Covenant News

Looting Continues in Gemena

GEMENA, CONGO (February, 1999) - Looting continues in Gemena, according to reports slowly making their way out of the region. The CEUM (Covenant national church) headquarters and the homes of church leaders have been looted, as has the Karawa mission station, including the central pharmacy, technical services, missionary homes and Ubangi Academy (school for missionary children).

"As far as we know, President Luyada and other church leaders remain secluded in a safe place away from the fighting and looting," a February 12 dispatch states. "We have yet to hear from them," the report continues. "We are told that the doctors at Karawa are coming in to the hospital to care for the sick."

No mention was made of the status of the Loko mission station, 50 miles east of Karawa.. The Free Church hospital at Tandala continues to care for patients. Another major Catholic hospital west of Gemena was heavily looted, according to news sources.

"We ask that Covenanters continue to pray for the entire church family in Congo," said a spokesperson for The Evangelical Covenant Church's Department of World Mission. "Pray that God will be merciful and that the fighting will end soon. Pray for wisdom for husbands who are trying to protect their families. Pray that the families will be able to prepare and plant their gardens, as February is the time for field preparation before the planting season in mid-March."

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