Democratic Republic of the Congo
Partner with Presbyterian World Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: download this pdf and share with your congregation or worshiping community
Find mission workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
News
Building Congo Schools improves education quality in the DRC.
Presbyterian initiative provides funds for durable buildings, books, teacher training and scholarships
Trauma healing in Congo
A team representing several PC(USA) congregations recently traveled to East Congo on a travel study seminar. It was clear to the team that trauma healing is one of the most pressing needs in Congo, and although there are good programs for adult survivors of trauma, nothing is currently being offered for traumatized children. The Church of Christ in Congo (CPC) desires to meet this crucial need through a trauma healing program, “Healing Hearts,” designed by the American Bible Society. Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC) is challenging other congregations to join in their trauma healing program fundraiser “Hope and a Bright Future for Congolese Children.” The goal is to train 30 facilitators for “Healing Hearts.” The program will be used to help children in the communities of North Kivu and Ituri in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Healing Hearts will be used by the Church of Christ in Congo to care for children with deep emotional and spiritual wounds caused by war, rape, natural disaster and other traumatic experiences. The program combines biblical and mental health resources into intervention that promotes healing and restores relationships with God and others. To help Protestant Churches in Congo (ECC) address root causes of poverty and violence impacting women and children, make a gift to pcusa.org/donate/E052171. For more information on getting your congregation involved in children’s trauma healing in Congo, contact Christi Boyd at christi.boyd@pcusa.org or Debbie Braaksma at debbie.braaksma@pcusa.org .
Mission co-worker reflects on Rwanda-Congo exchange visits following the Congo travel study seminar
Follow along on the 10-day World Mission travel study seminar to East Congo that began Jan. 27, designed to promote understanding of impact of conflict and sexual violence in this volatile region. Participants share their experiences and insights, as well as stories of the courageous witness of PC(USA) partners and allies in Eastern Congo, on these PC(USA) Reconciliation blogs.|
Day 1, Arriving in Goma
Day 2, North Kivu Province and Kyeshero Hospital
Day 3, Lifting up God's promises
Reflection 4 Love will have the final word
Congo travel-study seminar - Reflection 5
Speak out!
Congo travel-study seminar - Reflection 6
Pray for us … pray that the violence will end
Congo travel-study seminar - Reflection 7
Understanding the patterns of sexual violence
Congo travel-study seminar - Reflection 8
Communicating more than words
Congo travel-study seminar - Reflection 9
Can you trace your minerals to East Congo?
Congo Travel-Study Seminar - Reflection 10
Redoubling our efforts and seeking justice
Presbyterian World Mission Addresses Sexual Violence in Conflict in Eastern Congo
Read about how Bob and Kristi Rice, Ruth Brown, and Luta Garbat-Welch are working with our Congolese partners to Train leaders for transforming service.
Read about how Christi Boyd is working alongside our church partners to Stop Sexual Violence in eastern Congo. Truly stories of hope and healing.
Read about how Gwenda Fletcher and our Church partners in Congo are bringing quality education to children in one of the poorest countries of the world as part of the Educate a Child, Transform the World campaign.
8/7/15 Please pray for the Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC) as they struggle with a crisis that boiled up in August 2013, simmered for two years, and then a month ago rose again to a full boil. Rather than having the two sides’ differences resolved within the CPC governance and judicial system, or at least in ecclesiastic mediation, it appears the matter is being addressed before the Congolese courts and government ministries. I ask that you pray for unity, grace and peace within our beloved partner, the CPC.—Jeff Boyd, regional liaison
Congolese church leader speaks on DRC electoral process at UN event
Rev. Kakule Molo, president of the Baptist Community in Central Africa, addresses a side-event of the WCC Human Rights Council
Water project changes lives and brings smiles in Congo
New irrigation system empowers Congolese farmers to reduce hunger
Heartbreak and Hope: Stopping Violence Against Women in Eastern Congo
Click here to view the webinar.
Congo Uprising: What is at stake
On Monday, January 19, 2015, Congolese citizens rose up to contest the latest maneuver by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to prolong President Joseph Kabila's stay in power. According to Congo's constitution, the president can only serve two five-year terms and Joseph Kabila's second five-year term ends on December 19, 2016....
Congo Mission Network raises money to reopen nutrition center
When members of the network learned that the Tudisha Bana Bimpe (“Let’s feed the children well”) Nutrition Center in Tshikaji had closed because of a lack of funding, they acted. Mattresses for Congo, Rivers of the World, Medical Benevolence Foundation and Myers Park Presbyterian Church (Charlotte, N.C.) joined the effort.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: The country that knows how to beat Ebola—World Health Organization
The year 2014 saw 2 parallel outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in Africa. The West African outbreak – which began in December 2013 and mainly affects Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – continues to this day. A separate and unrelated outbreak in Boende, Equateur Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – first reported to WHO on 24 August – was officially declared at an end on 21 November, less than 3 months later. Read more
Building Quality Schools in Congo
A new brochure by the Congo Mission Network on building quality schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is now available.
In the video above, learn more about the Congo Education Excellent Project. A group of Congolese and U.S. individuals and organizations have joined forces to raise funds and advocate for effective schools.
Testimonies about Bibles and songbooks
The Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC) has received $4,000 for its Bible subsidy project. Read testimonies from some of those who have purchased subsidized Bibles and songbooks.
Oil exploration could be devastating to Africa's most iconic national park—and its people
6/14 The British company SOCO International has begun surveying for oil in Virunga National Park in the eastern DRC. Virunga is home to a significant portion of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Although extracting oil from Virunga is prohibited by current DRC and international law, SOCO maintains its efforts are preliminary and designed to bring economic benefits and jobs to the people of DRC. It is impossible to exaggerate the abject poverty and suffering of the people of the DRC, and most especially the 1 million people who live within one mile of Virunga's borders.—Huffington Post
Affleck, Feingold Draw Attention to Violence in Congo
3/14 NPR interview: David Greene talks to actor Ben Affleck and Russ Feingold, U.S. special envoy to Congo, about what can be done to stabilize a nation where conflict has been the norm for almost two decades. Copyright © 2014 NPR.
Gender-Based Violence
Rev. Christine Ngalula, the vice president of the Department for Women and Families of the Presbyterian Community in Congo, shares details about its initiative to address the cultural phenomenon of widowhood rites in the below video.
1/13 UN says increasing ethnic violence in DRC has led to serious humanitarian crisis
"Saying yes to God," in Sept 2012 issue of Mission Crossroads
A partner profile of Dr. Mulumba, General Secretary of the Congolese Presbyterian Church
Pastors Ministering in the Midst of Poverty—by Kristi Rice on the Dallas II: Better Together blog
"Communities of Mission Practice in Congo," by Jeff Boyd
Read the article in the Spring 2012 issue of Mission Crossroads
2/12 Church in Congo, destroyed by tornado, rebuilds, quadruples
Background
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) celebrates more than a century of ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire. Our engagement in the Congo involves ministry through mission personnel and our partner church relationships. The PC(USA) joins its partners in Congo in a holistic approach to ministry that includes education and leadership development, health ministries, community development, evangelism and new church development.
An exciting history of Presbyterian witness for basic human rights began with William Sheppard, Presbyterian missionary to Congo, in the 1890s. The church continues to grow and provide a vibrant ministry. Plagued by years of unrest and poor leadership, the Congolese people are patiently working toward building a strong Congo.
