Warm
greetings to you from Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)! My name is Rev. Jean Claude Masuka Maleka and
I am a United Methodist missionary, assigned by Global Ministries to Cote
D’ivoire, in the West Africa region. I have been consecrated deacon since 2003,
and I am a full member of the Southern Congo Annual Conference.
I was called
by God to proclaim the Gospel. I am humbled by the talents, gifts, graces and
skills which enabled me to communicate the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit
in such a way that men and women, children and youth continue to accept Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord and become responsible members of His Church.
I was born
in a Christian family; my father is a UMC pastor. He taught me about Jesus
Christ and gave me an opportunity to receive Him at my early ages. At 16 years,
I was a Sunday School teacher, and later a trainer of Sunday school
teachers! All my studies empowered and
inspired me to serve. I hold a Masters degree
in Peace and Governance from Africa University in Zimbabwe (MPG), a Masters
degree in Bible and Theology (MBT) from Worldwide Evangelical Seminary
(Canada), a Bachelor degree in History and Social
Sciences from Lubumbashi Teachers College (Democratic Republic of Congo), and a
diploma in children ministry through The Child Evangelism Fellowship Institute.
God gifted me to speak 6 languages
including English, Kiswahili, French, Portuguese, Bemba and Chokwe. That’s why it is easier for me to work in the
Cote D’Ivoire without any language barrier.
My passion is to preach the message of salvation to all and build the
church of Jesus Christ.
“We are called as a family to communicate Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching and witnessing” From left Jean Claude Masuka Maleka, on the middle Ephraim Masuka and Berthe Mafefe behind and on the right is Francine Masuka .
Our first born is Berthe Mafefe is 12 now and she is in grade 7; she desires to be a medical doctor. Our son is called Ephraim Masuka who is 9 years now. He is in grade 4, a very friend-maker. They are all attending The English Speaking School here in Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire. Continue praying for and supporting us. Francine is a committed trainer of Sunday School Teachers.
“Dear
friend, you are doing a good work for God in taking care of the traveling
teachers and missionaries who are passing through. They have told the church
here of your friendship and your loving deeds. I am glad when you send them on
their way with a generous gift. They are traveling for the Lord and take
neither food, clothing, shelter, nor money from those who are not Christians,
even though they have preached to them. So we ourselves should take care of
them in order that we may become partners with them in the Lord's work.” (TLB).
3 John 5-8,
My role in the Cote d’Ivoire
I work with
the United Methodist Church to revitalize evangelism and mission; to train
clergy and laity who have passion for evangelism and mission to plant new
United Methodist churches. There is a
great need to train many evangelists and church planters who will be able to
share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in new areas. The church of Ivory Coast’s
vision is to have more trained workers who will respond to the Great Commission
and make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We are
targeting the western and northern parts of Cote D’ivoire and the neighboring countries
(Guinea Bissau, Guinea (Conakry) and Burkina Faso). The new United Methodist
congregations are growing and creating bible study groups within their
communities.
Brief
historical overview of the United Methodist Church in Côte D'Ivoire
The
British Methodist Mission began working in what is now Côte D’ivoire
(Ivory Coast) in 1924, ten years after the pioneering evangelization by
Liberian Prophet William Wade Harris in 1914 of several groups that already existed.
Coordination developed between the Methodist Mission and missionaries from
England, France and Switzerland, which included also Ghana, Togo, Benin and
Cameroon. In 1985 the Protestant Methodist Church in Ivory Coast separated from
the church in Great Britain and became autonomous. In 2001 it decided to
integrate with the United Methodist Church, which took place in 2003 without
affecting its autonomy. The name was changed to United Methodist Church of
Ivory Coast.
