With bustling traffic from oil freighters, ferries, and dug-out canoes, the porters in the Congo River capital of Brazzaville constantly lug every kind of cargo. The river has blessed the Republic of Congo with a superhighway for the nation’s oil wealth and the largest potential supply of hydroelectric power in the world. It has enabled the nation to become one of the most urbanized countries in Africa with 70% of its population living in two cities (Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire). But despite good literacy rates, plentiful resources, and three billion dollars of annual oil wealth, over half the Congolese continue to suffer in abject poverty as they rely on unstable subsistence farming, fishing, and hunting.

After a bloody civil war (1997-2001), the Republic of Congo wrote a democratic constitution, held elections, and maintains an effective state bureaucracy. However, the government is beset by charges of corruption. This fragile democracy continues to be threatened by term limit extensions, imprisonment of opponents, disregard for human rights, and the plundering of state coffers. Even though southern rebel groups signed a peace accord, civil war and political instability are constant threats. Still, the major cities are relatively stable, and the government is working with private Chinese and Arab companies to invest in large-scale mining and drilling projects. The nation’s leaders have promised to funnel potential wealth into infrastructure, health, and educational resources, but waste, mismanagement, and a lack of financial transparency have kept these promises from becoming reality.

The majority of Congolese identify as Christian, but most do not authentically claim Christ as the only means of salvation. Many hold a superficial belief in basic Christian ideas combined with animistic rituals and idols. The Marxist government (1968-1991) expelled most mission organizations and reared a generation of children disconnected from any form of spiritual life. False beliefs and practices are rampant within the Church.  There is great need for Bible-believing pastors to disciple their congregations. In order for the Body of Christ to become the hands and feet of Jesus to a nation in turmoil, the Church must return to the Word of God.