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W HY did SO many missionaries leave the rebel-controlled areas of the Congo? Is the N a tio n a l Church able to carry on during the absence of the missionaries? Is the era of Missions past in the Congo? Questions such as these plague the evacuated Congo missionary, and he hesitates to answer them, realizing the delicacy of each point. However, an expression of opinion in response to these queries may be of help to interested Christians, and should certainly stimulate prayer on behalf of the Congolese Church. I. WHY DID SO MANY MISSIONARIES LEAVE REBEL-CONTROLLED AREAS OF THE CONGO? Since Independence in 1960, the Congo has blazoned the world head lines with a record of blunder and bloodshed. During the early part of 1964, the series of crises reached a peak when Mulele-led rebels revolted against Tshombe’s Central Govern- ment and maliciously murdered some of the missionaries. This revolt spread to Kwilu, Katanga and Kivu Provinces, and on August 5th Stan leyville was brought under the heel of the insurgents. Missionaries were deprived of their vehicles and within a short time their radio communi cations were cut off. Some of their
last communications reported hun ger, and there were desperate ap peals for help. One of their last messages was directed to mission aries not yet caught behind rebel lines, tersely stating: “Get out while you can! You have no idea of the seriousness of the situation!” A t that time an urgent message came from the American Embassy in Kampala, strongly advising “ all Americans to leave Congo immedi ately. Pack lightly as you may have to leave your cars and flee through the bush into Uganda.” Newscasts informed of rebels closing in from every direction toward the eastern border. National Christians saw the danger and begged their mission aries to leave. What had the mission ary to gain by placing himself in an impossible position, and further en dangering the lives of Chiirch lead ers, who already were regarded with suspicion because of their associa
tion with Americans? The Africa Inland Mission gave the order for all missionaries to pack lightly and to leave as soon as possi ble. Some of the first cars were held up as long as 27 hours at the border, and the occupants told that no Amer icans were to leave, but were to be held as hostages. Customs and Immi- gration officials harrassed and har angued each missionary, but God graciously intervened. Within one week, the A.I.M. missionary family of 158 were all out with the glaring exception of the Charles Davis- fam ily who were in the Stanleyville area.
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They, along with some 60 other mis sionaries, were caught behind rebel lines, and were held as prisoners of war. Reports filtered through that one young father of five has suc cumbed to brutal beatings. The bar barous treatment to which this noble band has been subjected, and their valorous stand for Christ will form another eloquent chapter in the an- IS THE ERA OF MISSIONS OVER IN .... nals of Church History.
The only source of information has been the occasional refugee who escaped across the border and re ported daily executions in the larger towns. School teachers, pastors, ex- Government officials and merchants were on the extinction list because allegedly they have helped the hated Americans in their “ imperialist” aims. The few white people left were forced to witness as helpless victims were tied before Lumumba’s monu ment and savagely speared to death while bestial men danced around them. Those who were forced to wit- ness these orgies were expected to join in the dance and cheer as the victim died. Escapees relate that corpses were left for days unburied and that the stench of death pollutes the land. Bunia’s main street has literally flowed with blood. Mission stations have been thoroughly looted, hospitals and schools d e s tro y ed , while malicious men carry out their devilish designs. The travesty of the whole situation is seen when naive rebel-sympathizers in free countries rationalize such acts of brutality in the name of “ Nationalism” and call such felons “ Freedom Fighters.” II. CAN THE MISSIONARY LEAVE THE CHURCH AT THIS JUNCTURE TO STAND ON ITS OWN FEET? It is the sincere desire of each evacuated missionary to see the door
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By Peter J. Brashler
A.I.M. CONGO FIELD DIRECTOR
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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