USMB announces matching grant for CORD program

MB Foundation will match next $27,500 given to CORD program

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Terry Hunt, left, prays with pastors, including Henri Ngolo, (middle) USMB integrated immigrant coordinator, following the Congolese gathering at the 2022 National Convention. Photo: Carrie Foddrell

MB Foundation is matching, dollar for dollar, funds to support one Congolese congregation in USMB’s CORD Program. USMB announced the matching grant Dec. 8, 2022.

CORD is a partnership with immigrant churches that will provide biblical training, assistance in securing places of worship, leadership development and connection with like-minded congregations. It was introduced at the July 2022 National Convention, held in Independence, Missouri.

The total cost per church is $55,500. MB Foundation is committed to matching the next $27,750 donated for this program.

Through CORD, USMB hopes to provide $55,500 over three years to three vetted Congolese congregations. The funds are designated as:

  • $12,000 per year for rent,
  • $500 per year for biblical training and
  • a $6,000 per year stipend to allow lead pastors to devote more time to training and congregational development.

CORD can help leaders like Emmanuel Musinga, senior pastor of Grace Tabernacle Ministries, a Congolese USMB church in Indianapolis. In addition to working in home care, Musinga drives for Uber and DoorDash and drives truck to support his family of seven and his ministry.

“I use my own money to do all the ministry work,” Musinga says in a July 2022 interview with Christian Leader. “If I take any payment, my church will not have any money in the account. My goal is to make sure my church is thriving.

Musinga’s congregation of 200, comprised primarily of refugees from Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rents a worship space from another church but cannot access the building during the week.

“The ministry is growing,” Musinga says. “Maybe one day we will have a building. Any dollar (that) comes to my ministry, we save (to) maybe one day put a down payment for the church. We’ve been here 10 years. We have never even made (enough) money to buy a building.”

Additional information is available from Henri Ngolo, the USMB integrated immigrant coordinator. Learn more or donate at www.usmb.org/cord-program.

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