Christmas Day baptisms bring hope to Democratic Republic of Congo amid fierce conflict

Dozens of Christians are to be baptised at a special Christmas Day service within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Some 60 recent believers can be baptised on the service going down in Kadirisha, Masisi, to the west of Goma within the eastern DRC.

Church Mission Society (CMS), which is supporting Christians within the region, called it a “Christmas miracle” after so a few years of armed conflict in Masisi. 

The region has been torn apart by conflict between government forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, with roadblocks every few miles, making travel difficult. 

Despite the conflict, church leaders have continued to evangelise the gospel and the churches are growing, CMS reports.

The Bishop of Goma, Martin Gordon, said, “In 2023 we carried out tons of of baptisms across the diocese and no less than 15 parishes have either accomplished the constructing of a church or pastor’s house this 12 months or are well on the technique to ending.”

Earlier this month, five recent clergy were ordained by Bishop Gordon. They include an evangelist, the top of a theological college, and the minister of a church in a camp for internally displaced individuals (IDPs).

Fighting has been intense within the region within the last three years, and tons of of 1000’s of individuals have been forced to flee to IDP camps.

People reside in fear, with one local resident telling CMS, “To live in Goma is to grasp that at any time you’ll be able to fall asleep with no hope of waking up within the morning. In the day we live in heaven. At night we’re in hell.”

The conflict has also taken its toll on children, with over 50 church-run schools remaining closed within the last academic 12 months. 

Even where the faculties have remained open, in some places “teachers are starting to go away as they don’t seem to be receiving a salary”, said Bishop Gordon, who preached at BBC One’s Christmas Eve communion service at St Mary’s Warwick last night. 

“Two of our schools have been hit by bombs and dozens are used as IDP shelters throughout the nights with desks as firewood, and makeshift classrooms throughout the day,” he said.