GrowingupintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo,MoniqueMisengaNgoieMukunaperseveredthroughmanychallenges:politicalturmoilandviolence,misogynyandpatriarchy,lackofcommunityresourcesandpersonalloss.Asshecarvedoutalifeforherself,herfamily,andhercommunity,shekeptseeingthesamestoryplayedoutforwomenvulnerableandtrappedinpoverty.Everysystemwasstackedagainstthem.So“Maman“Moniquecommittedtotakeactionineverysphereshecould:througheducation,thelocalandnationalchurch,andinternationalcooperation.In1999shejoinedwithotherChristianwomentostartthenonprofitFemme,Berceaudel’Abondance--Woman,CradleofAbundance.TheverypersonalstoryofMamanMoniqueopensauniquewindowonthelivesofwomeninCongo,acrossAfrica,andthroughouttheMajorityWorld.InCradlingAbundancesherecountsherremarkableexperiencesasagiftedstudentandteacher,successfulbusinesswoman,localanddenominationalchurchleader,visionarysocialactivist,andmatriarchforherextendedfamily.WithstoriesofotherAfricanwomenwovenin,thisnarrativepresentsapanoramicviewofChristianwomenatworkateverylevelofthechurchandcommunity.Weseetheresistancetheyfaceevenwithintheirowncongregationsandfamilies,aswellashowtheirfaithleadsthemtoopposeinjustice,discrimination,andsuffering.ProfessorElsieMcKeeintroducestheautobiographyofherfriendMamanMonique(translatingitfromconversationsinFrenchandTshiluba),thenprovideshelpfulhistoricalbackgroundandtextualnotesthroughout,alongwithastudyguidetoadditionalculturalinformation.ForanyoneinterestedinhowlaywomenleadinChristianministries,whatittakestostartapioneeringnonprofit,orhowempoweringwomeniscriticaltothehealthofcommunities,CradlingAbundanceisauniqueandgrippingresource.
