Crises in Africa

I am breaking into my series entitled ‘The Poor deserve the Best’ to report on situations in Africa. These are living situations which exemplify the need for the church to be active in bringing hope to local communities.

Newfrontiers have churches in several African nations. In 3 of these nations - Guinea, Kenya and Zimbabwe - these churches, as integral parts of local communities, are facing particular crises at present.

Guinea

This Francophone nation in West Africa received tens of thousands of refugees from Sierra Leone during the civil war of the 90s. Many of these came from churches we were working with, and a church was planted in the capital, Conakry. Since then another church has been planted and there is a school.

Earlier this year the President died and a peaceful coup took place with the promise of elections. However, on September 28th rioting broke out and people fled for safety to the Big Stadium where horrific things started happening. Apparently 158 lost their lives and 1250 were injured, with barbaric acts being committed.

Schools have been closed and people told to remain at home.

Kenya

In recent years there have been serious droughts in Kenya and the Horn of Africa. The Newfrontiers churches have responded magnificently often sustaining over 10,000 people with food for many weeks.

In 2007/8 rioting broke out following the elections resulting in the destruction of buildings and crops.

Now, once again, Kenya is in crisis experiencing the worst famine since 1994. 10 million people are said to be facing starvation and we are receiving messages about members of Newfrontiers churches dying of hunger. Even the camels and elephants are dying, normally the survivors under such circumstances.

Once again the Newfrontiers churches are responding positively but recognise that there can be no harvest until February/March, and that depends on rain arriving soon. Meanwhile they are seeking to provide food and seed for planting to the communities in which churches are situated, together with basic medical care, which now includes anti-venom medication for bites as snakes enter the homesteads looking for water.

A Fund has been opened for donations to help alleviate this tragedy. Donations marked Kenya Crisis Fund 2009 can be sent to:

The Finance Team
Newfrontiers
The Matrix Complex
91 Peterborough Road
London
SW6 3BU
UK

Zimbabwe

For many years Zimbabwe has been in turmoil. This reached a climax at the end of 2008 and an appeal was launched among the worldwide family of Newfrontiers churches to raise funds to assist the Newfrontiers churches in Zimbabwe help in alleviating the situation both through crisis intervention (food and water) and sustainable solutions.

The video which follows is an encouraging update on the progress being made.

Newfrontiers Crisis Appeal - Report back from Newfrontiers on Vimeo.

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