Covenant News

New Fund to Aid CAR Mission Restoration Effort

BANGUI, CAR (March 27, 2003) - A special relief fund has been established by the Evangelical Covenant Church in the aftermath of widespread looting that accompanied the recent coup in the Central African Republic. The looting resulted in the theft of vehicles, office equipment and other ministry and personal property belonging to missionaries of the Evangelical Covenant Church and other religious groups.

Covenant missionaries had vacated the area earlier this year as a precaution given the political and military unrest that has plagued the country for months. A number of them moved into Cameroon while a few others returned to the United States.

Looters ravaged the Bata mission outpost in mid-January - all personal belongings were stolen. The Covenant mission lost several gas stoves, five refrigerators, several washing machines, numerous solar panels and equipment, three vehicles, dishes and other household furnishings. Other looting occurred more recently, March 14-18. The mission office in Bangui lost computers and other office equipment.

"In each case, the basic buildings are fine," said Pete Ekstrand, Africa region coordinator for the Department of World Mission. "But, the doors and windows are broken or missing. The destruction did not touch just foreigners, but nationals as well. It is particularly hard to hear of Central African colleagues who have also lost all they owned."

The looting accompanied the arrival of rebel soldiers during the five-month-long rebellion that succeeded in ousting former CAR President Ange-Felix Patasse, Ekstrand noted. "Unfortunately, all too often once the soldiers have broken into places, the population follows and takes more stuff. For these Covenant missionaries, this is the second time in six years that their homes have been looted, the first time being when their homes in Zaire were looted during that civil war."

Those interested in assisting the effort to replace lost equipment and other items should direct gifts to the CAR Equipment Fund in care of the Department of World Mission at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625. Make certain to designate gifts for the CAR Equipment Fund. Additional information may be obtained by calling Eric Carlson at 773-907-8325.

In related news, the seven-member Covenant group visiting Congo continues its work to assess special needs in areas of Covenant ministry in various areas of the country, including the condition of Covenant medical facilities and health care in areas ravaged by war over the years, as well as continue repairs to the hydroelectric dam and follow up on other development projects. Members of the group include Bob Thornbloom, Roger and Eileen Thorpe, Jody LeVahn, Gordon Carlson and Tom Christy and his daughter, Cory.

"We have had very warm welcomes everywhere," reports the Covenant group. "Roger toured the hospital, which really needs help. Bob, Timothy Mambo and Gordon went to Gemena . . . and were well received. Bob is beginning work at Zulu. Roger says he is encouraged by personnel and the possibilities, but notes he needs are great at the hospital."

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