Congo-Kinshasa (MNN)–Tensions are mounting ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential elections. The runoff vote takes place on Sunday.
In the first free and fair elections in over 40 years, incumbent Joseph Kabila failed to win the July 30 election 50% majority, triggering a second round of voting, and a second chance for Vice President and challenger, Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Dr. Robert Paul is president of Lifewind International, formerly known as Medical Ambassadors International. He says the elections aren’t likely to end the trouble. “What goes on below the surface, at ground level, is a continual chronic situation of desperate poverty for the vast majority of people in the country. That’s really where our own work is focused.”
Their work, Paul says, is a fully-integrated approach to Community Health Evangelism (CHE). He adds that unrest won’t interrupt them because they don’t rely on outside help.
The approach works in countries prone to unrest because, “The leadership within that community is trained, equipped, empowered and so that evangelism, discipleship, church planting, leadership development and community and health and development issues are all addressed simultaneously with the community leadership taking the lead in that process.”
The findings after a little over a decade’s work were stunning. Spiritually, the people from CHE homes were found more likely to be involved in Bible Study, to pray regularly, and to read their Bibles. A most significant statistic of the CHE house holders was the fact they were tithing to the church.
Because of inner transformation, the CHE program has impacted sanitation, health education, nutrition, agricultural practices, vocation choices, and changes in attitudes concerning God.
Click here if you want more information on how to support a CHE program in the DRC.
