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Rev. Kevin and Mrs. Joyce McCabe, C&MA missionaries to Congo, left the field abruptly due to threats made on Kevin’s life. According to Kevin’s testimony, the reason for the threats made against him is rooted in false accusations made by three Congolese men. These men along with others, including some of their friends who are police and military, proceeded to blackmail Kevin. Over a period of several weeks, he misused mission funds as payments to these individuals. When Kevin came to the point of refusing to give more money, the threats became severe.
Had Kevin sought the help of C&MA mission leaders in the early stages of this difficult process, every effort would have been made to help him. His failure to seek help early on leading to his misappropriation of mission funds has resulted in his being suspended from his role as field director and as an Alliance missionary. He will follow a disciplinary process including in-depth counseling and restitution of the funds misappropriated. Please pray for the McCabes as they go through this very painful time in their lives.
This incident began when I was threatened physically at first by three men who had a gun and tire jack. I knew the one man. They began to voice false accusations and although I was denying what they said, fear came over me and I gave them some money thinking that they would get out of the car and it would be over. About three weeks later these men got some higher up police involved who also extorted money, threatening prison if I didn't pay. This mushroomed very quickly during a three week period, and finally I wrote our regional director and told Joyce what was going on. You know what a dark place Congo is spiritually. The Battle has been fierce over the past ten years, having gone through a war, several armed robberies and now the latest event, that necessitated an immediate departure from the country. It has been so hard to leave a country and people we love in such short notice, leaving behind all that we possessed for the 3rd time in our missionary career. We are leaning on God's sovereignty and grace during this very hard time in our lives. When I was trying to get out of Pointe Noire, God truly blinded the eyes of the police as I was able to leave through our airport even though one of the men involved, passed me up four times without seeing me. This was divine intervention and protection that took place to get us out of the situation.
We left within two days. Since then we have been living in shock and mourning our lives and ministries that we left behind. This has been a dark valley. You can imagine how you would feel if you had to suddenly leave your home and friends and never return. The CMA leadership has been so gracious to us....paying for us to go to counseling with a Christian counselor, and keeping us on allowance until December. We are grateful for all that they have done to help us through this process. Our team also has been very supportive, calling and writing regularly to assure us of their prayers. God is assuring us that He is in control and that He is the one who makes beauty out of ashes. We KNOW that He has a plan that is perfect to redeem this.
We want to assure you that what wasn't already used in ministry of the Work Special funds you sent, are still on the field, and we are asking that these funds be used to put a roof on our second classroom at the Pointe Noire Christian Learning Center. The rains will soon come and the beautiful classroom that is used by the second year students..about 30 of them, will be detroyed if we don't get a roof on it. If you want to continue giving to the Congo field, we would suggest that you continue to support this ministry of the Christian Learning Center. It is an approved special by the Alliance and we are only in phase two of building. We hope to raise funds to build a large three story building that will house a large church, library, offices and more classrooms. You can continue giving by sending gifts earmarked, Congo Pointe Noire Christian Learning Center.
Again thank you for being the ones who supported us while on the field. We would appreciate your prayers for our continued healing. We must look for jobs soon, and purchase a car ,and transition back into life in North America. We are living in our home town of Martindale, where we are surrounded by a loving church family, as well as most of my relatives. If you would like to write back ,or have any questions, we welcome them at my address on e-mail, or you can write a regular letter at:EMAIL: kevin_mccabe@kastanet.org Home Address: Kevin and Joyce McCabe
151 Govet St. Portage, Pa. 15946
Telephone: (814)-736-9515
As I close this letter I would ask you our supporters for your forgiveness for any hurt that I have caused you. I ask the Lord to totally use this situation somehow to make me a stronger person in Him, and to somehow bring some good out of what is a situation that causes me and all involved much grief, sadness and sense of great loss. We would covet your prayers for restoration, for healing of emotions, for refreshing spiritually, and for some good to come out of all of this. The combat is fierce and we are knocked down for the time being. Pray that as God enables, that we will be able to stand strong once again and be used of Him to further His kingdom.
With much regret, yet not without Hope in Him,
Kevin McCabe
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