A City on a Hill in the Congo
Most Christians in American can relate in part to what Jesus had to say about persecution. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described opposition mostly in terms of words — insults and false accusations of evil (Matthew 5:11). But elsewhere Jesus warns his disciples of physical persecution and the loss of life. That is such a remote possibility for believers living in America, it seems unthinkable to the point of being otherworldly.
Look at how Jesus commands his followers to respond to persecution. He tells them to rejoice and be glad and calls them blessed (Mattew 5:12). If physical persecution is difficult to imagine, this sort of courageous joy can sound impossible. And yet, there are many examples across the globe today of those whose lights shine as brightly as a city on a hill. I would like to introduce you to one.
Dr. Jean P. Musavuli is a Christian leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the most populous country in Francophone Africa. I recently read a journal article by Dr. Musavuli that begins by explaining how he was completing his draft when he received news that forty Christians on a spiritual retreat were attacked and beheaded in the DRC. Most of the world heard about this story on the news. Jean likely heard about it firsthand as members of his local church are related to those who were killed.
Jean recently completed his PhD from the Oxford Centre for Missions Studies in the UK with support from the organization I work for, Scholar Leaders. He now serves on faculty at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo. The university is a part of the Congo Initiative, described as “a global collective inspired by Christ-centered faith and united for the transformation of lives and communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” This sounds like the sort of salt and light to which Jesus called his followers.
In a prayer update Jean shared his hope and heart for the Church in the Congo. I can think of no better way to end this post than with his words:
“The strength of the Church can be seen in those denominations, congregations, and Christian organizations that have stood up for justice, as well as in our prayers for the restoration of our country. These churches have continuously taught the truth, calling believers to take on their roles as light in darkness. Of course, such people have faced persecution in many ways, causing fear in those who might follow their example.”