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There is so poverty and conflict in Africa, it's difficult to decide where to place relief efforts first. At the same time, when we're talking about over three million people massacred in a major genocide, I think it's a real catastrophe that we can't get more involvement from the outside. International pressure could bring an end to a lot of what's going on there.

One report said a vast majority of Congolese became Christians during the 20th century. How this could happen with so many Christians there?

A lot of us ask that. I've been told by people there the problems began in the church, and by other people that they didn't begin in the church but they spread to the church. We need to remember the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Once there was a foothold by the devil, things spread. Historically, the previous government under (Joseph) Mobutu was said to have been sold out to the devil. If that's true, then I think to some degree they are reaping what had been sown.

Accounts of the fighting make it seem as if tribal warfare is to blame for war.

To grasp a picture of the situation, one needs to understand that's only a small part of what's happening. Ethnic groups are being stirred up, armed, and provoked by outside groups who have personal interests in the nation's mineral wealth. The end result is rival militias vying for power, and suffering and death as villagers and their homes are plundered. The only way for this to end is for a stable government to be brought in, a Congolese government, and for other countries that have personal interests to be forced to leave.

How can people pray for the situation?

Ask God to bring an end to human rights abuses. As long as abuses are going on, it's difficult for anything to change. Pray there will be a swift and permanent end to this war. And, that there would be adequate resources to meet people's basic needs—food, shelter and water. Another would be that the gift of God's grace would be evident to all who come into contact with believers.

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The official website for the Africa Inland Mission includes information on its mission, history, work areas, and opportunities.

Previous Christianity Today stories on Congo's civil war include:

Roadblocks to Mercy | Congolese Christians won't allow a civil war to curtail outreach, church-planting. (Jan.8, 2001)

Missionaries in Congo Flee | Missionaries leave for the third time this decade in the wake of war and civil strife. (Feb. 8, 1999)

Congo Church Watchful Amid Chaotic Leadership Transition | Western missionaries who did not pull out ahead of the revolution scaled back and evacuated as rebels began to score victories. (July 14, 1997)

For more news articles see Christianity Today's World Report or AllAfrica.com.

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July (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47