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Evangelical Church of Congo facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Evangelical Church of Congo (also called EEC) is a big Christian church in the Republic of Congo. It's the second largest Christian group there, right after the Catholic Church. This church is part of a worldwide group called the World Communion of Reformed Churches. About 150,000 people are members of the EEC, and you can find their churches all over the country.

How the Church Started and How It Works

Early Beginnings

The Mission Covenant Church of Sweden began its work in a place then called the Belgian Congo in 1909. Later, missionaries from Norway and Finland joined them. These missionaries helped to spread the church's message.

Becoming Independent

The church became independent in 1961. This means it started to run itself without help from the original mission churches. It was then named the Evangelical Church of Congo.

Church Beliefs and Practices

The Evangelical Church of Congo does not use specific "creeds." Creeds are like official statements of belief. Instead, they focus on the Bible. They only practice adult baptism. This means people are baptized when they are old enough to understand and choose to follow the church's teachings. The church also has special schools called seminaries in Ngouedi and Mansimou. These schools train people to become pastors and church leaders.

How the Church is Organized

The church has several main groups that help it run smoothly:

  • Synod
  • Synod Council
  • Synod office

The person who leads the Synod office is also the President of the entire Evangelical Church of Congo. This leader helps guide the church's work.

Church Groups

The EEC has different levels of groups:

  • Congregations: These are the local church groups where people meet for worship.
  • Presbyteries: These are larger groups of several congregations in a certain area.
  • Mission field workers: These are people who work to share the church's message in new places.

Church Numbers

The Evangelical Church of Congo is quite large and active. Here are some numbers that show how many people and groups are part of it:

  • Presbyteries: 26
  • Parishes (local churches): 120
  • House fellowships (smaller home-based groups): 980
  • Evangelists (people who share the church's message): 287
  • Active pastors (church leaders): 155
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