{"id":128914,"date":"2026-06-12T17:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/?p=128914"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:51:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:51:57","slug":"pastoral-letter-to-anabaptists-drcongo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/pastoral-letter-to-anabaptists-drcongo\/","title":{"rendered":"A pastoral letter to Anabaptists in DR\u00a0Congo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Beloved sisters and brothers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of Communaut\u00e9 Evang\u00e9lique Mennonite, Communaut\u00e9 Mennonite au Congo, Communaut\u00e9 des \u00c9glises des Fr\u00e8res Mennonites au Congo, Communaut\u00e9 Mennonite de Kinshasa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hold you in our prayers. You bring gifts to the global family: the emotional vibrancy of your connection to Jesus inspires us. Your deep faith instructs us. Your practice of community and sacrificial hospitality models for us the way of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hardships you endure grieves us. The ravages of resource extraction for the very devices that connect us. The underdevelopment of your vast country as its riches benefit only the already-wealthy. The warring factions who squabble over power and money while people caught in the middle suffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Father of orphans and protector of widows<\/em> 
\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202fis God in his holy habitation.<\/em> 
God gives the desolate a home to live in;<\/em> 
\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202fhe leads out the prisoners to prosperity,<\/em> 
\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202fbut the rebellious live in a parched land.<\/em> 
Psalm 68:5-6<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

At this time, we call on our global communion to pray<\/strong> with our siblings in DR Congo and beyond amid an Ebola outbreak. We pray<\/strong> for the spread of hygiene information to shut down the spread of the virus. We pray<\/strong> for the provision of soap and gloves and other tools to protect the carers from paying a cost for their compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pray<\/strong> for governments to be wise and judicious in their implementation of preventive measures. We pray <\/strong>for a stop to local and regional violence that would interfere with medical reaching those who need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pray<\/strong> for churches to be a refuge for the spirit in this time of fear. May our members take care to be sharers of truthful information. May our communities be generous in tending to the needs of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace, amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henk<\/figure>
\n

Henk Stenvers, <\/em>
president, <\/em>
Mennonite World Conference<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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DR Congo<\/a>, <\/span>pastoral letter<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

Urgent prayer & pastoral letters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n