Democratic Republic of Congo

Civil war has been raging in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo for more than 12 years now and millions have been killed. The UN has called it the "silent holocaust." Many have been displaced from their homes, countless women raped and whole villages destroyed.

A group of intercessors from Nyankunde who had originally sought Rhiannon's involvement in their area, again approached her after the hospital where they worked was destroyed so Rhiannon began to make short trips into the area, equipping teams that were already formed by the intercessors. Today, the core team oversees more than 110 teams. All are involved in promoting healing and reconciliation in their communities through intercession and prayer-counseling for victims, visiting house-to-house, speaking in meetings, etc., seeing not only reconciliation take place, but peace come to their areas:

• After going through a reconciliation seminar, one village decided to take down the blockade on the road so they might, indeed, welcome people from other tribes. And they decided together to refuse to allow any of their members to be "drafted" into any militia that might pass by.
• A few years ago when tensions were quite high, one tribal group that had already passed through a seminar insisted they wanted to be involved in a seminar with the "enemy" tribe in the place where the enemy had been displaced to. This meant traveling for 10 hours by open truck on a road menaced by hostile militias there and back. Spirits were high when they climbed into the truck and they sang and prayed all along the journey. God rewarded their bravery and over 100 attended the seminar. The healing and forgiveness were very deep.
• After sending "spies" to check out what was happening in the seminars, some militia leaders even requested that reconciliation seminars be run for their men! (This same thing has also happened in Burundi with government forces!)
• Songs of reconciliation have been written by local musicians and recorded on tape and CD. The team owns one vehicle with a loud speaker mounted on the roof. When they travel from village to village, the reconciliation songs accompany them, blaring at full volume to all who are within hearing range (including the monkeys and exotic birds in the deep forest!)
• In 2007 a seminar was run in Nyankunde for 76 participants (24 traditional chiefs plus 5 officials, 5 top authorities of the Irumu/Bunia territory, 6 army and police authorities, 4 civilian society delegates, 19 pastors and 13 elders who accompanied the chiefs). The results from the seminar are still being realized in the area. As the chiefs were reconciled to each other, this brought about a cessation of hostilities and there is now peace in Ituri. Many displaced people are returning home. The chief of Nyankunde is running seminars, himself, in all the villages around the town. The ministry is recognized and welcomed now all over the region.

It is difficult to convey in words what is experienced in a reconciliation seminar in this region. With representatives from all the tribes involved in the conflict a seminar starts out quite tense, but the Spirit of God always breaks in with amazing results. For many it is the first time they have sat down with the "enemy" since the conflict began. To witness what is accomplished when people in conflict come together at the cross fills one with awe. The forgivenss which then flows is almost unbelievable. And by the end of the seminar when they are given the opportunity to pronouce blessings on their newly-forgiven enemies, it is done with great enthusiasm and heartfelt meaning.