Thank you for your generosity

Many of you gave generously last year to the work of the Diocese of Goma as well as to us and our ministry costs in Goma. Thank you! 

We received over $3000 for books for theology students, meaning each student will be able to leave college with a $60 bundle of practical ministry material which will serve them well for years to come.

We were able to give 90 clergy and staff a Christmas chicken and sack of rice so that they could celebrate in style with their families.

And with other support we have been able to offer 70 women and men whose lives were turned upside down by last year’s volcanic eruption, training in small-scale commerce, organisation into credit unions and $100 each to start their own businesses.

Zaire Noela’s life after the volcano

Zaire Noela is one such woman. 50-year-old widow and mother of 5 children including 1 boy and 4 girls. She lives in temporary accommodation in the village of Kanyanja, north of Goma.

She tells us “Before the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo last May I lived in my own plot with my children and did a lot of farming. However, lava from the volcano covered all of my fields and my house and destroyed all of the goods that were in the house. We fled to Rwanda, but hunger forced us to return to DRC.

I was identified by the Anglican Church who then trained me and supported me with a sum of US$100 for business start-up funds. From this sum, I trade in charcoal and flour, the profit allows me to buy food for my children and I save a sum of at least $1 every week depending on the profit received.

First of all, I thank my God who protected me, despite the material damage, my children and I are all alive. My thanks also go to the Anglican Diocese of Goma who assisted us during this very difficult period.”

New Archbishop of Congo

Ande Titre (above right) was enthroned as the 5th Archbishop of Congo last month in Kinshasa in a 5-hour ceremony with many many speeches, and Anglican leaders from across the world. We held the ceremony in the Botanical Gardens as I’m told the Anglican cathedral in Kinshasa is the size of a small house.

In Ande’s sermon he challenged the church to move beyond a ‘magical’ Christianity where everything is magically received through prayer, as well as the prosperity gospel where material goods are also somehow mystically obtained. And instead to reflect and engage critically and creatively and positively at every level of society - from schools and hospitals, to political authorities and climate.

There was a peaceful transfer of power from the previous archbishop – which is not always the case, and a real sense of unity the following day in the College of Bishops (which Martin attends). Please pray for this unity in the Anglican Church in a country where it can be in very short supply. Archbishop Ande is the Bishop of Aru where Martin did a placement whilst at Theological College, and so he knows him well. He also automatically becomes acting Bishop of Goma until a new bishop is elected in 2023.

How can you pray?

• Give thanks with us that Kyanzaya’s prayers have been answered for a new church in her area – with their first service to be held this Sunday. See Kyanzaya’s story here.

• Pray for unity in the Anglican Church of Congo and the Diocese of Goma

• For the new inter-church peace-building programme starting this month, led by the Diocese of Goma and focused on church leaders.

• For continued finances for the Diocese of Goma.

From Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen