| DR Congo's Other Story |
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There’s no question that Africa’s second-largest country has endured terrible suffering.
Recent headlines tell of rape, war atrocities and malnutrition. There is misery in many parts of DR Congo. But Steve Wolcott, director of AIM Central Region, says Westerners only hear half the story. “There is hope in the midst of confusion,” he says. “There’s a sense—particularly in the [Congolese] church...that we can make a difference.”
Eighty per cent of the Congolese call themselves Christian. But a little digging puts these numbers in perspective. Evangelicals are a relative minority—and even these have been heavily influenced by prosperity teaching and traditional religions. “Many, if not most, revert to tribal witchdoctors in times of personal grief,” reports AIM missionary Glenn Wilton, who, with his wife Sandy, travelled to DR Congo in 1975. In contrast, the CECA-20 has been a source of truth—and not just in the pulpit. Rev. Kokole says the church is active in 800 primary, secondary and vocational schools. It operates 120 health centers. And despite almost total missionary evacuation in the wake of the First Congo War, most of its institutions remain intact. "There’s a sense—particularly in the [Congolese] church...that we can make a difference.” Christian workers are persevering with few or no resources,” says Wilton. “Young people are dedicating themselves to the Lord...The Congolese Christians want to grow spiritually.” Yet Wilton doesn’t believe AIM’s work in DR Congo is finished. And neither does Steve Wolcott—who, with his wife Debbie, started his missionary career here. Boiled to a single raison d’ être, Wolcott says the need for one-on-one discipleship is as strong as ever. |
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Rev. Kokole Idring'i