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Brass For AfricaNews reports describe growing problems in Congo, for example see UN fears grow over Congo unrest from the BBC (30 Oct 2008). The headline item on ABC Lateline tonight as I write this update, is again about the tense situation in Goma in DR Congo.
As you may recall from the BFA update on 10 October, IseSomo has been the country coordinator for Langham Preaching programs in Congo.
On Wednesday 29 October, Jonathan Lamb (Director of Langham Preaching) wrote:
Dear friends,
We are in touch with our brothers in Goma, Congo (DRC) this week, as the situation worsens in the eastern part of the country where they are meeting.
This morning the fighting between rebels and Government troops is about 20 miles north of Goma, and thousands of refugees are moving into the city. It is hoped that the UN can hold Goma, but inevitably the situation is volatile and quite tense. I have spoken this morning with Muhindo Isesomo, our country coordinator, and Gordon Woolard, one of our Langham Preaching facilitators, and the plan is to complete the training seminar this evening. Then Gordon and Mike will travel by bus tomorrow morning, across the border to Kigali in Rwanda, where they will meet with church leaders as planned. Isesomo will stay in Goma for a full day of prayer and discussions with the pastors tomorrow, planning their work across the country, and then they will travel back to the different regions of DRC on Friday.
Please pray for safety in Goma today and this week; for good onward travel for Gordon and Mike to Rwanda, and for the team of pastors returning to every corner of the country (always a challenge in a country the size of western Europe); for UN and Government action that will bring an immediate ceasefire; for care for the thousands of refugees; and for some form of longer term stability.
Fighting has gone on for many years in the DRC, with estimates of some 5 million deaths. In the eastern region of DRC, there are hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, acute malnutrition amongst children, and many people traumatized by the brutalization of war. May the Lord strengthen his church for the challenges of Christian witness and compassionate response in what, at the human level, is a deteriorating situation.
Thank you for your prayerful support.
Jonathan Lamb
Langham Preaching
Grant Robinson
Brass For Africa webmaster
