Persecuted for Helping Others

We recently received a report from our ministry partners in India that really shocked me. This couple is meeting the educational needs of children who would not be permitted to attend school because they are from the untouchable caste and are too poor to be able to purchase uniforms or pay tuition.

The Jagat Jyoti School serves about 120 of these children in two small rooms and now has been told that they need to place ramps for the handicapped at the building. The law has been on the books but has never been enforced and is currently not enforced for any of the government run schools or any of the Universities. It is speculated that this isolated enforcement is because it is a Christian School.

The school is in the process of raising funds for expansion, but now there is persecution in this area as well. There have been challenges made to the boundaries of the land. These have never been contested in the past, but again, the Christian influence on the children is bringing attacks from the predominantly Hindu population.

Kamlesh and Ranu are strong in their faith, and although they have received numerous attacks, they persevere. They stand on God’s promises of Romans 8:37 that they are more than conquerors through Him who loved them. Reaching hundreds of millions of Hindus is not a challenge for the faint of heart, but Ranu has been leading Hindus to Christ since she was a young child and together with her husband Kamlesh, they stand firm in their calling to share the Gospel among the lost people of India even under the discrimination and persecution that they face in little things and big things on a daily basis.

We know that they are making a difference in the lives of the Cobra children that they have reached out to. The teachers that are working with them are making many sacrifices – lower pay, poor conditions and no benefits, but they too have a heart for those who will fall by the wayside and continue to be shunned by the rest of society without an education. They are serving the Lord continually; in as much as they reach out to one of the least of these children; they do it to the Lord. (Paraphrase, Matthew 25:40). Their battles belong to the Lord that He may receive the glory and their strength to persevere comes from Him alone. Should our lives be any different?

Hope Amongst Disaster

“God is good all the time.”

The Union of Baptist Churches of the DRC has been working for the past twenty years to bring hope to a troubled region. The Union and its leadership have taken a holistic approach to ministry by reaching out to meet spiritual, physical, and community needs in an effort to reach the Congolese people with the Gospel and plant churches. With little financial support evangelist working in the region are making an amazing impact for Jesus Christ and seeing thousands come to salvation.

In recent months, the ministry has even sent out pastors to witness among rebels in the region. In an amazing display of God’s grace these pastors are ministering to the same rebels that have been raiding villages and killing innocent people. These are the same rebels that kidnapped and forced two pastor’s sons to be child soldiers.

Since the last report, 207 rebels are now walking with the Lord and in discipleship programs. The Union leadership and pastors are really praising God for His grace and believes that this ministry is the cause of many rebels backing a recent peace effort. This growth has come from the foundation of one humble church and 15 faithful believers. Today the Union is serving thousands in the area and the Gospel is alive through the witness of believers working in a multitude of ministries including widow and orphans care, aid and relief to displaced families, education, economic development, and a Bible school. Much of these initiatives have been instituted in one of the poorest countries in the world with no outside assistance.

The Church has been faithful in trusting that God would provide and He does. God is at work.

“I praise the almighty God for our partnership, which is bearing much fruit.” (Rev. Athanase Habimana – President, UBC/DRC)

Harvesters’ International Missions focus is on encouraging, supporting and equipping national missionaries in an effort to spread the Gospel. Harvesters’ partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are working diligently to evangelize and bring hope to their own people. Their commitment to Christ and seeing others come to salvation is remarkable despite the difficulties that plague the region. And while there is much fruit in this partnership there is much work yet to be done. And we know that God is still moving.

Since our partnership began in December 2007, Harvesters’ has been seeking out faithful churches and individuals that might consider supporting the work being done in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Harvesters’ is trusting that the Lord would continue to bring people along that would like to be apart of what the Lord is doing in the DRC.

Prayer & Needs

We ask that you would commit to praying for The Union of Baptist Churches of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Please pray:

  • that God would bring peace to the troubled region of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • that doors would continue to open for the Gospel and that God would prepare and soften hearts so that many more would be saved. – for financial support from faithful churches and individuals who want to be apart of what God is doing in the DRC.
  • for further ministry opportunities to share the Gospel with area rebels and that many would come to salvation.
  • that God would provide the support needed to further grow the ministry, implement new ministry programs, and equip national pastors to continue to plant churches.

The Union of Baptist Churches of the DRC and the people in the Goma area really do need our help. Through prayer, encouragement, and financial support we can be apart of what the God is already doing in that region. Faithful brothers and sisters are ministering daily to a hopeless people, that they might have hope in Jesus Christ.