Holy Trinity Anglican Church Mission Partnership
With Bisoke and Furaha In Bunia, Ituri Province,
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2019 Holy Trinity Anglican Church was introduced to Rev. Bernard Bisoke Balikenga
from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is the Provincial Youth Coordinator for the
Anglican Diocese for the DRC. We were privileged to host him while he attended a
meeting at camp St. Christopher in Charleston and then a New Wineskins conference
in North Carolina. When he returned in January 2020 for the Anglican Leadership Institute
we felt called as a parish to support him and his wife Furaha in their work in his war torn region of
northeastern Congo. Check out this article in the Anglican Diocese of SC Newsletter.
https://adosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021_spring_jubilate_deo_web.pdf
Furaha and the BCHC
The Bunia Children Hope Center was begun in 2004
as a refuge of hope for the many displaced
children in the area. The Baraka Academy I school
for orphans grades 1-12 was established, placement
in foster care facilitated, counseling,
medical care, clothing and release from
abuse provided. Widows were also
assisted in the process with education and
as teachers or foster parents. Today 1,002 students
attend, over half of them orphans.
Paying students enable the school to operate.
Baraka Academy II for preschool students is
located in a farming region west of Bunia
that is owned by the BCHC. Previously farming
offered a sustainable resource for food
and income but the farm area is not
safe at this time due to fighting militia groups and
Baraka II campus had to be closed for now.
Bisoke and the
Peace Center
The Peace Center was established in 2017 about 7
miles to the west of Bunia. With a displaced camp of
600,000 nearby, this site is a refuge for healing,
reconciliation and counseling from trauma, peace
building, education, church services and food when
available.
A recent mission is an outreach to the 350 street
children in Bunia.
Water
Bunia Children Hope Center
needed water for the school students.
Anglican Relief Development Fund
found a donor for the first of three
wells for the area. The children at
Baraka Academy I are enjoying the
benefit of the first well. A second well
is in progress at the outlying campus
for preschoolers at Baraka Academy II. This project, funded by Holy Trinity in conjunction with
ARDF, is currently on hold due to unrest in
the region. A third well will be placed in a
village near the Peace Center with
fundraising by a
Holy Trinity youth member who is
working on her Girl Scout Gold
Award. ARDF will match her gift
for the $11,500 total.
Please pray for our friends in the Congo.
Their suffering is very foreign to us but
God sees them and loves them. If you feel
called to help please go to our Holy Trinity
Anglican Church giving page. You may also give by check to
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, PO Box 30476, Charleston, SC 29417.
Please note how we may direct your donation:
“Furaha BCHC”, “Bisoke Peace Center”, “Hearts for the Congo HFTC”, “Well”.
“God is in control.
God is working when we cannot see.
God will find a way.”
~Bisoke~
With Bisoke and Furaha In Bunia, Ituri Province,
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2019 Holy Trinity Anglican Church was introduced to Rev. Bernard Bisoke Balikenga
from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is the Provincial Youth Coordinator for the
Anglican Diocese for the DRC. We were privileged to host him while he attended a
meeting at camp St. Christopher in Charleston and then a New Wineskins conference
in North Carolina. When he returned in January 2020 for the Anglican Leadership Institute
we felt called as a parish to support him and his wife Furaha in their work in his war torn region of
northeastern Congo. Check out this article in the Anglican Diocese of SC Newsletter.
https://adosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021_spring_jubilate_deo_web.pdf
Furaha and the BCHC
The Bunia Children Hope Center was begun in 2004
as a refuge of hope for the many displaced
children in the area. The Baraka Academy I school
for orphans grades 1-12 was established, placement
in foster care facilitated, counseling,
medical care, clothing and release from
abuse provided. Widows were also
assisted in the process with education and
as teachers or foster parents. Today 1,002 students
attend, over half of them orphans.
Paying students enable the school to operate.
Baraka Academy II for preschool students is
located in a farming region west of Bunia
that is owned by the BCHC. Previously farming
offered a sustainable resource for food
and income but the farm area is not
safe at this time due to fighting militia groups and
Baraka II campus had to be closed for now.
Bisoke and the
Peace Center
The Peace Center was established in 2017 about 7
miles to the west of Bunia. With a displaced camp of
600,000 nearby, this site is a refuge for healing,
reconciliation and counseling from trauma, peace
building, education, church services and food when
available.
A recent mission is an outreach to the 350 street
children in Bunia.
Water
Bunia Children Hope Center
needed water for the school students.
Anglican Relief Development Fund
found a donor for the first of three
wells for the area. The children at
Baraka Academy I are enjoying the
benefit of the first well. A second well
is in progress at the outlying campus
for preschoolers at Baraka Academy II. This project, funded by Holy Trinity in conjunction with
ARDF, is currently on hold due to unrest in
the region. A third well will be placed in a
village near the Peace Center with
fundraising by a
Holy Trinity youth member who is
working on her Girl Scout Gold
Award. ARDF will match her gift
for the $11,500 total.
Please pray for our friends in the Congo.
Their suffering is very foreign to us but
God sees them and loves them. If you feel
called to help please go to our Holy Trinity
Anglican Church giving page. You may also give by check to
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, PO Box 30476, Charleston, SC 29417.
Please note how we may direct your donation:
“Furaha BCHC”, “Bisoke Peace Center”, “Hearts for the Congo HFTC”, “Well”.
“God is in control.
God is working when we cannot see.
God will find a way.”
~Bisoke~
