“Please stand with us in prayer… as we have dedicated ourselves to a ‘month of prayer’ to ask our God, who is the master of time and circumstances, to end this war and grant lasting peace to the DR Congo.”
– Charmant, (Director of our ministry partner in DRC)
We recently received a special prayer request and update from our partners in the DR Congo.
As you’re probably aware, in January this year, the long-running civil war in the DR Congo reached a tipping point when a rebel army attacked and eventually took control of the city of Goma.
While the initial battle is over (along with the limited international attention the conflict received) the city continues to be filled with violence, chaos and fear.
And while there have been multiple attempts at peace talks, so far these have had no success; either being repeatedly delayed or completely breaking down.
In the face of all this, our ministry partners (who live and serve in Goma) recently committed themselves to a month of dedicated prayer, and they’ve asked us to join with them.
They’ve also shared four specific prayer points for you to consider:
1. The first is to pray that banks in Goma would reopen soon.
They’ve been closed since January (when rebel soldiers first entered the city) and people have been unable to access their salaries or savings this whole time!
(Bonus praise point: Praise God that our partners have been able to access our financial support through banks just across the border in Rwanda and so been able to continue providing emergency support to the most vulnerable people in the community.)
2. Second is to pray for the provision of food, medicine and other basic necessities.
Even before the battlefront reached Goma, soldiers had been strategically destroying agricultural villages that feed the city and cutting off supply routes.
Since the city was taken over there hasn’t been proper enforcement of law and order. The resulting crime, looting and chaos have significantly added to the shortages of food and supplies, with thousands of people in the city suffering from malnutrition, at risk of starvation and lacking other basic necessities.
Please pray that supplies of food and other essentials can start coming back into the city and that they can reach the vulnerable people that need them most.
(Bonus praise point: Praise God that our partners have been able to provide emergency food packages and other essentials – thanks to your support – for the most vulnerable people in the community.)
3. Third is to pray for all of the people who have been abducted in recent weeks as part of the ongoing conflict.
There have been a terrifying number of abductions and kidnappings in the city – including members of the deaf community our partners serve and even members of their own family. Please pray for their safe return and for God’s protection over everyone as they live in fear of this happening to them.
4. And fourthly, please pray for peace in the DR Congo.
Pray that peace talks between the M23 and the DRC government (as well as those between the DRC and Rwanda) can reach a mutual agreement, be finalised and committed to by all sides. And whatever their results, pray that God – with whom all things are possible – would pour down His peace on the people of Goma and all of the DR Congo.
| Summary of Prayer Points |
| 1. Pray that banks in Goma would reopen soon and people would be able to access their salaries and savings. 2. Pray for the provision of food and other basic necessities – that they can come into the city and get to those who are at most risk of malnutrition and starvation. 3. Pray for all of the people who have been abducted in recent weeks as part of the ongoing conflict – particularly members of our ministry partners’ communities and family members. 4. Pray for peace in the DR Congo. Knowing that with God all things are possible. |
Thank you so much for joining with us and our ministry partners in prayer!
If your church community would like to explore some ways to collectively join with our partners in this time of prayer you can get in touch with Bruce Boyle (our Church Relationships manager) at 1300 009 109, he’d love to help you with that.Â
Isn’t it incredible that the all-powerful creator of the universe, longs to hear our prayers!Â