Story number 1 for 10 Feb 2003

(Congo–Kinshasa)–In the headlines, more than 100,000 people displaced by fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing starvation in light of failed peace accords. Grace Ministries’ Sam Vinton says the crisis has gotten to the point where the United Nations is getting involved with relief. “This is a necessity especially in towns or cities because people there depend on food being brought to them. Like in Kindu, there was a blockade by the Mayi-Mayis around the city so we had two large shipments of food flown in from Goma to help the Christians in Bible school and theological school students.” Vinton says as far as the effect of the war on ministry: “It’s handicapping the spread of the Gospel or even the pastors visiting parishioners, going from village to village because they’re afraid of meeting up with these soldiers or bandits along the way. So, I think we just need to pray for the peace process, that this will take place and that peace will be restored.”