May 21, 1997
We are happy to report that most of our church's missionaries have now returned to Zaire, renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by the victorious rebel forces of Laurent Kabila. They are in Lubumbashi, where Bishop Kainda Katembo is in residence and is providing episcopal leadership during this time of crisis. Only our missionary pilots remain in Zambia, pending more information on any restrictions on flying.
Many of you have called the General Board of Global Ministries to find out the status and to offer donations of time and money for our church's mission projects in the DRC, particularly those in Goma, Uvira, and Bukavu.
A few months ago we resigned ourselves to the destruction in the fighting of United Methodist
clinics, schools, and churches and began making plans to rebuild. We were particularly saddened
by the loss of Children's Village in Goma because it was built to house children orphaned by wars
in neighboring Rwanda and Burundi and orphans from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The village was staffed and operated
by local church members and our sketchy information from Goma indicated that everyone in the
town had scattered to escape the approaching rebel forces.
Then we had some good news from Bishop Forrest Stith, project manager of Volunteers
for Africa. Here is what he told us:
"We finally got word from Pastor Ndjeka Shango that he and parishioners from the local church in Goma had gone into Children's Village, taken the children left and brought them back to the church compound. The church members salvaged what tents they could and set them up on the church grounds as a makeshift home for the parishioners to care for the children.
"They now are using tents and supplies left behind by Dr. Jeff Sanders and his church
members from Jefferson City, Missouri, who have put so much money and work into constructing
a new building for the church congregation in Goma. Pastor Ndjeka and his congregation had to
forage in the bush and live off whatever they could find to feed the children and themselves, but
they are trying to survive."
Bishop Stith also reports that when the rebel army invaded the town Pastor Ndjeka would not leave. Instead, he gathered the children, closed the door to his house, and prayed. All around there were bullets flying. Some of the few villagers who remained were killed or injured. Homes were destroyed by bombs. The Methodist Guest House just down the road was vandalized.
But not a shot was fired at the house where Pastor Ndjeka was sheltering those children. Not a child was injured. Pastor Ndjeka and his church members are still there caring for the children and preparing to work with our missionaries to rebuild everything that was lost in the fighting.
There are many more stories like this one, stories of people like Pastor Ndjeka and his congregation keeping the faith and continuing God's work even in the midst of devastating war and immense human suffering. I think that all of you understand that the work our church is doing in Africa is making a difference. It must be continued. The danger to foreigners soon will have diminished enough that all of our mission personnel and volunteers can return to their assignments in Eastern Zaire and other parts of the country.
Associate General Secretary John McCullough remains in close contact with the missionaries. The latest report is that most areas now appear stable. The situation in Kinshasa, which now has been taken by the rebel forces, remains uncertain. Rev. McCullough says, "Mr. Kabila has indicated a desire to cooperate with the churches and has encouraged church leaders continue work vital to the nation."
We are thankful to all the members of our local churches who continue to call with prayers and support for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and to offer donations of time and money to help the church rebuild
This will be an extremely difficult time for citizens of the former Zaire as they attempt to recover from the war and adopt a government that lives up to the name--the Democratic Republic of the Congo--selected for the country by the victorious rebels.
We have already seen clear signs of God's presence in Congo in the actions of Pastor Ndjeka, his parishioners and many more good people whose names we may never know but whose courage and perseverance in the face of crushing hardship speak so eloquently of their faith.
Please continue to keep the people of Congo in your hearts and prayers as they begin this period of transition.
Top: Pastor Ndjeka Shango (right) and other workers at the site where Children's Village stood in Goma.
Middle: Workers outside of tent salvaged from Children's Village.
Bottom: Worker and children inside tent of Pastor Ndjeka Shango's church's makeshift children's village.
The photographs are copyright © the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church.
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