Photo: Open Doors US
On the night of September 8th, Christians who had gathered at a funeral home in Ntoyo, a village in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), were brutally attacked by militants armed with guns and machetes. The assault resulted in the fatalities of numerous believers, the kidnapping of many surviving victims, and the burning of 16 homes.
A parish priest from the nearby city of Manguredjipa described seeing the bodies of "more than 70 people" in the funeral home and along the nearby road. Another local resident who had participated in search efforts following the attack claimed that further discoveries eventually led to a death toll that exceeded 100 fatalities.
The massacre has been attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant Islamic organization seeking to establish an Islamic State. Such attacks have become tragically common in the DRC, including a devastating church raid in late July that resulted in the deaths of more than 40 followers of Jesus (read more). To learn how you can prayerfully support our suffering Christian brothers and sisters in this beleaguered nation, visit our country profile.
- On behalf of the families who have been left heartbroken, pray that they will not feel alone in their sorrow; instead, may they experience our Heavenly Father's consoling presence, loving kindness and perfect peace.
- Also pray for the emotional, spiritual and physical healing of the many others who have been affected by the senseless acts of violence, asking the Lord to ultimately provide all the members of this shattered community greatly needed restoration.
- Pray that Christians throughout this region will be divinely protected from any additional harm and further strengthened in their resolve to proclaim the Gospel message amid difficult circumstances.
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