Kalondji is with Jesus

It’s with heavy hearts that we share that Kalondji, ELI’s national leader in DR Congo, has gone to be with Jesus. He struggled with his health for more than a decade. He fought so hard and led the school, staff, and ministry on the ground as a true servant with great vigor, passion, and energy even in the midst of great physical discomfort.
 
Please pray for the family members in Uvira and Bukavu, DR Congo. Please pray for 566 children at the ELI Academy. Please pray for the staff and teachers who have been under Kalondji's wise and Spirit-filled counsel for so many years. Please pray for the community as a whole as they cope with such a heavy loss of one of their key leaders.
 
We are grieving as a ministry family during this time. We all hoped and prayed that the emergency medical procedures in India a few months back would significantly improve Kalondji’s condition. And while there were immediate and substantial improvements, his body was ultimately too weak and too worn down to continue fighting. His final months (as he attempted to recover) were spent with his family and closest friends in Uvira, his childhood community, where he still encouraged people to seek out the Lord and live for Him. Always in a ministry mindset, Kalondji served people and nurtured them toward their Heavenly Father to the very end.
 
To say he will be greatly missed is a massive understatement.
 
We are hoping to raise about $3,000 to help offset the upcoming expenses that the family will be burdened with. If you feel so inclined, any contributions to help the family with the funeral and other arrangements would be appreciated by them.
 
Thank you for your love, care, and prayers. If you would like to share a note of encouragement, support, or a prayer for Kalondji’s family or the school you can do that here: empoweringlives.org/encourage.