Why This Matters to BelPres
Pastor Alexis Ruhumuriza of New Hope Revival and Pastor Sergio Chavez shared how the escalating conflict in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is heavily impacting many of our East African brothers and sisters here at BelPres, many of whom are from the Banyamulenge tribe that was massacred two weeks ago. We invite you to listen.
Facts About the Conflict
A conflict that reaches across decades in South Kivu escalated two weeks ago, marking the biggest massacre in the area to date. This event in a history of violence brought the death toll into the thousands.
4,000 people have been displaced, 700 women widowed, and 1,000 children orphaned in the area.
In the 1990’s, the area was devastated by the Rwandan genocide, two Congo wars, and other political unrest resulting in deaths, injuries, loss of property, and starvation that still felt in the area today.
The Banyamulenge tribe are a part of the Tutsi ethnic group massacred in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Rebel militias called the Mai target the Banyamulenge tribe and attack their right to live in their homeland based on prejudice and hatred between tribes.
With little or no government intervention from DR Congo due in part to ethnic bias and political turmoil, families feel powerless but pray the world will take notice.
Attacks have resumed in South Kivu, where many from BelPres New Hope Revival were born and still have family there.
Killings, lootings, burnings of village are taking place. Thousands are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Babies and children under 5 and pregnant and nursing mothers are most at risk from Kwashiorkor.
Approximately 85% of BelPres New Hope Revival’s families and friends are personally affected by the crisis and some have lost family.
New Hope Families’ Stories
Hope For Change
Although the situation is devastating, we are not without hope. As Pastor Alexis said, “We believe in a God who can bring the change. Our God is bigger than what we are facing today.”
Pastor Alexis has a vision for the region, that by spreading God’s message of forgiveness and reconciliation, the communities could regenerate and live together peacefully. A team of volunteers from BelPres Church (i.e., NewHopeCongo Team) are working together with seven Congolese on the ground in Minembwe, with the ultimate goal to unite the four warring tribes, thereby diminishing the power of the rebel militias, and restoring peace.
What Is Our Plan?
Sending Nutritional Support
Many have fled to the jungle for shelter and are without adequate food and clean water. We know that when people are starving and living without basic needs, it is hard to focus on forgiveness and reconciliation. Through your giving on May 23, we are providing initial nutritional support in the way of food and agricultural products to provide for basic needs to those displaced and homeless.
Constructing a Center
Our goal is to provide the people of South Kivu the tools they need to recover from the damage they have suffered so that they can rebuild their community and provide for themselves, trusting in their future to be safe and healthy. Through a grant from the BelPres Legacy Foundation, we are building a facility to provide a common space for gathering, worshiping, and learning. The center will provide a one-year residential training program where young people from warring tribes can live together and eventually learn entrepreneurial skills, vocational training, and agricultural education in an atmosphere of reconciliation.
The WOrk of Reconciliation
By reconciling the Banyamulenge along with its three neighbors, the Babembe, Bafuliriro, and Banyindu tribes, our multi-tribal Congolese team on the ground is leading the crusade for peace following the lead of the Prince of Peace. They are treating each tribe equally while fostering new channels for communication and understanding. Joseph Harera, the leader of our South Kivu efforts, explains that “people are excited; they note that this is the first time anyone has approached them with a vision that treats all four tribes the same and promotes acceptance and forgiveness between tribes.” As well, the Congolese team on the ground is reaching out to local chiefs, pastors, and other community leaders to gather people to hear God’s message of love and healing through forgiveness and reconciliation and bring supplies.
How You Can Help
We are asking the BelPres church family to come together to support New Hope Revival community and the work of reconciliation and restoration in the East Congo by participating in the following:
PRAY:
Pray for God to protect and keep New Hope Revival families safe as they are fleeing, hungry and alone. Pray for a revival of forgiveness in the DR Congo – for Jesus to reverse the hate that is being propagated. Pray that the world take notice of what is happening in South Kivu. Attend in person or watch a New Hope Revival service online and stand with and pray for the families hurting and grieving. Pray in faith. Join the community of New Hope Revival in praying that we would see peace in DR Congo in our lifetime.
SHARE:
Share the stories of our friends at BelPres New Hope Revival on your social media accounts. Over the next two weeks, we will be sharing with you stories from those at New Hope impacted by the violence on our BelPres Instagram and Facebook. Help their voices be heard, by sharing and posting on your own social accounts, to your friends, news outlets, and your local congresspersons. #savemulenge
GIVE:
We are taking a special offering for Congo Relief open until May 28 at 5pm. To give online, visit the Give Page and designate the fund “Congo Relief Offering.” 50% of the offering will go to the emergency distribution of food and goods to those in need. 50% will provide the funding needed to send a team to preach the Gospel to warring tribes and train them to bring reconciliation.
Please prayerfully consider what God may want you to do to support our BelPres New Hope family. In a place where man has destroyed lives, God can restore life. Where man has created violence, God can bring peace. With the vision of Pastor Alexis, the commitment of the BelPres/New Hope community, and the gospel of forgiveness, we believe God is making a new story for East Congo.
If you would like to learn more ways to get involved, reach out to the NewHopeCongo Team at newhopecongo@belpres.org.