Brass For Africa

About BFA

Why Brass For Africa ?

Twenty one years ago in 1985, Graham and Wendy Toulmin, preparing to go as CMS missionaries to Zaïre (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) recorded a cassette called Don't Give Up on Us at Windwood Studios, Lawson. Terry Cox, the sound engineer, and Howard Whitehouse, CMS Bookstores, were responsible for the recording and it was sold through the CMS network. Graham played trumpet with various groups and Wendy, known in CMS Summer School circles as the Conference Music Leader, played violin and sang with a number of musical friends.

While in Zaïre, Graham, a dentist, applied to Aus-Aid and got a substantial grant to build a dental clinic which opened in 1993. At that time, Australia stopped funding projects in Africa so that a subsequent project to build a maternity clinic was unable to go ahead.

Back in Australia, Graham approached Terry and Howard about doing another cassette to raise AU$10,000 towards the total cost of the maternity clinic. They agreed and Brass For Africa was recorded using brass instruments to raise brass (money) for Africa. It raised AU$30,000 and built the whole clinic which opened in 1995.

Then followed at 2 year intervals, a number of fund-raising CD's for John Wycliffe Christian School (95), Sydney Missionary and Bible College (97), Evangelism in Congo (99),the new Anglican Ministry Centre at Springwood and a student minister in Kenya (2001) and a Big Band album for dental equipment for the Congo (2003).

But the most significant venture the Toulmins undertook, was taking the step of bringing the evangelist pastor of the Anglican Church of Butembo, Rev. Muhindo Ise-somo (Ise to his friends) to Australia for 6 months in early 1999. Ise-somo's impact on everyone he met was immense. A man of great humility, powerful in preaching the Gospel and with a wicked sense of humour — he endeared him to all those who met him. Support came in and soon Brass For Africa — the name of the original cassette — became the name of a fund-raising ministry to Africa based in Springwood Winmalee Anglican Church.

In 2003 the BFA committee brought Ise-somo back to Australia with Bishop Masimango from the Kindu Diocese. This further increased the support base as Australians embraced Masimango as they had Ise. In the last three years BFA has been supporting 34 Congolese pastors, set up another dental clinic, build school classrooms and toilets, provided for refugees, orphans and others affected by the 8 year civil war, and numerous other projects, plus supporting Ise-somo in his current role as Director of Evangelism for the Anglican Church of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2006, Brass For Africa bought Congolese medical workers Baliesima Albert and Timon Grodya to Australia. Baliesima, holds a Masters Degree in Public Health and is director of Medical Services for the Anglican Church in Congo. Grodya holds is a qualified nurse with a Certificate of Public Health, and earned a Diploma as a Dental Assistant in studies sponsored by CMS Australia. He is currently studying dentistry in Uganda.

In 2007, the Brass For Africa committee was wound up. BFA remains as a mission arm of SWAC (Springwood & Winmalee Anglican Churches), but without the Committee to administer it or run events. BFA will continue to support the church in Congo through regular prayer updates. SWAC has adopted Ise-Somo as a link missionary.