Christmas chickens for clergy in Congo

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our last newsletter and has given to the work of the church in Goma - towards the evangelism schools, church buildings and income-generation. If you would still like to give please see our last newsletter here.

As we approach Christmas we would like to add another focus for giving. Very few of the 50+ clergy (seen above at October’s socially-distanced clergy retreat) and the 15-20 diocesan staff receive a regular salary. We would love to be able to give them all a chicken and a sack of rice to celebrate Christmas with their families. A chicken costs $10 and a sack of rice $20, and so we we are looking at a little over $2100 (£1600) for all 70+ families. If you are able to give we’d love you to bless them in this way.

How can you give?

The Congo Church Association has agreed that we can give through them for the specific projects, meaning we can reclaim the Gift Aid. To give, please go to their Give Net account, (give.net/congochurch/oneoff). On the first page, under the amount box, please click on the details and/or reference number link and write Goma training and building fund in the box below. This makes sure if comes to Goma Diocese.

Please let me know if

• You would like your gift to go specifically towards Christmas for clergy - or towards one of the other projects - evangelism schools, church buildings, income-generation.

• You would like to give by cheque

Worsening security

Security is a concern both nationally and locally. The fragile accord between the president and his coalition partners has broken down leading to worries about the possibility of increasing conflict across the country. Locally, the number of attacks in Goma has risen over the last few weeks, with murders in different parts of the city most nights, and a particularly shocking and indiscriminate attack on a hairdressers on Friday evening killing 8 people. This week schools and others have been on strike in solidarity and to demand better protection. Where we live is the safest part of town, but the children’s school was closed on Monday and Tuesday as a precaution as it is a little further out.

Video and blog updates

We did a recent video interview for St Thomas with St Stephen with the whole family about our life in Goma. You can enjoy the heavily edited, yet still somehow unpolished, 4 minute clip on YouTube.

We’ve also updated the blog with a couple of stories

Buying a car in Goma

Reconciliation and church growth in Masisi

How can you pray?

• For peace in Congo

• For the finances of the Diocese of Goma

• For the clergy and diocesan staff - for faith, perseverance and God’s provision

Thank you, as always, for reading, praying, giving and being in touch with us

From Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen