A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

rs of operations have been opened. Some 6000 believers have been baptized and churches have been organized. A Bible institute, a teacher-training school, a school for missionary children, two hospitals, several dispensaries and a network of lower-level schools have been established. Considerable literature is being published for schools and churches. For all this we praise the Lord. 21 While this report was in preparation, ominous storm-clouds were already gathering over the Congo, threatening the very existence of the fledgling Mennonite Brethren Church. 1960: Independence In 1960 the spotlight of the world turned to Africa, with a special focus on events and developments in the Belgian Congo. In that single year many magazines and newspapers printed more articles about Africa than in all their previous history. The crisis in the Congo was the center of attention. The Belgians had expected to move gradually toward independence during the course of a few years. The explosive nationalism in the Congo made a gradual transition impossible. Many Congolese imagined independence to be a cure-all for their social and economic ills. The Belgian government yielded to the political pressures of the Congo and of world opinion. Elections were held in May, I960, and on June 30 of that same year the Belgian Congo officially became the Republic of the Congo thus making it the fifteenth African free state. The change of regime apparently did not pose an immediate threat to North American missionaries, nor to the young churches. Then suddenly came the news: "M.B. Missionaries Leave Congo." According to a report in the Christian Leader two cables were received in the Missions Office on July 19. The first indicated that thirty-one missionaries and their children had left for the United States, and the second said that the rest of the staff was to follow." It was later discovered that the reason for the hurried evacuation was a rebellious army which was dissatisfied with the slow pace of nationalization of government institutions and agencies. Although the 414 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH mutiny was short-lived, it was especially directed against all foreign (white) domination and influence, including that of the missionaries. "Should a re-entry be possible under more ordered political cir- cumstances," the Board of Missions reported, "it is clear the work would assume an altered character." 25 After Independence a new epoch began for the Mennonite Brethren Church in the Congo. By 1962 many missionaires had returned. However, the prevailing unrest in the Kwango Province prevented them from returning to the stations, except in Kikwit and Kajiji. Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) temporarily emerged as the center of operations. Of special significance was the development of gospel broadcasting in the trade languages of Kituba and Lingala. Soon the educational and evangelistic ministries could be res