Grief and joy in North Kivu
We have long valued radio ministry for its ability to carry gospel truth and hope into very difficult places. Ian Flanders reflects on seeing this happen in one especially troubled region.
North Kivu, a province in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently the theatre of regular atrocities committed against villages by rebel militias. Recent months have seen a marked increase in the number of these acts of terror, and so the number of inhabitants grieving the loss of loved ones, limbs, and livelihoods multiplies. Such meaningless evil, so far as it can be explained, seems motivated by historic tribal and political conflict, and a desire to control the extraction of precious resources like gold and rare earth minerals used in modern technologies.
The Congolese government and the international community seem to lack the willingness and the means to project their power into these inaccessible regions in a way that guarantees the safety of local inhabitants. And so, they feel unsafe and abandoned. Many have fled their homes to take refuge in the relative safety of the cities.
Disruption and instability
We are in regular contact with several pastors, and directors of Christian radio stations, in the affected areas. We get updates of events and are not spared the horrific details. It is an extremely difficult time for the church. There is much disruption and instability, with many Christians and some church leaders displaced by events. Pastors seek to bring comfort and hope to those suffering grief and trauma. Sickening evil can shake faith to its core and many believers are struggling, asking the perennial questions posed by the Psalms of lament: ‘Why?’ and ‘How long?’
Our radio programmes—Espérance Aujourd’hui—have been aired throughout North Kivu by many radio stations for almost twenty years. They have become well known and widely appreciated. Feedback confirms that these programmes help believers to cling on to Christ, in dependence and hope, amid the chaos and darkness.
A limited number of printed copies of our booklets have always found their way into North Kivu. More recently, we have set up two WhatsApp groups, consisting mainly of pastors, who receive a PDF version of one of our booklets, once every three weeks. These groups include over fifty members, who in turn can forward the booklets to other groups or individuals. In this way, these important and valued booklets are becoming far more accessible. It is impossible to know just how many are now able to read them—but again, our desire is to strengthen pastors, believers, and churches at this time of crisis.
Service and discipleship
Determined to serve Jesus in an area of turmoil, a retired pastor has started to translate our French booklet Dieu est Amour (‘God is Love’) into the local language, Congolese Kiswahili. A group of church leaders has chosen this title, convinced that this is the message that the inhabitants of their region most need to hear.
Furthermore, we regularly receive reports of people being baptized, and we see the photos of these new believers standing waist deep in muddy rivers, ready to be immersed. The pastor who sends these pictures informs us that candidates are thoroughly prepared, having to attend six months of baptismal classes before taking this step. So, even amid the fear, grief, and hardship, the church is growing. People are thirsty to hear about Jesus and want to follow him.
The words of John 1:5 spring to mind: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ We seek to stand with and serve our afflicted brothers and sisters by pointing them to Jesus, their only source of comfort and hope.