August 23, 2013
In mid-July, ethnic violence began in the village of Koule before spreading to nearby N’Zérékoré, about 350 miles southeast of Guinea’s capital, Conakry.
Many believers lost their houses and all of their belongings, including Alliance families.
In response, Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA), the relief and development arm of The Alliance, issued a grant to a local Christian relief organization to provide food and basic household items to 300 families from both sides of the conflict that had lost everything. CAMA Zending, the C&MA church in Holland, assisted in the effort.
Hope Medical Center, a Christian clinic founded by CAMA, provided medical care to some of the wounded.
Funds, Food, and More
A delegation from the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea (EPE) also aided families in N’Zérékoré. A member of the Alliance World Fellowship, EPE represents Alliance-related national churches to facilitate the Great Commission’s fulfillment (see Matthew 28:18–20).
More than $2,200, mounds of clothing, 27 bags of corn soya, and other items were collected to distribute to families who suffered as a result of the violence. Among the affected were six Alliance pastors who lost everything they owned.
“One elderly pastor cried when I presented him with a new copy of the Africa Bible Commentary in French,” reported a worker who serves in Guinea with The Christian and Missionary Alliance of Canada. “He had lost all of the theological books that he had accumulated over 40 years and despaired that he would obtain that commentary again.”
When EPE delegates return to southeast Guinea, they plan to also distribute school supplies to the children of those families most affected. “We hope also to take time to do evangelism in the city,” the worker said. “Please pray that people in N’Zérékoré will be responsive to the gospel.”
Pray
Pray for peace in Guinea and for those who were victimized to experience the love of Christ in the aftermath of this tragedy. Pray for comfort for those who lost family members and for provision for the pastors and congregations whose churches and homes were destroyed.
Join other Alliance family members to pray for our workers around the world, using our weekly Alliance Prayer Requests.
Learn More
Read a Reuters’ article to learn more about the recent violence.