Today on our little "trip" to see what Children's Ministry - and life - is like in other places around the world, we will "visit" the DRC in Africa.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, also called DR Congo, DRC or the DROC, is located in Central Africa. It's the second largest country in Africa in terms of size and the 11th largest in the world. The Congo has a population of about 69.4 million, ranking it 19th in the world (World Population Review). The DRC is considered one of the two “lungs of the world”; second only to the Amazon, because of its large area of forests. The DRC is home to many types of animals including the rare and endangered Okapi, Bonobo and White Rhinos (Wiki). While it is one of the richest countries in the world for the resources it has, it is one of the poorest in regards to the poverty experienced by the people of the DRC.
School is not free or mandatory in DRC, which leaves most children without an education (humanium.org). Life for children in DRC is dangerous and heart-breaking; as many as three million people are estimated to have died in their conflict (everynation.org). The death toll is due to fighting, widespread disease and famine; reports indicate almost half of the individuals who died are children under five years of age (New York Times). Children are in danger of being forced into serving as child soldiers, being raped, trafficked, forced into marriage and to work in the copper, cobalt and/or diamond mines (CIA/World FactBook). AIDS/HIV rates are very high, as are as the rates of malaria, TB and diarrhea (UNICEF). The result of these things often mean children are left to try and care for themselves and end up living on the streets; it is estimated there are at least 70,000 street children in the DRC with the average age of these children being 12 years old (humanium.org).
Surprisingly, the DRC is primarily a Christian country with 95% of the people according to the Pew Research Center, and 20% of this group are Protestants (CIA/World Fact Book). There are hundreds of churches throughout the DRC, many of which work together to help provide education, medical resources and services, training for women, care for elderly and those who are not able to care for themselves as well as teach children and youth God’s Word (baptistseasterncongo). Churches provide opportunities for children to participate in Sunday school and provide help, aid and resources for those in need, including caring for orphans (cmalliance).
As you think about the DRC, where 2% of the people are unreached (OperationWorld), please pray for –.
- God to draw believers to Him.
- People to help children who are in dangerous places and point them to Jesus.
- Laborers to go and serve children who are in need.
- Children to see God is real, He loves them and they can know Him!
- Wisdom to know where to plant churches.
- The church in the DRC to grow and be able to be a light to their communities!
- The needs are so great; so much damage has been and continues to be caused to children and families; pray for healing physically, spiritually and emotionally.
The DRC is a beautiful country with children and families who need to know God loves them! While you may not be able to travel to the DRC to serve the church, you can pray and, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” (James 5:16 NCV) Let’s pray and trust God for great things in the DRC!
No comments:
Post a Comment