URGENT APPEAL FOR CHESTER'S LINK DIOCESE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

FROM BISHOP PETER, BISHOP LIBBY AND BISHOP KEITH

Dear Friends

 

We are writing to inform you of the current turmoil in Aru and Boga, the Diocese of Chester link dioceses in northeast DR Congo. There has been some coverage of this crisis on national news which you may have seen. We have received requests for support from our link dioceses in this time of need.

Starting last December, and coming to a head in February, there has been a resurgence of hostilities after more than a decade of peace. Clergy report churches and houses being torched, women raped and many killed. The centre of these atrocities is Djugu, 70 kilometres from Bunia, the provincial capital, where +Keith, Archdeacon Ian and a team from the diocese were visiting last July.

 

Unsurprisingly, many are fleeing the fighting. Earlier this month it was reported that there were more than 100,000 displaced people, including 42,000 refugees in neighbouring Uganda. Bisoke Balikenga, Provincial Youth Leader, tells of 25,000 displaced families in Bunia. The number of displaced and refugees in DRC as a whole equals those of Syria.

The local Church is doing a magnificent job. They are putting people up in their homes and opening up their schools to shelter the displaced. Their whole ethos is summed up by their vision ‘Ensemble nous pouvons’ (Together we can). However, emergency aid is essential: the Anglican Alliance, whose mandate is to bring together development, relief and advocacy work across the Communion, is aiming to raise $100,000 across ten DRC dioceses, starting with Aru and Boga.

 

We are asking if you would make a donation, however large or small. Donations should be made direct to the Congo Church Association, using one of the following methods;

• By online payment, details can be found at www.congochurchassn.org.uk   You can Gift Aid your donation, by using this payment method or by downloading a form from the same website.
• By cheque, payable to 'Congo Church Association', Please write Dio Chester on the reverse of the cheque. Addressed to; The Hon. Treasurer, Paul Dickens, Hockliffe Grange, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9NL


• By direct payment, payable to ‘Congo Church Association’           CAF Bank Ltd           Account No. 00016616       Sort code 40-52-40

When making a donation please quote the reference DioChester .

 

 

Please pray, and thank you for your response.

With love in Christ,

+Peter, +Libby and +Keith