It's been 10 months since Nigel Clark, who is part of the leadership team at Shekinah, was in Kananga helping to financially and practically launch the opening of the new school 'Les amis de David,' whilst also supporting the 'Centre Missionaire de Christ' church. He heads back there on the 14th July for a 10 day visit.
Q: So what's next on the agenda Nige?
A: Myself plus one other from Shekinah will be working alongside a team of Congolese men from the church to help get the new extension building ready for the school by doing anything we can practically like painting and decorating. Shekinah Christian Church also wishes to pay the men for their labour as they are not in affluent positions.
Q: What success stories have materialised since your last trip?
A: Firstly, the school is a good quality, bilingual, Christian school which is run by the Centre Missionaire Church yet employing teachers from other churches also. Hence needing an extension! Also, due to some successful managerial input I had last year, I've been invited to spend time with the school's principal and church leaders to put together a financial management plan for the next school year.
Q: What else will your trip involve?
A: I will be preaching on the Sunday that I'm there and doing some work with the church leaders but I will also accompany my travelling companion, who has a medical background, to some of the local hospitals to see if we can indeed extend help, financial or otherwise in that area in the future.
Q: When you returned last year you had been moved enormously by you what you experienced. How do you feel now?
A: The motivation I have to see social change in their community is much stronger aswell as the desire to help resource the local church so that young people can be better prepared for life.
Q: If somebody reading this or the previous interview really would like to get involved with the work that Shekinah is helping with in the DRC, what could they do?
A: Write or e-mail the church expressing their interest and what they would like to offer, practically or financially, and we'd take it from there.
On Sunday 3rd July 2011 an offering of approximately £1500 was taken up at Shekinah Christian Church to help support Nige and his travelling companion with this trip.
I will be speaking to Nige again soon after he returns on the 25th July.
Debs Smith