Democratic Republic of the Congo (MNN) — Last Tuesday, representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 took another shaky step toward peace.
With Qatar’s mediation, the two parties agreed to establish an international committee to oversee their stalled July ceasefire.
Pastor James Byensi serves with Rebuilders Ministry, a partner of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). He says war-torn Congo desperately needs the prayers, advocacy, and support of the global Church.
Photo of North Kivu and Ituri Provinces courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
“In these 30 years, we have lost over 10 million people, and we have over 13 million displaced people,” he says.
He explains that the war centers on the Congo’s rich natural resources more than anything else.
“The cobalt, the gold, the rare earth minerals which are finding their way into our phones, our tablets, our homes, they are coming from the Congo. And they are coming in exchange [for] millions of deaths,” he says. “So awareness is needed.”
He says 152 rebel groups operate in the nation and that in eastern Congo’s Ituri Province alone, there are between seven and nine known militia groups. This makes traveling by road dangerous. For Pastor Byensi, flying is the only way to reach other areas.
“We thank God for MAF, because they have airfields almost everywhere. Whenever we have to travel for any mission, we benefit from their partnership and their help,” he says.
(Photo courtesy of MAF)
The DRC’s biggest challenge today is the rise of Islamic extremist groups.
“Nowadays, they are burning churches and killing people, slaughtering people. This is way more brutal than it has ever been,” Pastor Byensi says.
This makes the mission of Christians especially dangerous. Rebuilders Ministry focuses on evangelism, discipleship, peacemaking, humanitarian aid, vocational training, and other initiatives as the hands and feet of Christ.
“The risk is very high, especially because of the rebel groups. They don’t want you to work towards peace and evangelizing for peace,” says Pastor Byensi.
Now that you know, please commit to pray, advocate for, and support gospel ministry in the Congo.
Header photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship.
