Answers to Prayer

1 The Church has gained in stature as the only viable national structure to endure in the general social, political and economic collapse of the country

2 The turning to Christ in the 20th Century (see graph)! The number of Christians has grown from 1.4% of the population in 1900 to over 90% professing Christianity today

3 The many prepared to pay the price for this harvest

4 There has been a large increase in commitment to prayer, stimulated by the nation's calamities

5 The long-despised and neglected Pygmy people have turned to Christ in large numbers in some areas and during the 1990s there developed a growing indigenous church movement

Challenges for Prayer

1 Congo's war has embroiled the military forces of seven nations and provoked the rise of local inter-ethnic conflicts and warlords

a) Peace

b) The binding of the demonic powers and the human sin that has brought such havoc and suffering through tribalism, extreme cruelty, greed and corruption

c) The establishment of an effective national government which has the support of the people

d) Economic recovery and wise use of finances to pay government officials, the military and police, teachers and medical workers and to rebuild the shattered national infrastructure

2 National and international repentance and reconciliation

a) Arabs and Belgium's King Leopold II enslaved and looted the country in the 19th Century

b) Belgian colonial rule and international mining companies exploited Congo's resources but neglected the people

c) Interventions by foreign powers and, latterly, African countries often with selfish motives

d) Inter-ethnic hostility has led to warfare, killings and many fleeing for their lives

The evils of the past need to be admitted and put right for there to be a viable future for the Congo

3 The Christian Church remains the only viable national social structure to survive and retain some credibility

4 The Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) came into being through both government edict and pressure from some church leaders, though most evangelical leaders are now in favour of their membership in the ECC

a) Biblical leadership patterns

b) Commitment to the authority of Scripture

c) Nominal Christians to find new life in Christ

d) Freedom to evangelize every part of Congo

Geography

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Area 2,344,858 sq.km. Congo contains most of the Congo River system and much of the vast Central African rainforest.

Population (2000) 51,654,496 +2.61%AGR

Capital Kinshasa 5,950,000.

Peoples

Bantu 82.4%; Sudanic 13%; Nilotic 1.5%; Pygmy 0.9%; Other 2.2%.

Literacy officially 77%. Greatly reduced by the collapse of the education system. Official languages French, English. Trade languages Lingala/Bangala in north and northwest, Swahili in east and south, Luba in centre and Kongo/Tuba in west. All languages 221. Languages with Scriptures 27Bi 10NT 40por 27w.i.p.

Economy

Vast mineral resources and agricultural potential. HDI 0.479; 141^st/174. Public debt 166% of GNP. Income/person $110 (0.4% of USA).

Politics

For centuries, Congo has suffered the depredations of Arab slavers, Western exploitation and, in recent years, exploitation by Africans.

Religion

In 1972 the President decreed that only six organized religions were permitted to operate and own property: Catholic; one Protestant Church (ECC), Kimbanguist Church, Orthodox, Muslims and Jews.

Churches in Congo-DRC

Missionaries from Congo-DRC

estimated 445 in 39 agencies

Missionaries to Congo-DRC

estimated 650 in 76 agencies from 26 countries

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