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laban

"Training nationals in the heart of Africa to reach the hearts of Africa"

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Dr. Laban Herbert Smith with his wife Marcella. Returning Bible school graduates coming back for a week of refreshment and encouragement. Evangelism showing the Jesus film and Bible teaching by national pastors is followed often by expositional teaching of Colossians for a week long. Pastor Gary Kapinga, National Director LMI Congo and his family. Gary lost his first wife and five children to disease. Ladies Literacy Center celebrating first year of completion of training. Radio Nkembo or "Radio Glory" has a 300' tower and a 2500 watt transmitter. Christian broadcasts reach as far as 450 land miles, 8-10 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Laban Ministries, International was organized by Jim and Nancy Smith in 1987 after serving two terms as missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Laban Ministries International roots go back to 1938, when Jim Smith's parents, Dr. & Mrs. Laban Herbert Smith, arrived in Congo as pioneer missionaries, being the country's first oral surgeon. Dr. & Mrs. Laban Smith served in Congo for 15 years, opening 90 villages, each of which was supplied with a pastor and a grade school after the Belgian Government granted permission to allow missionaries to teach national children only. After Dr. Smith's death in 1953 from a fall while building his home at Nkara, Mrs. Marcella Smith courageously involved herself until her death in 1978, only one month after her return to Nkara, anticipating Jim and Nancy's arrival. Jim and Nancy Smith began their married life together at a local church in Dearborn, Michigan, serving in various capacities of the church, including that of co-pastor for 13 years, after which Jim traveled as a music evangelist until 1977, when their home burned to the ground and God called them to the Congo. Jim and Nancy with their three children, Shawn, Nicol, and Todd arrived in the capital of Congo (Kinshasa) on December 6, 1978. Nancy was expecting their 4th child, Jack, who was born on the mission station of Vanga, where Jim and his brother, Jack, were also born. A Bible school was opened in January, 1979, with seven students, followed by an evangelism outreach, dispensary, and orphan care. Today, the heartbeat of Laban Ministries is found in LMI's mission statement. "TRAINING NATIONALS IN THE HEART OF AFRICA TO REACH THE HEARTS OF AFRICA." Over 300 graduates have completed the two-level, three-year Bible centered training in over 90 credit hours at one of our three schools. Many have established churches in the bush of Congo. These students come from average family incomes of $110/year. Therefore, it is necesary to provide room and board scholarships and tuition scholarships at a cost of $50 each a month. Evangelism Evangelism is a primary emphasis using the Sower's Program as well as the Evangelism Program, which has been translated into French and Kituba. Hundreds of villages in the Bandundu Region of Congo have been reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Medical Outreach A dispensary serves the local population. The nearest hospital is a 2 1/2 day walk. Those in critical condition have, therefore, chosen to stay at home and die in their own village rather than succumb to death on the road and die in strange surroundings. That is why LMI is by faith going to build a hospital. Ground breaking will take place in the summer of 2002. Ladies Literacy Center LMI launched a school for ladies in 2004, many of whom do not know how to read or write. Sewing classes are part of the curriculum plus knitting and crocheting. The Books of Colossians, Galatians, Ephesians, I and II Peter, and I and II Timothy will be taught as well. Nationally run in Congo LMI consists of nationals training nationals. Pastor Gary Kapinga is the National Director of LMI, Congo, overseeing 67 staff members, including professors teaching in three Bible schools, pastors, mechanics, nurses, evangelists, masons, cooks for the orphans and students, exposition team, ladies literacy center, and maintenance crew. Radio Outreach In 2004, Tower For Jesus installed a 300' radio tower in the bush of Africa. Five million people hear Christian radio everyday. Pastor Nzunzi Ostrom is director of radio ministries and pastor Mboma Nicolas is program director. Pastor Mboma broadcasting inside the new radio studio. Pastor Nzunzi Jim Smith and the Governor of Bandundu at the first anniversary of Radio Glory. Make a donation to Laban Ministries International using PayPal: You do not need to have a PayPal account to use PayPal.