Congo lies across the Equator in west central Africa. After achieving independence from France in 1960 and abandoning communism in 1992, civil war broke out in 1997 between the government and armed rebel forces. In 2003 a fragile peace was agreed.

Thousands died and 300 thousand were made refugees as a result of the bloody civil war. of which 67000 still remain displaced. The humanitarian crisis that such large numbers of refugees produce still remains

Under communist rule, all young people were brainwashed against religion, churches were closed and missionaries forced to leave the country. Since 1992 freedom of religion has been restored.

AIDS is a huge problem in The Republic of the Congo and effects family life drastically.

Missionaries have greater freedom to be resident in the country and are seeing successes in the capital and port towns.

Pray for the lasting peace that the Congo desperately needs.

The fall-out from the war for the churches has been serious, church leaders and other Christians have left the country and many are discouraged. Pray that they can trust God and find faith.

The civil war has stopped many missionaries from returning to the Congo. Pray that more will able to return in safety to support struggling churches and reach people who haven’t heard about Jesus.