Covenant News
Some Activities Resume in Congo
GEMENA, CONGO (May, 1999) - GEMENA - According to reports making their way out of Congo, some people are beginning to return to their villages and resume some sense of normalcy in their lives, though the danger is far from over."Some people are starting to return and some activities are restarting," according to one of our confidential sources in the area of Gemena. "In some places, they are holding regular services, including midweek meetings," our source reported.
"For the church, during the initial fighting when everyone fled into the forest, no services were held," the source said. "In some places they may have small groups, which gathered on their own, but nothing regular – and certainly not in the village."
The source reported that church leaders are being encouraged to assume a leadership role and encourage people to gather for worship. "The Christians' faith has grown through this difficult period, even when they couldn't worship," the observer commented.
Our source also shared greetings from Congo Church President Gbuda Luyada, noting that his task has been extremely difficult during this period. "Yet, in the same breath, he gives thanks to God who sustains him through the prayers of the believers around the world. He knows that they are praying and through them God is granting perseverance and strength. He thanks the Covenant members for their continued prayers."
(Editor's note: Last November, President Luyada was released after a period of brief house arrest in Mbandaka and was eventually allowed to return to Gemena. At that time, the Africa director for Covenant World Mission urged Christians everywhere to pray for the safety of individuals in that area, as well as peace for the country as a whole. Individuals have been asked to pray especially "for a strong sense of God's presence, power, courage and peace in the hearts of President Luyada, the leadership of CEUM as well as all of God's people in the CEUM and in Congo.")
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