Republic of the Congo

Field Office Information

C&MA Field Entry in 1992

Field Director:

Ron Julian

Mailing Address:

BP 4797
Pointe Noire, REP OF CONGO

Phone:

011-242-57-47-81

Email:

ron_julian@kastanet.org

Website:

National Church

The Christian Alliance Church in Congo: 15 organized churches, 27 unorganized groups, 15 ordained ministers, 647 baptized members, and 2,000 inclusive members

Team Initiatives

• Work with the national church to develop a church-planting movement among the Vili, who are along the Atlantic coast, and the Teke, who live on the plateau area north of Brazzaville.
• Broaden the national church leadership base by empowering those who have been trained to train others for ministry. There is need for all believers to use their spiritual gifts in local church ministries.
• Develop a Christian study center in Pointe Noire. One building has already been built and is being used by the Bible School. Funds are being raised to construct another building. Along with the Bible School, the center will coordinate Theological Education by Extension and discipleship ministries in the region.

Congolese Christians Reach Out to Haiti

2010-02-19 12:46:34.0

By Jay and Beverly Bellamy

Jay and Beverly Bellamy teach at Christian Alliance Bible Institute (Institute Biblique de l'Alliance Chrétienne), located in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo. The following is an adapted excerpt from the Bellamy's February prayer update.

This past month we saw God at work in wonderful ways.

Immediately after we received reports of the earthquake in Haiti, our Alliance-supported Christian radio station in Pointe-Noire, Radio Sangu ya Mbote ("Radio Good News"), announced a prayer gathering for Christians to pray for Haiti. There was a tremendous response. Many came to plead for God's mercy and help for a people whom they had never met.

The Poor Give out of their Need

We were touched to see how Pointe-Noire's Christian musicians were moved to put on a concert-again, in conjunction with our radio station-to raise money to send help to the people of Haiti.

About $5,000 was raised at the concert, Sunday night, February 7. Several Pointe-Noire businesses donated to the cause; but about half of the amount was given by those who typically live on about $2 a day, wondering where their meals will come from and how they can provide for their own families.

To really understand the poverty here, you have to understand that the infrastructure is poor-even those with salaries spend a lot to buy clean water and treat health problems resulting from poor sanitation. Much of the time, most of Pointe-Noire's population also lives without electricity, which complicates everything from lighting and fans to refrigeration and recharging cell phones.

It is amazing to us that people here were able to look past their own problems and reach out to others.

More Donations

Nicaise, the radio station director, is visiting other business owners in Pointe-Noire who have promised to add to the Haiti donations, so the final total could well be more than $5,000. Because of his good reputation, the government has also asked Nicaise to oversee the fund-raiser to ensure that the funds will all go to Haiti.

Pray that this project goes smoothly and that God will bring glory to Himself through this generous outpouring.

What You Can Do

• Give to Alliance Great Commission Ministries to ensure that dedicated workers like the Bellamy's can remain on the field doing cutting-edge ministry.
• Staff workers and friends of Sangu ya Mbote Christian radio are seeking to raise some $9,000 to erect a new antenna tower that will enable the station to extend its vibrant ministry beyond Pointe-Noire into southern Republic of the Congo. You can make an online donation to this worthy project. 

Demographics

Population

Population--3,039,126 Infant mortality rate--92.4/1,000 Life expectancy--49.0

Capital City

Brazzaville (1,169,900) pop.

Geography

Nearly the size of Montana, the Republic of the Congo (132,046 sq. mi.) is more than 60% covered with tropical rainforests and with grasslands and bush in the north.

Languages

French (official), Lingala, Monokutuba, Kikongo, many dialects

Ethnicity/Race

Kongo--48%; Sangha--20%; M’Bochi--12%; Teke--17%; European (mostly French), other--3%

Economy

Per capita income--$800 Inflation--1.8% Literacy rate--84% (2003 est.)

Government/Political Climate

Republic. Republic of the Congo gained independence from France in 1960. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990, and a began in 1992. A 1997 civil war restored former Marxist President Sassou-Nguesso but ushered in ethnic unrest. Today, the country is seeking to rebuild from the years of civil war in the 1990’s.

Religion

Christian--50%; animist--48%; Muslim--2%