsen and the Rev. William Lovell, representing the General Board of Higher Education. The Board of Ordained Ministry approved all nine persons as candidates for ordination as elders, pending one more year of study and trial. According to the action of this board and with the approval of Benjamin Boni of Côte d’Ivoire, the bishop in charge of the new mission in Senegal, these candidates will be authorized to administer the sacraments in the parishes to which they are appointed. In addition, Etienne Dione and Emmanuel Diouf were approved to serve as evangelists in assigned congregations. First Annual Meeting At this annual meeting, the fifteen Senegalese United Methodist congregations reported on their work, including evangelism, advocacy for healthcare, job training, and farming ministries for women, children, and youth.
Celebratory Worship During the worship, Senegalese youth enacted choreographed bible stories and choirs sang various selections. One highlight of the worship was the enthusiastic applause for the nine candidates for ordination. Bishop Benjamin Boni preached on the faithfulness of God’s people. The service concluded with Holy Communion, with Bishop Boni and Rev. Ndjungu as celebrants, assisted by the nine candidates for ordination. In a country where Christians make up only four percent of the population, United Methodist congregations in Senegal are steadily growing. In 1989 The United Methodist Mission in Senegal began, and the first congregation was founded in 1995. In the fall of 2005, by action of the directors of Global Ministries, the mission initiative in Senegal officially became a mission according to The Book of Discipline. The work of missionaries and Senegalese pastors is one of 11 mission initiatives of the board. The United Methodist Church in Senegal now numbers fifteen churches with membership between 30 and 100 at each.
Date posted: Jun 29, 2006 |
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