Life can be brutal

“One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love” Psalm 62: 1-2

Life can be brutal in DRC. As can ministry. On 8th March, International Women’s Day, the ADF rebel group massacred 40 women who were celebrating together in a church near Butembo, north of Goma. With the ongoing fighting more than 600,000 people have been internally displaced since March 2022 and are living in overpopulated makeshift camps with little food and shelter and increasing threats of cholera and measles. Schools still remain closed across vast swathes of the region.

Closer to home, one of our pastors told us recently that as the price of beans has gone up he can no longer afford to buy them, and now eats only porridge. Then last week, in one of the institutions Martin oversees, he had to deal with a number of cases of immorality, an ongoing land dispute and open conflict between key staff. All in the same day. Someone said at a recent conference that in eastern DRC everyone is traumatised. But few recognise it, and even fewer have the resources to deal with it.

Holding on to Hope

But in the midst of all of this we are amazed at the way Congolese Christians hold on to hope. Often, after a discussion on life’s daily challenges, someone will conclude with the simple statement that, “God is in control.” This is neither a facile answer to an intractable problem, nor a refusal to engage with present realities, but a real and solid hope that God sees and will intervene. That God is in control even if doesn’t always appear to be the case. That one day, justice will be done and that all manner of things shall be well.

But it is not just a future faith. There is also an ongoing thankfulness for the goodness of God experienced day by day. Often prayers start with thanking God that we have been kept safe through the night and have seen another day. That we have breath to praise God and something to eat to sustain us. We sang a reminder of this in our Bible study group this week. 

And so, the Congolese can say with the Psalmist “One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love” Psalm 62: 1-2

Encouragements

There is always much to be thankful for

• Some real encouragement this week to hear from UK churches who are praying for us, who are renewing links with the diocese and that a whole deanery (group of churches) that has committed to supporting us in the future.

• For the ongoing peace work led by the Anglican church, training church leaders, reaching community leaders, women, young people and the media. (Photo shows all main religious leaders in Goma launching our peace caravan last week.)

• That the diocese has been able to continue to buy land to build new churches and to put roofs on existing ones.

• That we have a new date for Martin’s consecration, 23rd April, and a greater possibility that people will be able to come and celebrate from outside of Goma as road travel becomes possible again.

Eastern DRC in the news

Actors of change: female activists fight for peace in the DRC – photo essay (Guardian, 8th March) 
Kidnapped in DR Congo (First 5 minutes of From our own Correspondent, BBC, 18th March)

How Can You Pray?

• For the churches in Goma as they work ever more closely together for peace

• For the consecration – that the date will be maintained and that the event will be an encouragement to all of the goodness of God

• For our pastors as they face the daily challenges of caring for their families and their churches

• For ongoing resources and church partnerships to keep pushing ahead with the mission and ministry of the diocese.

Thank you, as always, for reading, praying, giving and keeping in touch
Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen