Pray for Peace in Bunia
Rev. Bernard Bisoke Balikenga is the Provincial Youth Coordinator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Bisoke traveled to the U.S. in September 2019 for the New Wineskins Global Mission Conference and again in January 2020 to attend leadership conferences, Holy Trinity Anglican Church Windermere in Charleston, SC, was fortunate to be his host. His many stories opened our eyes to his world, to the suffering of his people, and to his great faith in the face of poverty, hopelessness, and war. On his second trip, he brought gifts of clothing made by the women and children at the Bunia Children Hope Center, some of which are shown in the photo. Now, we correspond with him regularly, speak with him often and pray for each other. We consider him part of our church family and pray for guidance as to how best to help him and his wife Furaha in their work.
Bisoke lives with his family in Bunia, the capital of the northeastern Ituri Province. This region is one of the most dangerous in the world: warring tribal conflicts, corrupt government, and ethnic killings have wreaked havoc on and off since 1998. A recent resurgence of unrest has driven refugees to 26 refugee camps in Ituri Province; 200,000 refugees now reside in two camps in Bunia. Bisoke and Furaha have committed their lives to helping these displaced people.
The Bunia Children Hope Center (BCHC) and the Peace Center are two programs developed by Bisoke and Furaha. The BCHC, begun in 2004, provides orphans with education, food, and clothing. It also provides counseling (many of the orphans have suffered physical and social abuse), placement in foster homes, health care, and HIV/AIDS training. From preschool age to graduation, 600 orphans attend BCHC’s two schools: Baraka’s Academy for the older children and Chari Preschool. BCHC also gives 200 widows purpose and hope through service as a foster parent, teaching in the school, and training for meaningful jobs.
Produce used to be raised on farmland near the Chari Preschool 10km from Bunia. The food was sold to help with school expenses and supplemented meals for the orphans. Currently, it is no longer safe to venture out to farm the land. In the past local families have paid to send their children to the school, but there is currently not enough money to pay teachers. The government does not assist the school financially but recognizes its valuable contribution to the most vulnerable.
The Peace Center is 11km outside of Bunia. In 2017, Bisoke introduced the Jesus Film to the village of Rwampara. Chief Emmanuel, the tribal leader, was so pleased with Bisoke’s work for his people that he donated land to build the Center. Its mission is to enable peacebuilding through dialog and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. It is an ecumenical facility, a safe place for displaced church leaders to work together to develop plans and programs and to rely on God to bless and guide them in their outreach. Their working together from many denominations is the best way to show the many warring tribes in the refugee camps that reconciliation and peace are possible. The Center hosts church services, conferences, training, counseling, prayer, feeding of large groups, and at times housing.
Due to civil unrest and prohibitive transportation costs, Bisoke is not able to perform his job as Youth Coordinator for his vast country at this time. Bisoke and Furaha have no income or help from the government. Their first request is always for prayer for their people and their work and for wisdom to know what God would have them do. When Bisoke left in October 2019, Holy Trinity sent him with an envelope of just over $2,000 for a Christmas celebration for the orphan children at the BCHC. He asked me for tape and I watched as he meticulously sealed the envelope. Knowing he had traveled to the U.S. as a gift from New Wineskins Missionary Network and was now going home with no money in his pockets, I told him he might need some cash for travel. He let me know this money was for the children and he would deliver it all to them, firmly sealed.
The needs are vast and overwhelming and hard for us to fathom. We cannot hope to solve the problems of government, poverty, wars, civil atrocities, and displaced peoples. We are thankful for the BCHC and Peace Center that are already in place and doing a mighty work. We pray we can find ways to support them as their ministry expands. What we know for certain though is that our global partnership brings joy, encouragement, and much hope to us all!
“God is in control. God is working when we cannot see. God will find a way.” ~ Bisoke
Julia Marshall has been a member of Holy Trinity Windermere Anglican Church in Charleston, SC for ten years. She has been involved as a Sunday School teacher, choir and vestry member. She is a retired nurse and lives with her husband on Edisto Island, SC. Getting to know Bisoke has made a huge impact on her family and her faith.