In this edition of “Meet Our Planters”, I want to introduce Ekwenya and Veronika Mitaci, our new church planters originally from the Congo in Africa, who are working to begin a new Evangelical Friends Church in Abilene TX. They have been learning to speak English, but their native heart language is Swahili and they are gathering other refugees who desire to worship in a Swahili-speaking service.
The Mitaci family moved from the state of Connecticut, where they resided upon their original immigration from the Congo, into the United States in 2017, where they had struggled to establish residency and work there in that state. Eventually they had opportunity to meet a Quaker lady, originally from England, who advised they consider a move to Texas where she knew there were other Congolese immigrants. This generous lady funded their family move to Abilene TX, and soon after arriving there, they connected with a government immigration support committee that assisted with residency and employment for the family.
When Charlene and I made our first visit with the Mitaci family in Abilene, TX, in November, 2018, Ekwenya was working second shift washing dishes at the local Olive Garden restaurant and Veronika was employed working the first shift at a local cookie and cracker manufacturing factory there in Abilene. The family has six children ranging from a son Simba, a senior, and two other sons, Asukulu and Asumani, in high school; and two daughters, Anna and Deparis, and the youngest son Fatu, who are in elementary school. Recently Pastor Ekwenya has also been hired and works at the Cookie Factory on second shift, while also working to pastor this new congregation. The ministry gathers each week to worship and works hard to assist other immigrants to get established and work in this city of 125,000 people. Please pray for the Mitachi family and this new ministry called African Friends Church in Abilene, TX.
Thanks to the dedicated Partner Church support Team for your work and commitment on behalf of the Mitaci family and the African Friends congregation. Leaders such as Texas Area Multiplication leader David Byrne from Friendswood TX, and AMT leader Loren Green from Northshore FC, AMT Leader Walt Mills from Stanwood FC; PAT Chairman Bruce Carpenter from Northridge FC, and others Thank You!
Randy Littlefield
Director of Multiplication Ministries
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