Partner churches and organizations
The PC(USA) has three partner churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more
Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC)
The Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC) is the most historical and largest Presbyterian Church in the Congo with more than 1,250,000 members as of 1995. Rooted in the ministries of the American Presbyterian Congo Mission (APCM), it is concentrated in the provinces of West- and East-Kasai and also has parishes in Shaba. The church is organized in eight synods, with 53 presbyteries, entailing 692 parishes and 269 preaching points with 878 pastors and 61 evangelists. The CPC is firmly committed to the ecumenical movement and maintains a good relationships with the World Council of Churches, of which it has been a member since 1972.
Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC)
Both the CPC and the CPK are members of the Protestant umbrella organization, the Church of Christ in the Congo (ECC), which is composed of the various Protestant churches called “Communities.” Its purpose is to manifest the unity of the body of Christ. Sixty-two communities belong to the ECC, representing about 8 million Christians in the Congo. Roughly speaking, the member communities represent the two broad streams of ecumenically and evangelically oriented churches.
Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa (CPK)
Since 1960 the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa (CPK) has been an autonomous partner church of the PC(USA) in the metropolitan area of Kinshasa and the western provinces of Lower-Congo and Bandundu. In 1983 the CPK was divided into three presbyteries, which constituted the first synod. In 1995, the CPK had an estimated 40,000 communicant members, 10,000 active youth and 86 ordained pastors. Two pastors have finished doctorate studies, one of them a woman. The CPK meets regularly in its own General Assembly and in church-to-church consultations with the PC(USA). It receives mission personnel and maintains a Committee for Cooperation to plan, coordinate and evaluate the specific joint programs. This committee consists of three representatives of each church with the CPK president serving as moderator.
UPRECO, the Sheppards and Lapsley University of the Congo
UPRECO is the new name for what used to be FTRK (Reformed Theological Faculty of Kasai) — see the Congo Partner Backgrounds page.
Founded in 1987, UPRECO is a leading university in the central part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). UPRECO grants undergraduate degrees in Theology and Law. The mission of UPRECO is to educate leaders for the Congolese church and nation as pastors, educators and lawyers in a Christian environment.
Presbytery partnerships
Presbytery of Eastern Virginia
Whitewater Valley Presbytery
New Castle Presbytery
Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley
Recommended projects/institutions to support
Education For Kinshasa, CPK
Ministry To Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children, Congo
Congo Presbyterian Church Educational Ministries
CPC Community Development
CPC Department Of Evangelism
Women's Work, CPC
CPK Women and Families Ministries
Presbyterian University of Congo (UPRECO/FTRK)
Congo Mission Network
2016 meeting: September 7-8; Montreat, N.C.
For more information contact Jimmy Shafe
Congo Mission Gathering, Sept 7-10, in addition to the Congo Mission Network, includes the Congo Connection/Reunion and other organizations
The Congo Mission Network (CMN) is among more than 40 networks that connect Presbyterians who share a common mission interest. Most participants are involved in mission partnerships through congregations, presbyteries or synods. Network members come together to coordinate efforts, share best practices and develop strategies. The CMN facilitates relationships, education and awareness regarding the Congo.
Children and teachers in Congo’s 888 Presbyterian Schools Need Your Support! Due to the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the economy and the Congo government’s lack of support for education, the Congo’s Presbyterian schools are in critical need of durable buildings. From a 2012 Christmas letter: 82 percent of the 888 schools are made only of thatch and mud or of deteriorating brick and tin. They have few desks, books or school supplies. Primary classrooms sometimes hold over 100 students, while high school classrooms may have only 10 students because tuition is difficult to secure and dropout rates are high, especially for girls. Congo’s Presbyterian churches, in cooperation with U.S. churches and individuals, have established the Congo Education Excellence Project (CEEP) to restore their schools and empower their students. Their goals are to systematically repair or replace over 600 schools, and to provide all schools with latrines, desks, blackboards, books, scholarships, teacher training opportunities and motorcycles to reach remote schools. Considerable financial assistance is needed. Read more
Learn more about the Democratic Republic of Congo
Visit the BBC country profile.
See the 2016 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study:
Feb. 11
April 13