It has a higher institute of theology
in Abidjan which was opened in 2002 for the training of pastors, and a
Christian Training Centre in Dabou. The church administers 46 primary and six
secondary schools, a hostel for girls, an engineering college, a hospital,
youth centers, an agricultural centre and a guesthouse for students. There are
several associations for the training of laity, for students, for Sunday Schools,
for the promotion of Protestant music, and a women's department. These
associations take part regularly in seminars at the Christian Training Centre.
Evangelism teams are at work in the congregations. Other ministries include a
school for nurses, a centre for the detoxification of drug addicts and
reintegration of alcoholics, training centers for the physically disabled, care
for refugees and migrant workers and agricultural cooperatives for young
unemployed people in the rural areas.
Church Planting
I thank God for the passion that I have to serve
Him and plant churches in the world. I believe new churches reach lost people
more effectively than existing churches. New churches reach new people;
existing churches reach existing people. In Cote D’ivoire, we have 41 local
church planters who continue planting churches.
They need our support and prayers.
We are sending church planters with basic supplies
The
training of church planters
Transport is a challenge; churches which have passion for
mission are offering motorcycles and bicycles to church planters.
The western
and northern parts of Cote D’Ivoire where we are planting churches are
dominated by traditional worshipers and animists. Pictures below are some of
the examples:
This big tree is being worshiped by some people in the northern part of Cote D’ivoire
Korhogo Mountain is a sacred place for animists
These women were cooking for church planters during an evangelism campaign.
The need is too high those who are physically
challenged but the church is assisting with what it can by offering wheelchairs.
Think about this for a moment.
We
have all been commanded by Christ to “go into the entire world and preach the
Good News to everyone.” This means that in order for us to fulfill the Great
Commission, we would have to sell everything we own, tell family and friends
goodbye, go to a foreign country, and learn a new culture and language! But God has called certain people to go as
missionaries. That means that we don’t all have to go physically. We can
fulfill Christ’s command by sending others. I thank God that you sent me to be
your hands and feet in Ivory Coast.
My
itineration period in the United States will be in June to August 2014. It will be a wonderful and unforgettable
opportunity for me to share with you and your church inspiring mission stories.
God gifted me with a good voice! I will also sing to your congregation and
share my music talents. If you are interested
in me visiting your church, you can request Global Ministries’ staff at these
email addresses: Richard Pusateri, Itineration Executive: rpusateri@umcmission.org; Mary Zigbuo, Missionary Support Development
Coach: mzigbuo@umcmission.org
·
Pray for special anointing and wisdom.
·
Pray that we will find favor with the people among whom we are
ministering.
·
Pray for our health and well being.
·
Pray for a mission vehicle project which is our priority.
·
Pray for our children’s well-being, both physical and emotional.
·
Pray that our financial needs will be met.
·
Pray that many will accept Christ and be discipled into a
committed life-style.
·
Pray that more workers will be sent into the harvest-field
·
I
am not working independently in this foreign land. I have been sent by you brothers and sisters
called United Methodists so that we share together the work and the rewards.
I invite you to extend your support by supporting my Missionary Advance
#3021390. Consider
also volunteering and sharing the story of the ministry with your church.
For
financial contributions, you may:
- Use Global Ministries' website: www.umcmission.org to send a donation for my salary support. At the bottom of the page, click on "Missionaries". Scroll to my name on the missionaries page and my profile will appear. At the bottom of my profile is a link to make an online donation.
- Through mailing a check to your local church or conference office. Write “(for Jean Claude Maleka, #3021390) on the memo line of your check.
- Through assisting with my project support (Cote d'Ivoire Undesignated Advance #00332A, ATTN: Jean Claude Maleka)
If not sending through a local
United Methodist Church, you may send your check to:
Advance
GCFA
P.O. Box
9068
New
York, NY 10087-9068.
Thank you so much for your support.
My contacts are:
Jean Claude MASUKA MALEKA
Address 01 BP 1282
Abidjan 01, Ivory Coast
CONTACTS:
Cell phone: +22556282278
Skype is: Claude Masuka
Facebook: Masuka Maleka.
