Central Africa

The country of Central African Republic (CAR)

CAR is located in the very center of Africa and was recognized in 1960 when it gained its independence from France. It covers an area of 242,000 square miles (about the size of Texas) and lies just north of the equator, bordering Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Congo and DRC. Its population has quadrupled since 1960 and it now has around 5 million inhabitants, made up of about 80 different ethnic groups each with its own language, although Sango is spoken by many, and French is the official language. Its capital is Bangui, on one of the main rivers (which runs into the River Congo), but most of the people live scattered around the country, depending on subsistence farming. There is little modern development or industry, with cotton being the main export (although there are mines that produce diamonds mostly exported illegally). AIDS, malaria and sleeping sickness claim many lives and maternal mortality is one of the highest in the world - and there is only one major hospital! Half the adult population is illiterate and even though government schools are free for ages 6-14, many children receive little or no education. Currently there is reported to be major trafficking in children for sexual exploitation, or to work in homes, agriculture or the mines, and rebel groups often kidnap children to train as soldiers. There is no doubt that there is GREAT need for children's ministry there, as even though half the population is considered Christian or Roman Catholic, most still follow many of the animistic beliefs and rituals.

Pastor Honoré and CEERCA

In late 2009 we began communicating with Pastor Honoré Boundou and his wife, Clarisse, who had read through all of our website and felt that God had given them a new burden to reach children in CAR. Pastor Honoré has founded and pastored churches for several years in the capital city of Bangui, and in January 2009 started a new interdenominational non-profit ministry called CEERCA - Centre Evangélique Eben-Ezer/RCA. The goals of this new ministry are to work with all the various evangelical groups in the areas of evangelism, church-planting, and training - and in addition now, to train and establish new ministries aimed at children and youth.

Children's ministry seminar

After receiving our printed materials and discussing details of how best to plan an effective training seminar with follow-up to develop successful children's ministries, an intensive two-week seminar was held in Bangui in April 2010. It was attended by 51 participants from 10 different denominations, and finally certificates were presented to 42 who completed the whole course and passed the exam. Later in the year Pastor Honoré taught a number of very successful seminars on either training for leadership or children's minstry both in Bangui and in more rural areas of the country. He reports that he has made follow-up visits and has been amazed at the remarkable progress and growth of about a dozen new children's ministry programs that have been started in churches, schools and home groups. Further meetings and seminars are planned for 2011 and efforts are especially being made to reach out to other areas of the country where children's ministry is virtually unheard of.

Ask us if you would like to contact CEERCA and Pastor Honoré or send an e-mail: Pastor Honoré

See more photos of his ministry here: Pastor Honore's photo album