The powerhouse of the Anglican Church in Africa

Earlier this month we welcomed 94 women into the Mothers’ Union during a service at the cathedral. This is something that happens numerous times each year within most African dioceses but was a first for us in the Diocese of Goma. There are many hundreds more women waiting to join in the other archdeaconries outside Goma.

Across the Anglican Church in Africa (and India) the Mothers’ Union is a powerful tool for discipling and evangelising women and for promoting family life. In order to join, women are required to follow teaching on the 5 objectives (promoting marriage, discipleship within the family, worldwide fellowship, entrepreneurship and care for the marginalised); and need to be married in church.

First up was Anthea as Diocesan president of the Mothers’ Union, then the Mothers’ Union Secretary, the wives of our archdeacons and the women from the Goma parishes. Once you become a member you are seen as a role model within the church for other women and girls. And you are allowed to wear the blue and white Mothers’ Union fabric, which gives the women visibility within the church and the church visibility within the community.

Update on churches in the camps

Thanks to your generosity we have been able to build two churches (9m x 6m) for up to 200 people in the largest IDP camps in Goma. The believers are incredibly grateful that they now have a place to worship, benches to sit on, and drums. Particularly before the rains come in September. We were also able to provide the leaders with Bibles and prayer books and hymns books.

In Masisi to the east, where the fighting is fiercest, we were able to buy a plot of land for the displaced believers to start to build a church. It is easier to find material to build with there. It is in a very strategic location and will help us with our future church-planting in the archdeaconry.

For our third church around Goma, it has taken a little longer. We were denied permission to build on the existing site in Lushagala where the believers were gathering for worship. But we praise God that last week we were also able to buy a plot of land nearby and next week we plan to start building a slightly larger church (12m x 8m) out of wood so that it will last much longer.

Photos L-R: women waiting to be welcomed into the Mothers’ Union, new churches for displaced believers in Rusayo and Bulengo.

Other news

DRC has become the global epicentre of a new outbreak of a more virulent and contagious strain of Mpox. It is spreading in the camps outside of Goma and mainly affecting children. There is huge scepticism following Ebola and Covid and as yet neither the authorities, the churches nor many NGOs are taking it seriously. We are gathering all our teachers, pastors and staff together this week to raise awareness before schools restart next week.

Watch a 2 minute video of our visit last month to Walikale, the Archdeaconry in the forest to see what God is doing there.

How can you pray?

• For wisdom in how the political and church leaders deal with the threat of Mpox.

• For courage, strength and vision for our newly commissioned church leaders in Walikale.

• For the Luanda peace process which seems to be showing some signs of progress towards at least talking about peace in eastern DRC.

• For the upcoming National Synod of the Anglican Church in Congo which happens every 3 years and takes place from 19-22 September in Butembo.