The DRC needs our prayers and support
Last Friday, Richard took part in a Zoom call led by the Anglican Alliance about the Church's response to the unrest currently taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We were blessed to have the Rt. Rev’d. Dr Georges Titre Ande, the Archbishop and Primate of the Province de L’Eglise Anglicane Du Congo who described the current situation in the DRC. In January 2022, Archbishop Ande was elected to be the Primate of the DRC and is therefore new in the role. The DRC is a country which has suffered over many decades, this unreported but devastating protracted civil war has caused untold violence on the people of the DRC (both sexual and physical) and has also caused much poverty in the country. Due to the war there is also very little infrastructure in the country, thus affecting education and addressing the social needs, of which there are many.
A map showing where the DRC is placed in the Africa, it is around 2/3rds the size of Western Europe.
Recently, from the 28th of March, there have been violent clashes in the Rutchuru territory, displacing nearly 10,000 men, women and children, with many people fleeing into Uganda near the Bunagana border crossing in Kisoro. There is currently a refugee camp in the Kisoro area for these refugees. In addition, nearly 36,000 others have been displaced within the DRC. This conflict and subsequent refugee crisis is deeply shocking and yet it has been vastly underreported in Western Media (try searching for the conflict online and see what you can find). The Zoom which Richard was a part of looked into the Church's response to the crisis and how we can support the Church and their vital role in rebuilding the DRC society.
Archbishop Ande spoke about how the situation in North Kivu (in the Rutchuru territory) is complex with foreign help needed to solve the conflict. This area has suffered terribly over recent years, including being the site of the Ebola outbreak from 2018 - 2020, which was compounded upon by the Political instability in the region. He added that it is hard to understand how complex the problems are in North Kivu without living there and that all the people want in the area is peace but also food as many are starving (malnutrition among young children and mothers is especially common).
A map of the area most affected by the recent incursions
One specific project the church is working on is helping to increase crop yields on farms, however, there are two problems with this:
The type of food grown.
The lack of quantity.
Although the church is doing its best, it does not have the adequate resources to help combat this problem.
Archbishop Ande also spoke about one of the main problems being the unstable economy and the majority of the population being in absolute poverty. The Church has been trying to encourage the population and to calm the situation but this has proved difficult because the security problems have been so great.
The challenge for the Church has also been trying to balance evangelism with addressing the social needs (e.g. the education system, employment, poverty) of its people who are in great need. The population depends on the church and yet the church cannot always provide the necessary help.
Archbishop Ande ended by saying that the Pastors in these areas will always go with their displaced people and therefore care deeply about their flocks. He said that if people want to come and pray with the clergy who genuinely need our support, not only to see what the church has been doing for sometime but also to experience the current situation of refugees, then they would be greatly received.
SOMA exists to amplify and bless the voices of the Body of Christ where the Nervous System is in Pain. The Congolese church and people are in need of our support and prayers at this time. SOMA UK stands with the church and people of Congo at this time. We stand alongside them in their sorrow and pray that God will change this land into one of peace and prosperity.
When Archbishop Andre became the Primate of the Anglican Church in the DRC, he asked Anglicans to pray that “in a country marked by violence and severe poverty where life is becoming more meaningless [that] Congo be transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection.” Let us respond to this request. I want to encourage you to pray for the Congolese Church and people today, intercede that God, the Jehovah-Jireh will move in their land, and as is shown so powerfully from Christ’s resurrection that from these ashes marked by violence and abject poverty that hope will arise. Our prayers can make a difference to this land so let us be united in prayer.
In June 2022, Richard will take a team to visit the displaced refugees from the DRC who are currently at a few camps in Uganda. If you would like to hear more about this mission (or other missions to the DRC) and support us and the Church in the DRC, then please get in touch by emailing us on info@somauk.org.
