Key points :
- With churches shuttered due to insecurity in the region, pastors in eastern Congo are adapting their practices, using social networks and WhatsApp to continue evangelism.
- Church leaders are sending messages of support to help the faithful through this difficult period.
- Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda calls for caution and recommends limiting travel to avoid danger.
United Methodist churches in eastern Congo are being forced to adapt their practices in the face of growing insecurity.
The escalation of violence in Goma has left over 4,000 people dead, including eight United Methodists, and thousands of internally displaced persons. The repercussions are being felt as far away as Bukavu, which was taken over by Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement – or M23 – rebels in mid-February.
Faced with growing insecurity, local churches have adapted to continue supporting their congregations. Pastors such as Joseph Toto Safari of Penuel United Methodist Church in Panzi and Badeux Muunga of Ibanda United Methodist Church have opted for online evangelism, using social networks and WhatsApp broadcast groups to share God’s word and pray with their communities.
In addition to online evangelism, religious leaders regularly send messages of support and encouragement to help the faithful through this difficult period.
Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, who leads the East Congo Episcopal Area, has called on United Methodists to exercise caution. He urged the faithful to limit their movements and stay home as much as possible to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
“We have just spent more than four Sundays without being able to come together to pray in community because of the violence between the Rwandan-backed M23 Movement and the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Safari said.
Following the directives of the bishop, he decided to share the word of God through social networks to keep his congregation safe.
“We can’t expose the faithful during this period by going to places of worship. I’m convinced that there will be lasting peace,” he said.
Muunga also has found alternatives to in-person worship by creating a WhatsApp group to continue sharing the word of God and praying with his followers.
“We have prayer and evangelization activities, but it’s difficult to get the faithful together because of the insecurity,” he said. “We’re going to continue like this until calm reigns in our area.”
The Rev. Valentin Omande, Goma District evangelist, adopted the same approach after the conflict forced him to cancel an in-person evangelism campaign.
“We had planned to organize an open-air evangelistic campaign in Nyirangongo Territory from Jan. 25 to 28, but the attack and capture of Goma prevented us from doing so,” he said. “For the time being, I’m organizing with some of my faithful to share the word of God with them via social networks.”
Josée Ndaukila, a United Methodist at the local church in Ibanda, is delighted to receive the messages by telephone. “I have no choice; I can’t expose myself by going to the different church programs during the week,” Ndaukila said. “That’s why I welcome the initiative of my pastor, who sends me the sermons and sometimes prays for me.”
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Masudi Kansilembo is a chorister at Kadutu United Methodist Church. He regrets that violence and war force him to stay at home.
“I’m used to singing and dancing for the glory of Jesus Christ,” Kansilembo said. “This situation prevents me from going to church anymore, but at least I receive God’s message through my phone, which sometimes comforts me.”
Aliance Bahizire, treasurer of the local Penuel church in Panzi, said she is worried about the consequences of the conflict.
“Several of our member churches were looted or destroyed during the fighting. Their treasuries have been emptied and they have lost all their belongings,” Bahizire said. “It’s very difficult for them to get back on their feet and resume their activities.”
However, she said she is grateful for the connections when people can’t attend Sunday services in person.
“I thank our evangelist who has set up a broadcasting group and I receive God’s message every day,” she said
Meanwhile, the M23 rebel offensive continues in the territories of Uvira and Fizi, where The United Methodist Church has two church districts. The Rev. Rigobert Mtaka, Fizi District superintendent, said he fears the worst, given that these are conflict zones and the violence could cause further damage in the region.
The situation has forced Jeunesse Pour Christ to postpone its celebration of Kivu Youth Day.
Moïse Mwangu, coordinator of the group in the Kivu Conference, asked all young people to stay at home and wait for peace to be restored.
<“We’ll be celebrating Kivu Youth Day at a later date,” he said
In the face of this crisis, churches in and around the Congo continue to advocate peace and reconciliation, while adopting new methods of evangelism to meet the spiritual needs of their communities.
Bishop Unda expressed his hope that eastern Congo will one day be peaceful. “As a man of God, I invite everyone to unite in prayer for eastern Congo.”
Kituka Lolonga is a communicator for the Kivu Conference.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer, news editor, newdesk@umnews.org or 615-742-5469. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digests.
Translation
Fear not, for God is with you
Despite the suffering we are going through, he will not abandon us.
Cfr Luke 24:34-39
Pastor Badeux Muunga
Fear not, for God is with you
Despite the suffering we are going through, he will not abandon us.
Cfr Luke 24:34-39
Pastor Badeux Muunga
Fear not, for our God is with us
