WHEN IT IS NO LONGER "NEW" NEWS

By Sandi Roach

We hear stories all the time about people who walk by rapes, muggings and even murders and we often ask, “How can they do that?”  Is it that their hearts are hardened?  Do they have no compassion?  Are they afraid of getting involved?  All these have been used as excuses, but there comes a time in the life of Christians when we need to take a stand for the abused.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in a state of turmoil since 1990 – there have been numerous political uprisings and influx of refugees from Rwanda and internal power struggles.  The area around Goma has been one of those hardest hit, and in addition to the many lives that have been lost in the battles, other lives have been totally thrown into upheaval.  Children have been left orphaned, wives have become widows, elderly people are raising grandchildren and many have been maimed.  Homes and farm lands have been destroyed and disease has spread through the refugee camps. If this weren’t enough, recent reports reveal that rape has ruined the lives of many young children.

The plight of these people has lasted almost twenty years – we seldom see reports of this genocide and abuse in the papers, but let and airplane crash in that country and it gets prime media attention.  Has the horror hardened the hearts of people or is it OK to ignore the situation if it is not “new” news?  Christ loves these people and His heart aches for them.  We are told that when we feed or clothe or give water to the least of these we do it for Christ.  Then why are these people in such need?  They have nothing and yet they are doing their best to take care of one another.  Weekly they give of their “surplus” for those who literally have nothing.  We in the US have tightened our belts as our economy has struggled, but even in our worst conditions, we are a nation of great wealth and yet we are often concerned for ourselves and our families instead of the family of God.

The media clip by Lynne Hybels, below, will give you a current perspective on the urgency of the situation in the Congo.  Please take the time to listen to this with an open heart and an open mind.  If you are stirred to action, please consider helping the people of the Congo.  We have attached a link to our online donations for this ministry need.

Lynne Hybels media clip

“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of heaven.  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Luke 18:24b-25