We work in war-torn, violence stricken Goma, Congo DRC. Below are a list of current statistics to get you caught up on what life has been like where we serve. Below that is a short list of what you can do to help no matter where you call home. Thanks for checking out our profile and for your interest in Congo. Check back from time to time for more updates on how the Mighty Lord is blowing throughout Goma.
5.4 million since 1998 due to war-related violence, disease and hunger (International Rescue Committee) · At least 40,000 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Congo (World Health Organization)
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About 344,000 Congolese refugees in other African countries (UNHCR)
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Almost 1.4 million people internally displaced (UNHCR)
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Almost 850,000 displaced in North Kivu (UNHRC)
Level 1. Pray. Please, remember the Congolese people in your prayers. They have endured so much and they did not need this last occurrence in an already harsh situation. 1. Pray for the leaders—political, administrative, religious—as some struggle to find and implement solutions. 2. Pray for the displaced people who are once again on the roads without precise destination. 3. Pray for the families who have lost relatives, belongings, and hope. 4. Pray for peace, reconciliation, and development of the region. 5. Pray for humanitarian workers trying to assist the victims of this new incident. 6. Pray for the church to take a stand and boldly proclaim God’s word of peace, and hope. 7. Pray that God will change the hearts of those causing the turmoil and convince them to abandon their wicked ways. Level 2. Educate yourself. 1. Learn as much as you can on your spare time about D.R.Congo. 2. Find out what is written about the underlying causes of this war. 3. Find out how western countries are benefiting from the illegal exploitation of Congo’s mineral resources by rebel groups backed by western friendly governments. 4. Research what are the multinationals and firms that are directly involved in the trade of mineral resources in DRC and send them a letter/email/ or call them. 5. Research those companies that are dealing with neighboring countries currently involved in fostering the turmoil in Eastern Congo. For example, we learn that “starbucks” is featuring coffee from Rwanda. This country’s government is heavily involved in this situation. A kind letter to “Starbucks”’ leadership and shareholders highlighting what this government is doing would help cut ties with it or influence its politics. Just an example. 6. Study venues to get people in your circle of friends interested in D.R.Congo. Level 3. Write. A lot can be accomplished by putting some thoughts in writing and sending them to the right people. 1. Send encouraging correspondences to people in this part of the world. I am planning to read some of those correspondences on radio. You could say “a Christian from the US is sending these words to all the pregnant women who have to endure stress and uncertainty…” just an example. It will be a comforting thought for locals to know that there are brothers and sisters who care about their fate. 2. Write to your congress person. The US still can force the belligerents to stop this nonsense. Check the following link as an example: http://nothoney.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/end-rwandas-support-of-general-laurent-nkunda-in-dr-congo/ 3. Write to mission agencies and encourage them to help assist the victims of this war. 4. Ask your pastor or church leaders to consider Congo as a mission focus. 5. Write to your friends who attend churches that are active in Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. Although not politicians, those churches can appeal to their counterparts in those neighboring countries who are benefiting the crisis in D.R.Congo. The export sheets of some of those countries indicate resources that they do not even possess (in their soil). These churches in the neighboring countries can voice their disapproval to what their government is doing at the expense of those suffering and dying in DRC (5 million and counting). 6. Send messages and letters to those pastors that are close to government officials in those neighboring countries. A simple question would be “what do you think about the 5 million people that have died in DRC and those that are still dying?” These government officials take their relationships with influential pastors seriously. It makes them look nice to have such friends while carrying on wicked and evil plans in DRC.
