Headed for Africa
Wanted to let you all know that my compassion for the world doesn’t just stop in Fort Wayne. I am wrecked daily about the needs and issues facing our neighbors here in our city and am wrecked by the atrocities that are going on across the world. I can’t begin to believe I know all the solutions towards bring peace to our city or to the world, but I’ve got to try something.
As I’ve mentioned before, my wife and I will be heading to Democractic Republic of Congo in a few weeks (July 27th - Aug 8th), and I wanted to share a few links, stories, and stats with you. We’ll need your support.
A team of 11 of us will be heading out this time following a recent trip of Joe and Steph Johns who just returned a week or so ago. We are part of a long term commitment to World Relief and DRCongo and this trip is our response to play an active role in this partnership.
Some DRCongo Stats For You:
- UN just ranked it the 3rd weakest nation state in the world.
- Somalia
- Afganistan
- DRCongo
- Iraq
- 5.4 Million people have died between 1989 - 2007 due to war, famine, and medical related deaths
- Largest man made catastrophe since World War II
- 45,000 Die Daily in Congo
- 1.5 Million IDP (internationally displaced people) - Half are in North Kivu - Think Sudan in terms of people being displaced from their homes
- County is presumed to be 95% Christian - think about that one
It crushes us that this is one of the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II and few few know about it. It’s one thing to be the poorest of the poor in a peacful country but to be the poorest of the poor in a turbulent country, I can’t imagine.
So, the team, our church, and Michelle and I feel the call to see how we can be a part of the solution. We will be heading into the Rutshuru area to provide compassion relief by working with church leaders to build a house or two for widows and leading prayer ministries. We’re also going to be documenting the bios of the pastors that World Relief is working with so we can come back and fully communicate who is actually on the ground doing the work and we can commit to prayer.
I will continue posting info on this as it is a part of my life and I think the first step is telling the story of people God also loves.
