Congo (MNN) — In the Central African country, the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), war has ravaged the land for the past five
years and left three million dead.
The Belgium-based Crisis Group has labeled it as "the site
of one of the world's worst ongoing humanitarian crises." The almost 1,200
people who die each day "from conflict-related causes" are a tangible example of
the crises. In addition to this, the life expectancy rates are age 45 for men
and age 48 for women.
Wycliffe Associates realizes this country needs Jesus more
than ever and will be constructing a Bible translation center in the city of
Bunia in northeastern DRC. Some of the violence
has subsided in this region recently, according to Bruce Smith, president and
CEO of Wycliffe Associates.
"There's a window of peace, of security. If we move quickly,
we can establish a permanent translation center. The Christians of the
Democratic Republic of Congo are begging for this opportunity not to be missed,"
Smith said on Wycliffe Associates' website.
The center will be located at Shalom University and will
begin translating the Bible into five new languages. This will give 1.6 million
people access to the scriptures in their own language for the first time.
Smith also said, according to Wycliffe Associates, "Missionaries
tell us again and again that conflict subsides when people begin to absorb the
Bible in their own heart language."
Therefore, Wycliffe Associates hopes their message of Christ
will bring an end to some of the violence desolating the country.
Now begins the task of raising the $100,000 needed for the
center. Wycliffe Associates has already set aside 50 percent of the funds for the
center's library. DRC nationals have also donated 50,000 bricks for the project,
and Wycliffe Associate volunteers and nationals make up a labor force.
"With a lull in the violence in a major region of the
country, workers are available right now, and the price of building materials
has dropped dramatically," Smith also said on the Wycliffe Web site. "The work can go
forward faster than it ever could have before if we can provide the
funding for construction."
You can help Wycliffe Associates raise these funds by going
to their Web site or calling 1-800-THE WORD (1-800-843-9673).
Pray for God to work in the hearts of the locals as
this project begins, that they will be receptive to the Gospel when it is
presented to them.
