Goma Bible work overcomes volcano,
war and occupation

Refugees who lost everything they own to the flames of the volcano which erupted in January 2002 use the plants around them and whatever else they can find to build these temporary dwellings. Goma, DR of Congo. Photo: UBS/Larry Jerden (DRC02DJ-145.JPG)

GOMA, DR Congo — What was once the centre of Goma, in the occupied territory of DR Congo, is today just a flat expanse with only the skeletons of buildings standing amid the ashes. What appears to be the ‘ground’ is actually the top of a hardened lava flow. A giant, bare plot of hardened lava was once the site of the city’s largest church. Overhead, the volcanic dust hangs in the air.

If the destruction left by the volcanic eruption of January 2002 is easily seen in the city itself, its scars run even deeper in the lives of the survivors. The eruption followed the Rwandan refugee crisis of the early 1990s, four years of war, and now military occupation. But the faith of Goma’s many Christians has proved very resilient.

Lost everything

“The disaster has only strengthened our faith,” said Athanose Kahanya, a Christian layman who is Director of the Province.

“We lost everything but our lives and our faith,” added the Rev Mauka Mathe Bulalo, Legal Representative (chief executive) of the Baptist Community in the Centre of Africa (CBCA). He beamed with gratitude that the Bible Society of Congo quickly provided him and other ministers with replacement Bibles.

“We were not able to give Bibles to all the Christians,” explained the Rev Christophe Kongo, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Congo, during a recent visit. “So we decided to give them first to the pastors, so that they could continue to share God’s Word.”

Mr Kongo last visited Goma in November 2001.

“I was in Goma two months before the volcano erupted, and the things that I saw at that time are now gone,” he said. “Through what I have seen, I can say that God is a powerful God, and he can take care of our staff members working here.”

Mr Kongo was especially moved when he toured the remains of Bible House.

“The Bible House was still visible after the lava poured through the city, so people used it as a reference point,” he remarked.

Stock destroyed

Residents of Goma trek across the lava flow that destroyed much of their town following the volcanic eruption in January 2002. Behind them is a Congo Airlines jumbo jet that was stranded when the runway was cut in two by the lava. Goma, DR Congo. Photo: UBS/Larry Jerden (DRC02DJ-132.JPG)

The losses suffered by the Bible Society in the eruption were devastating. Along with its warehouse and offices, its only vehicle and the entire stock of Scriptures were also destroyed (see Latest News #180 and #181).

“The Goma warehouse was strategic for us,” Mr Kongo explained. “From this warehouse we were reaching out to the north and east. Now, months later, we are trying to develop a new strategy for serving these areas.”

He went on to explain that the destruction in Goma also impacted what can be accomplished from Kinshasa.

“Goma is the point at which we receive Scriptures for the north and east,” he noted. “More than 3,000 Bibles have been destroyed here – in addition to New Testaments and other Scriptures. Now we cannot work easily in these regions.”

No access

In fact, Goma is one of three main distribution points – Matadi, near Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi, in the south, are the other two.

“So the loss of Goma means the loss of about one third of our distribution capability,” Mr Kongo explained.

The eruption only made worse an already challenging situation. DR Congo is a large country with a poor transport infrastructure. It is more than 1,000kms from Kinshasa to Goma, so serving the vast nation from the capital alone is quite impossible.

With the runway at Goma’s international airport cut in two by the lava, even to fly from Kinshasa to Goma requires a three-hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya, a one-hour flight to Kigali, Rwanda, and an overland trip of more than three hours.

Despite the multiple hardships that have hit the people of Goma over the past few years, including the volcanic eruption in January 2002, their determination – and their faith – remain unbowed. Goma, DR Congo. Photo: UBS/Larry Jerden (DRC02DJ-152.JPG)

To complicate matters, Goma is under the control of Rwandan military forces. Access and operations are subject to military control, and this has also caused communications difficulties. Nonetheless, Mr Kongo and his staff are determined to move forward.

“The loss of the Bible Society building included a loss of US$150,000 in Scriptures, equipment and other contents,” noted the Rev Kambale Kabwaro, the Bible Society’s Provincial Secretary. “We are now in rented quarters, but the facility is too small, so we will have to buy a container when we receive a large shipment and keep the inventory in it – that is, if we can get a large shipment!

“We have some Bibles in French, but what we really need is Bibles in the vernacular languages,” he said. “We only have a staff of three and no vehicle.”

“Nevertheless, we praise the Lord who enables us to start again,” Mr Kongo declared. “That’s why we ask the UBS fellowship for prayer. We want to feel that we are members of the Fellowship and that they can sustain us. We have people who can work, but we need the resources!” (WR 372/17 - 11.02)