Jill and Mike Lowery work with the Congo Baptist Community (CBCO), continuing the efforts American Baptists began in the Congo more than a century ago. 

Jill is currently involved in mission education, women's ministries and youth work. As Congo has become more stable, it has been easier to welcome groups from churches in the States. For the last four years Mike and Jill have hosted at least one group per year in Congo. These groups have done a variety of service, medical and evangelistic projects. Jill says, “We will continue to invite and challenge churches to send groups to Congo as we believe it is the best way for them to be inspired to take part in what God is doing around the world.” 

Jill has also been working with the women of CBCO both at the national and local levels. She is involved with organizing women's activities in Kinshasa and throughout Western Congo. Because the economic situation in the Congo makes life so difficult, Jill hopes that her ministry will have an impact on the lives of women and mothers as well as on the living conditions of their families.

Mike is a professor and administrator at the Pastor's Institute in Kikongo. He teaches New Testament and prepares pastors for rural ministry in the Bandundu region of Congo. Since 2004, Mike has also served as the Mission Treasurer and has relocated from Kikongo to Kinshasa. He still commutes to Kikongo once a month to teach at the Pastors Institute for one week at a time. He also participates in the preaching schedule of the local churches in Kikongo, as well as in other churches when invited. Mike is involved in Information Technology and he maintains the email communication system and computers in Kikongo. He is researching the costs and availability of satellite Internet connections for Kikongo.

While in Kinshasa, Jill and Mike find ways to use their gifts to serve in the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa. Jill is very involved in Youth Ministries there, while Mike currently is serving as pastor of the church.

Languages used in ministry: French, Kituba, Lingala, English