National Prayer Breakfast in Congo
The Church of the Disciples of Christ (EDCC) participated in a National Day of Prayer on Saturday November 17, 2012.
The Church of the Disciples of Christ (EDCC) participated in a National Day of Prayer on Saturday November 17, 2012. The President of the EDCC, the Rev. Georges Ngoka, represented the church in the 2nd Annual event with other Christian leaders from around the country. Guests from the international community included some from Germany, the USA, South Africa, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Switzerland, the Ivory Coast and a host of other countries. The guest speaker was the Honorable David Muldrow Beasley, a former Governor of South Carolina.
The idea of hosting such an event was borrowed from a similar event is held in the United States since the time of Dwight Eisenhower and continues today. Initiated in November, 2008 by Christian leaders in government and encouraged by employees in the public sector, the National Prayer Breakfast in Congo Brazzaville was created.
The Republic of Congo lived through a Marxist period when it was very risky to declare oneself Christian. Marxism was taught in school and many feared attending churches. This is no longer the case today. Given the legacy of Marxism, churches in the country are faced with the challenge of changing a mindset that was deeply engrained into the people. To host a major event like the National Prayer Breakfast in Brazzaville is quite significant in that many of the former Marxists can now proclaim openly their allegiance to Jesus Christ. The President of the country, Denis Sassou Nguesso, is reported to have said a few years ago, “Now, we return the Congo to God”.
We continue to lift our prayers for the people of Congo Brazzaville as they seek to be faithful to their Christian faith.
Rev. Sandra R. Gourdet
Executive, Africa Office