DONE Inc. News & Events

It was reported last month that in the process of searching for his man of peace, Jean Mara earnestly, left his home and relocated to a village he had never lived and where he though no one knew him as a pastor to implement all he was taught about the CPM, Mara was offered a job as a bus conductor by a Muslim whom he claimed to be a man of peace. This man is an owner of a transport bus that takes local business people to the market every Friday. Transportation in the area is a high demand so most business people make pre transportation arrangements prior to the market day.

Therefore making Jean Mara the Bus Conductor means that Jean meet and talk with lot of people, make appointments and collects fares. Jean Mara says he has made many friends in a very short period of time and some of them have accepted him into their homes. A bus conductor, but vision minded as he searches for his man of Peace. He says this world is a small place and he is being seriously persecuted not by the unbelievers but by some people of his village and people whom he served as their Pastor.

According to him it was business as usual a bus conductor, (a typical African style) collecting fares from commuters, when he was recognized by a lady from his village whom he baptized a year ago. She just could not imagine her pastor who once preach and taught her the word of God, could have reduced himself to a ragged bus conductor who refuses to publicly be identified as her pastor. She just could not comprehend. She was furous and publicly rain insult at him. She called him all sort of names. Jean says he was embarrassed. He had never experience such a thing. He said he was completely speechless and did not know what to do as he stood looking at this lady, who was pulling the crowd from every direction. The Driver and owner of the bus who happens to be Jean Mara man of peace knew exactly what was going hurrily disappear from the crowd with Mara.

According to Mara this lady returned to his village and has informed his family, villagers and the church that he is not a pastor or what he said he was, rather he was a dirty bus conductor (African style) working for a Muslim man to sustain him and his family. The church in Mara village is divided. The majority do not want Mara back or as their pastor. He and his families are called lots of terrible names. Some do not believe and are planning to go the village to see for themselves. Meanwhile the driver and owner of the bus, Jean man of peace has saked him to relinquish the job until tension in the village goes down.

In the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the CPM, Rev. Browne is now set and ready to go to Liberia as soon as his travel cost is made available. He will be traveling to Liberia with his wife and children. Thank God for the family who saw the need and provided air tickets for his family to travel along with him to Liberia. Words are inadequate to express how excited, grateful and appreciative we are. It will be a wonderful time of reunion for the family, especially the kids who have not known home and family members within six years. It is our prayer that God Almighty will reward that family exceedingly.
Rev. Browne will be in Liberia for two months but his wife and children will return to Dakar within a month.
While in Liberia Rev. Browne will coordinate Sierra Leone and;
- Work with Pastor Sawyer and the Liberian staff,
- Visit and encourage church planters where ever they are; (Liberia, Sierra Leone)
- Review all documentations of the Liberian Ministry,
- Train and commission additional church planters.

Dakar, Senegal: On Saturday July 7, 2007 at 10:00am approximately 350 to 400 people jammed packed the conference hall of the Leopord Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar to witness the 4th graduation exercises of the Senegal Theological Bible College and Seminary. This year graduation was the first to have been held outside of the premises of the Ministry.

Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker, Pastor Souleyman Bakaoyo of the Assembly of God Church located in Thies, Senegal called on the graduates to know the God who has called them because there were many gods, but only one true God through our Lord and Savior Jesus. He said, if the graduates knew the God through Jesus Christ it is only than that they will discover the will and purpose of their life and what God has called them to do. He told the graduates that the best revelation of God is found in the Bible.
He spoke on the Theme “El Shadah – The God who can make the impossible possible” and his text was taken from Genesis. The Guest Speaker than thanked the ministry and the leadership of DONE for placing emphasis on training. He stated that any ministry or organization that looses focus on education, training and man power development short lives it existence.

During the program six student of the first year class who successfully completed their studies were awarded Certificate Rev. Thomas Browne. Students of the second year class was awarded Associate of Arts in Theology, by Pastor Efolie Rogathien, a professor of the college, while the successful students of the third year class were awarded attestation by Bishop Abdoulaye Ba; 5 student graduated and were awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Theology by the Rev. N’Djungu Nkemba, General Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Senegal.

The General Overseer, Bishop Abdoulaye Ba informed the students and the Public that the Senegal Theological Bible College and Seminary will be offering Master in Theology to students during the 2007 – 2008 academic school year. He said that the ministry did not have the funds available neither did it know where the funds will come from, but he said that he believes with out a single doubt that God will provide all that will be needed to operate the college. He called on the Christian community, charitable organizations and individuals to support this worthy cost. This information has been highly received by 90% of pastor living and working in Dakar. Since the pronouncement most of them have called to thank the bishop and to register their moral, spiritual support and their interest to enroll as its first students. The Senegal Theological Bible College and Seminary will be the first of its kind in the Republic of Senegal to offer a Master Program in Theology.

In his vote of thanks, Rev. Thomas Browne, Chief Administrator of DONE congratulated the graduates for what he termed as a ‘job well done’. He prayed that the Lord Jesus Christ will give the graduates hope and fill them with peace and joy unspeakable, while they continue to trust in him. The Rev. Browne encouraged the graduates to preserve, and to live the life to which the Lord has called them. He told the graduated that they should never try to work or live their life with God in any way than His way. According to the Rev. His way meant ABSOLUTE DEVOTION TO GOD; showing no concern for the uncertainties that lies ahead is the secret of walking with God. He encouraged and challenged the graduates to persistently preach the Word, teach the Word, and share the Word of God where ever they go. Patiently rebuking with love and correcting the people with good teachings for this is the will of God concerning them. He than used the occasion to share a brief history, vision, mission core value of DONE. He explained the significant of the acronym of DONE.
On behalf of the Bishop, Abdoulaye Ba and Dr. Patrick Novak, the Chancellor of the College who could not have been present at the program due to other engagement in the United States, Rev. Browne thanked the participants and the leadership of the stadium for making their facilities available to the Ministry. At the end of the program, light refreshment was held in honor of the graduates.

Dakar, Senegal: Retrofitting the DONE Building in Dakar is still in process. Renovation work on the second floor is completed and already Bishop Ba and has family have moved. Renovation work on the third floor will be completed over the week end and Rev. Browne and family is expected to move in early next week.

With other building being constructed on the both sides of the building, engineer says that it is not necessary to continue with previous plans of removing the third floor. According to the engineer this puts the building in a better position to retrofit as compare to the previous plan of knocking down the third floor which could have effected and cause harm to the building because of the impact of knocking. They indicated that when retrofitted, the building could go for another 7 to 10 years.

Dakar, Senegal: On Saturday June 30, 2007, Joelle Diatta was baptized by the Rev. Thomas Browne after she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She is the only member of her family who is a Christian. She has been denounced, rejected and declared an outcast and a frustrated lady. Contrary to the family pronouncement Diatta is a normal person. She is sound and well. She said despite her family rejection she loves them. They were still her family and nothing will ever change it. She has vowed to remain a Christian and to bring her family members and others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.