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News of the work of The Anglican Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Agape ‘the love of God’ is the Anglican Church of Congo’s exciting youth ministry department. Started here in Bunia in the diocese of Boga in 1989, 17 years on this ministry has expanded into other dioceses across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our diocese of Boga has so many young people who have accepted Jesus as their saviour and our church in Congo is growing quickly. We need God to continue to bless us in this big job we are doing.
Agape’s main objectives are:
- Teaching the youth the word of God,
- Showing that Jesus is their saviour
- Teaching them to have Agape love among them.
- Developing honesty with others
- Teaching development projects.
- Providing for practical and physical needs
Mr Bisoke Balikenga heads up the project in the diocese of Boga and to achieve the above objectives teams co-ordinate the different sections of:
- Evangelism (lead by the Revd Kiza Zaba Jacque and the Revd Upenzi)
- Development and Micro-Projects (Mr Sinza)
- Community Health (Mr Kiza Byakisaka)
- Finance (Furaha)
- Girls’ programme (Bahemuka)
- The Bunia Children’s Hope Centre (Bisoke and Furaha Balikenga)
Evangelism
Evangelism is the main goal of our ministry because we have seen the transformation in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as saviour – both in their behaviour and their thinking about the development of the Church and of our nation. Agape’s activities are simply to guide those youth to follow Jesus Christ and serve the church as authentic followers. We encourage them to come to church and accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and also hear the word of God during the holidays.
We have a team running Peace and Reconciliation Seminars in Ituri. Our vision is to reach the whole of Ituri with these seminars and promote reconciliation. Last week we ran seminars in Gety and so far we have done 7 seminars in Bunia Town. The team includes people from different churches based in Ituri and Agape co-ordinates and manages the work.
Development
We are teaching the youth about life-choices, especially for the development of our nation. We help them think about employment and that they have a duty to develop our country without begging all the time. We help them with family-based micro projects and create a co-operative in their village.
A main project is our Agricultural Centre, situated 8 km from the town of Bunia and managed by Sinza who advises and teaches a variety of agricultural projects. These include how to get the most from the soil and grow appropriate plants and foods. The centre has already helped people start their own gardens and small fields, and many come to the centre to get seeds and trees for this. We are also teaching our youth group at the reserve how to further the development of their own villages.
The Agricultural Centre also ministers to women and young ladies who have been raped and are suffering trauma. We offer practical assistance by teaching them to read and write and we have also given them seeds to grow. We teach the word of God and how to understand and interpret the Bible.
Finance
Furaha is our accountant. Educated at Daystar University in Kenya, she is doing her best to manage our finances, keep our records, book-keep and manage our budget. Additionally, she is helping to write a project proposal in English. Her extra studies in Community Development while at university are of great help. She teaches adults to write and read in our Girl’s Centre and she works with the orphan children too.
Girls’ Centre & Women’s Counselling
Here in Bunia we have The Girls’ Hope Centre. 176 ladies and girls are currently involved and learn practical skills such as how to read, write, sew, make cloth and sweaters, four days a week. They also study the word of God. A key ministry is to those who have been raped by soldiers or others during the war and are suffering trauma. Some lost all their property and others have not received education due to prevailing cultural beliefs about who should and shouldn’t be taught. This centre helps the ladies and girls find freedom and release from their trauma.
Community Health
We help the youth grow in awareness of HIV/AIDS and of how to prevent it. Our blood-test centre helps people determine their HIV status which has been very helpful. We teach the youth how to take care of their body and diet.
The Bunia Children’s Hope Centre
In January 2005, in response to the high number of orphans in the province of Ituri (surrounding Bunia) local members raised money and combined it with gifts from friends to purchase a compound with various buildings. The project, owned by Hope for Orphan Children in Ituri (HOCI) has as its mission to improve the living standards of children who are the victims of civil war, ethnic killings and HIV/AIDS. We provide food, clothes and shelter for 102 children, (all have no extended family) protecting them from physical and social abuse by providing an alternative to life on the streets. We encourage the whole community to assist and befriend the children who are part of the project. Approximately 200 other children take part in some of the weekend activities, particularly the spiritual growth and HIV/AIDS training. They cannot attend the school due to a lack of financial support.
We also run HIV/AIDS prevention training for the children and respond to their medical and dental needs. We offer counselling to help with their trauma and endeavour to create an environment for the children to grow mentally, spiritually and physically through the provision of accommodation, education and counselling.
The children are not yet resident at the centre but all activities take place there. Members of the local community (once a member of staff from the school has visited them) take orphans into their homes and provide overnight shelter and an evening meal. BCHC provides a midday meal of porridge. Many host families are so poor that some cannot afford to feed an extra child. Recently a local farmers’ association agreed to provide each host family with 10 kg of rice and 5 kg of beans per orphan each month (this service ends in June 2006.)
Through the work of BCHC the number of orphan children hanging out in town and levels of anti-social behaviour towards the community has reduced. Families hosting the children benefit from the rice and beans donated by a local organisation. BCHC’s work helps the whole community and nation of Congo through the education the children receive. When they finish studying we hope that they will work to help the nation of Congo.
The level of prostitution among orphan children within the community has reduced as BCHC helps provide clothes, shoes, food and medical care. In addition, the children are encouraged in their spiritual growth. With BCHC satisfying some of their needs, they are not alone. God is the provider: He is the one taking care of them.
Schooling at the centre
A comprehensive school program is provided and lessons are held from 9am until 2pm, Monday to Saturday. There are five classes ranging from nursery to form 4, each with a separate teacher. Reading, writing, mathematics, Bible, French and Swahili are taught. In addition, training in life-skills such as farming, sewing and carpentry is given and afternoon sessions include games, sports, singing and dancing. These help develop teamwork.
Older pupils learn to cultivate the garden, and last year produced 30 kg of beans and 20 kg of maize from their garden. Twice a week they study the word of God and have daily devotions. Twice a week there is a choir practice.
BCHC hopes to be able to give a textbook, exercise book and pen to each child in the future. Currently all staff of BCHC are unpaid, due to a lack of funding. The teachers and counsellors receive a small sum of money for soap and sugar each month, but not a real salary. They agreed to help the children on a volunteer basis and BCHC agreed to pay them when the necessary support exists.
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