Jihadi terrorists killed at least 30 Christians, raped 10 young women and girls, and abducted several others from churches in a string of attacks on villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an organisation that aligns itself with the Islamic State terrorist group, recently raided five villages in north-eastern DRC. Terrorists armed with guns, machetes, clubs, swords and axes reportedly surrounded churches in each of the five villages.
Sources: Christian Post, The Barnabas Fund, Australian Prayer Network
Local authorities confirmed reports that the terrorists targeted Christians, killing those who refused to convert to Islam.
At least 15 people were abducted from two churches, while 14 other Christians were transported to a hospital and reported as being in critical condition suffering from severe injuries.
One Christian survivor witnessed the murder of his wife and three children as he hid in a bathroom. In another village, a pastor lost all five members of his family who were slaughtered after they refused to convert to Islam.
Led by Musa Baluku, the ADF has become the DRC’s most active and violent terrorist group over the past two years. The group is known for committing crimes such as murder, rape, and abduction of women and children, as well as slavery and indoctrination.
Attacks against Christians in the DRC have increased since October 2019, when the Congolese Army launched an operation against the ADF’s leaders and bases in the jungle around the city of Beni. In response, the jihadist group intensified its campaign of massacres in rural areas, predominantly targeting Christians, who make up 95% of the population.
Let us pray.
- Ask the Lord to provide for and minister to those who are suffering grief, trauma and injury.
Pray the victims will know of the Lord’s presence and provision and be greatly comforted. - Ask the Lord to intervene to remove the anger and hatred from the hearts of the members of the ADF. Pray for their salvation.
- Pray for wisdom for the authorities trying to bring an end to the violence, care for those who are displaced and protect the vulnerable.
Come soon Lord Jesus and end your people’s misery
Lord we pray for all those left behind traumatised and injured. Please heal their bodies and souls miraculously. Please strengthen their resolve to follow you and proclaim your name. Please bring many of the members of the AFD to surrender to you and your saving gospel. May they become mighty ministers of your kingdom and speak boldly your word. Please bring peace and refreshing to this region that has be unsettled by tragedy and terror. May law and order be restored and May your kingdom spread like revival in the Congo. Amen
Blessed Lord Jesus Christ we praise you for your grace and the calling out of darkness into light a people for yourself. We grieve for our brothers and sisters in the NE DRC and ask you to provide for and minister to those who are suffering grief, trauma and injury following such violent attacks. We pray for each victim, for their families, that the will know your presence and provision and be greatly comforted. We ask you Lord Jesus to intervene to remove the anger and hatred from the hearts of the members of the ADF. We pray for their salvation, for deep repentance and faith in Christ; that they might confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that he rose from the dead. We pray for wisdom for the authorities trying to bring an end to the violence, care for those who are displaced and protect the vulnerable. Help us and agencies like VOM to be a blessing in these situations of severe persecution. Have mercy Lord, have mercy.