AGM – Saturday 3rd November 2018

CCA's Annual General Meeting with speakers will be held on Saturday 3rd November at Church Rooms, St Peter’s Church, First Turn, Upper Wolvercote, OX2 8AQ, 12 noon - 4 pm. Bring your own lunch from noon - hot drinks provided. Meeting begins at 1pm. Speakers: Rev Christophe Sadiki, Vice Rector of the Anglican University of Congo and Rev Matthew Grayshon (team leader for several recent SOMA missions to DRC)

Urgent Prayer Needs:

Pray for an end to the Ebola virus outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces; for health professionals, seeking to combat the epidemic through medical care and, together with church and community leaders, raising awareness of prevention measures and recognising signs and symptoms. Over 200 people have been infected but a significant number have recovered, thanks to the availability of vaccinations and new drugs and swiftly seeking medical help.

Pray for free, fair, transparent and credible elections, due to take place on 23rd December 2018. There are still many hurdles to overcome in the preparations.

Pray for an end to the violent massacres in Beni territory, and for many people displaced by violence and insecurity in parts of eastern Congo.

Celebrations in Katanga Diocese

In August 2018 Katanga Diocese celebrated 30 years of youth ministry in the diocese – Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade, Jeunesse Chrétienne en Mission/Agape, and Sunday Schools. Celebrations spanned several weeks with international visitors from Zambia and UK participating in various conferences. Praise God for His work in the lives of so many young people!

Fri 23rd Feb 2018: Ecumenical day of prayer and fasting for DR Congo and S Sudan

Senior Anglican Church leaders have echoed the Pope’s call for a day of Prayer and Fasting on Fri 23rd Feb, with particular focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan – more info here. In DRC an upsurge in militia activity, clashes and insecurity in different areas in recent days and weeks has displaced thousands of people and sent many across the borders into Uganda and Burundi. Bunia, in Boga Diocese, has seen a huge influx of people from Djugu territory (between Bunia and Aru) where clashes took place. Please pray for:

community, church and Government officials as they work for peaceful solutions;

effective help from churches and NGOs to the displaced and refugees;

for God’s comfort and renewed hope in Him for those who have lost family, homes and livelihoods

ongoing preparations for elections due to be held on 23rd December 2018.

Some prayer resources are available here

New Archbishop

The Bishop of Kindu Diocese, the Rt Revd. Zacharie MASIMANGO, Bishop of Kindu, was elected on 12th July by the House of Bishops to lead the Church as the fourth Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Congo. He was enthroned on 11th September 2016 in Kinshasa.

Graduation day at UAC

Graduation took place at Université Anglicane du Congo in Bunia at the end of July amidst much celebration! CCA has supported a number of theology students this year - many thanks to all who have given so generously.

Youth conference in Bukavu Diocese

111 young people gathered in Bukavu from 2-7th August for a conference on the theme ‘Christian youth facing violence’, to help equip them to face the many challenges of today’s society and build their faith. Topics covered were wide-ranging: youth and evangelism through sport; youth fighting poverty; peace and reconciliation; music in church; overview of the Bible; consequences of alcoholism and drug use. Bukavu Diocese used their annual grant from CCA towards the cost of the conference.

A Prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo

O God, loving parent of all, comfort your children displaced, wounded or orphaned by conflict in Congo; and give the people of that country courage to seek enduring peace with justice and freedom, that their children might grow up without fear; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Adapted by Canon Ian Tarrant from a prayer in the 1998 Congo Swahili Prayer Book, written after the 1996-97 war.

Objects of the Association

1. To advance the Christian Religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2. In partnership with the Anglican Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relieve poverty and to provide for the needs of refugees and the displaced.
3. In partnership with the Anglican Church in the DRC and civil society there to promote and sustain schemes for peace and reconciliation, health, education and community development for the welfare and benefit of the population.
4. To relieve poverty among the clergy and former clergy of the Anglican Church and the widows and dependants of any such persons.

Donations

Please support the work of the Association

by cheque, payable to 'Congo Church Association', addressed to the Hon. Treasurer, Paul Dickens, Hockliffe Grange, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9NL.

online by clicking here

with a standing order. Please email the Treasurer who will send you details.

Gift Aid It...

If you are a UK taxpayer, under the Government's Gift Aid Scheme the Congo Church Association can reclaim tax you have already paid on your gift. This means your gift will be increased by 25 pence for each pound given, at no extra cost to you. Please download and send the following declaration with your donation to the Hon Treasurer (contact details above): Gift Aid donation form

Financial statements

Our latest financial statements are available here.