One thousand five hundred miles – the distance from Uvira to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He told Mbirima it was a thousand miles and that it took him one year to drive his cattle to market, but he didn’t have Google Maps so who could blame him for under-exaggerating.
This friend of Pastor Mbirima described to him the difficult journey and the many different villages he passed through where the Gospel has never reached, where even civilization has not yet reached. Congo is one of the poorest nations in the world, if not the poorest. Civil infrastructure is not present in most parts of the DRC. These areas are what we call the “Dark Places” making it difficult, if not impossible, for modern missionaries to enter. A lack of electrical power and roads, plus dangers of all sorts have slowed the progress of the Gospel in Congo even though missionaries have been there for years. What we also know is that the peoples in these dark places live in a very, very dark world, full of fear and witchcraft, and they have never heard of the Love of God.
The Lord has put it in our hearts to reach the lost in these dark places. He is preparing our team to understand how to overcome the strong powers of witchcraft through prayer and fasting. Great Harvest Church in Uvira is constantly harassed by witches who are trying to destroy the church through lies and curses against them. But they know that “no weapon formed against them will prosper”. To be sure there is a battle in prayer to be won but through the power of the Holy Spirit they are moving in discernment and have been given God’s strategy for the fight.
It is our hope and prayer that this new year will be the beginning of penetrating the dark places with the Gospel. The Lord has raised up a young man named Tomas whom we believe will be used of God to reach these areas, one village at a time until Jesus comes. Of course, Tomas cannot do it alone, but he is being trained to multiply disciples. He will soon learn the art of spiritual warfare as he is discipled by Pastor Mbirima. Please pray for our team in Congo as we prepare to go this coming year and reach those who have yet to hear the name of Jesus.
