Story number 2 for 31 Jul 2000

Meanwhile, despite calls for peace, and the renewal of a cease-fire on April 14th, fighting continues. As a result, at least 40,000 people have fled fighting in northern Democratic Congo and are now in neighboring Congo Republic. Global Advance’s David Shibley says the diversity presents an interesting challenge for believers, more so because: “The training of pastors is almost non-existent. They have begged for us to come for years, and now, already, over two-thousand pastors and church leaders have registered for this conference. It represents most of the protestant ministers in the entire nation.” Shibley says the Frontline Shepherd’s Conference will do much to help. “The church is challenged by the exacerbated problem of many refugees. It’s also a time of tremendous opportunity not only in reaching the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, with the message of Christ, but also in turning the church into a great missionary sending force.”