Congo Peace Updates

"Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." 

2 Chronicles 20:15

As a faithful supporter of Congo Peace, you are a gift to this ministry. We want to keep you apprised of what is happening in East Congo.

As you may have heard in recent news reports, the M23 militia group now occupy Bukavu. The conflict continues, but our New Hope Reconcilliation Center staff is committed to staying the course and are ready to open New Hope Academy as soon as the situation allows. The teachers are hired, students selected, and everyone is waiting to start. 

We are grateful that the staff, school building, and Community Center housing the offices in Minembwe remain unharmed despite the unrest and conflict. In Minembwe however, 15 villages were recently attacked, causing loss of life and property. Families are displaced and in need of food, shelter and clothing. Children are missing school and need counseling and basic securities. People do not know what the future holds.

Explaining the complex history, armed groups and competing agendas that have created long-lasting conflict and devastation is difficult. At present, there is a lack of leadership to unify the tribes and country together. Instead, there is division. 

We continue to be in awe of the commitment and resilience of the staff on the ground in Congo. They persevere in their work, furthering God’s mission and vision of reconciliation, unity, and peace. The NHRC team has established a well-respected reputation over the last five years working with all tribes. The NHRC-sponsored radio broadcasts provide a way to reach up to 45,000 people with messages of hope, reconciliation and where to go for help. Radio is an incredibly important way to communicate in the area, particularly under these difficult circumstances.  

We want to share a message we received from one of the leaders of NHRC very recently as they continue their work despite the conflict that impacts their daily lives.

“Although this region has already been the site of cyclic violence, the NHRC team remains optimistic and will continue its work to promote peace and unity in collaboration with pastors and local leaders among others. We emphasize the importance of supporting efforts for reconciliation between different communities…Despite the violent attacks, the tribe members are willing and committing to live in harmony.”

Here are stories of two Minembwe women from different tribes who are just some of the many successes the NHRC reconciliation and entrepreneurship efforts have achieved so far.

• One is a member of NURU cooperative and is from the Banyamulenge tribe, having been displaced from Komombo. She has six children and is caring for two orphans left by her deceased son, a casualty of the violence. She started her own business in 2022 with an investment from NHRC of only $70. She raises and sells goats. Today she has eight goats and one cow, showing a twelvefold increase in the investment. 
• Another, a widow from the Bafiliru tribe with 10 children, is a member of the Agape cooperative. She started in 2023 with capital from NHRC of $55. Today her entrepreneurial activities have produced a sevenfold increase in results. She cultivates vegetables and runs a small shop selling food items like maize, flour, rice, salt and sugar in Ilundu village. 

Please continue to pray and support NHRC and the vital work they are doing in bringing the kingdom of God to a troubled world. 

In Christ’s Peace,

Alexis Ruhumuriza, Executive Director, and the Board of Directors

Photos: (Above) families flee their homes gathering at New Hope Reconciliation Center in Minembwe; (Below) NHRC Staff broadcasting their weekly radio show sharing critical messages of help, hope and reconciliation.

Dear Friends of Congo Peace,

Thank you for helping to make Spirit of Congo a success. We are grateful to all of you for your support!

We hope you enjoyed learning about how much has been accomplished in the South Kivu area and how Congo Peace is supporting ongoing reconciliation work. But there is still much work to do! The people of the Congo need your prayers, advocacy, and volunteer skills, as well as your donations.

Have you ever wondered how to shape a generation of peacemakers who have grown up in the heart of a hate-filled war zone? Congo Peace believes that with God's help, generations of tribal animosity can be healed and that hostile groups can move from a divided past to a shared future of stability and peace.

Inspired by the moving and often tragic life stories of many refugees in their New Hope community, Bellevue Presbyterian Church (BelPres) in Bellevue, WA, has committed to work for reconciliation in Minembwe, East Congo. Over the last few years, the BelPres community has faithfully provided for emergency life-saving aid, supported reconciliation seminars to bring healing to warring tribes, and offered opportunities for vocational and entrepreneurial training. Through these efforts, many critical needs have been met and inspired many diverse communities, but we have observed that the root problem –the source of so much tribal animosity in this region– is broken spirits and poverty.

Dear BelPres family and friends,

We are excited to share how your donations are bringing health and hope in East Congo. THANK YOU for your amazing generosity with the congregation’s gift last May of over $300,000 to help with food relief and reconciliation efforts in this war-torn region. Together we have made a difference thanks to the dedicated work of the multi-tribal Congolese reconciliation team on the ground. Our unique multi-tribal approach is bringing hope and reconciliation to hostile tribes. All tribes are treated equally, and all are represented on the leadership team.