Learn about, pray for the Democratic Republic of Congo
Learn more about the DRC
From the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
From the INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP
From the United Nations
From Amnesty International
Prayers for the Democratic Republic of Congo
From the Presbyterian United Nations Office
Download liturgical resources  for worship focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prayer of the Kasai
Mvidi Mukula, Elder Spirit, Loving Judge,
Brilliant Sun who blinds those looking at You,
The Bounteous Provider who feeds even the animals of the forest,
Father of our ancestors and Father of our Chief, Jesus,
We give You thanks and praise.
Yesu Kilisto, Jesus Christ, Chief of all Chiefs,
You are the gourd of the water of reconciliation which we drink
to cool our conflict with God, our neighbor, ourselves.
You are the Tshinkunku tree around which our hunters gather to confess sins to each other.
You heal sickness and weakness and sin today even as You did in Israel.
The ancestors said that a son equals his father, thus You are truly God.
Mueyelu wa Mvidi Mukulu, Breath of God, Holy Spirit,
You are the wind of power moving in and among us cleansing, liberating, and sustaining.
Through You we become joined to people of every tribe and nation.
It is You who give birth to the Church and cause it to move.
Our God, we give You thanks and praise for Your mercy to us. When we came to this land, You were already here. Though we sleep through he night as if dead, we awaken each morning to life. Give grace to your Church that we might be the hand of Your salvation, of Your liberation to the people of all tribes.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer of the Kasai, from Walking with Africans. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Translated by Hunter Farrell.
A prayer from the Congo Mission Network
Heavenly Father,
Your children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are again caught in the midst of conflict and war. The great gift of natural resources that you have given to this country has been the cause of oppression for over a century. Attacks from without and oppression from within have contributed to death and destruction through the years. Even today our sisters are raped, families are being torn from their homes and children are kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers. O Lord, awaken your church to the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the Congo. Help us to support them in prayer, service and intervention. In the name of our savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
— Tom Sullivan, Congo Mission Network, Chicago Presbytery and First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, Ill.
A prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the people of Africa’s Great Lakes Region
God of justice and of peace, we pray for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo as they endure renewed violence. We pray for their neighbors in Africa’s Great Lakes Region who are also impacted by the violence. Comfort those who grieve. Strengthen those who are fearful. Break the hold of violence on human hearts. Bless the efforts of those who work for justice and for peace. Inspire the world to respond in ways that address issues that contribute to insecurity and usher in peace for all the peoples and countries of the region. We pray through Jesus Christ. Amen.
— Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
A prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo
God of justice and God of peace, we pray for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pour your Holy Spirit out afresh that they might repent and turn away from violence. Grant your grace that the people might receive the courage to break the hold of hate and anger and the cycle of vengeance. Comfort all who mourn. Care for all who have been violated. Strengthen all who have been driven from their homes. Disarm the hearts of all who reach for a weapon. Bring the people together in a just peace. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
A prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo
If the merciful God had not been on our side
We could have been crushed,
When most of the World powers came together to decide about the future of our country.
Oh Merciful Lord,
We thank you for making us kind people,
We thank you Lord for giving us a country rich in natural resources.
We beg you to convert people of bad heart and bad mind on the behalf of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
We beg you to teach us all how to live friendly with other people.
We beg you to help the Congolese people recover their humanity and taking over their responsibility on the Land you gave them.
We beg you to help us be a mirror and a source of blessings for our neighbors.
Let us become a pattern of peace and cooperation for the human being.
Let us be respectful of human rights and creation.
Help us benefit from the seeds within our Eden Garden and learn to share it carefully with other needy people.
Our heavenly Father, make us peacemakers.
Amen.
— the Rev. Pierre Mpia Mopendo, International Peacemaker
Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
A prayer for the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo
God whose love is like a mother’s warmth,
God whose love is like a mother’s strength,
watch over the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
May they know your presence as they face the challenges of their lives —
war, rape, lack of education, patriarchy, and more.
Grant them courage,
strengthen their faith,
renew their hope,
this day and every day. We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
— Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
A prayer for those who witness to their faith
God of the ages,
We pray for followers of Jesus and others
Who work for justice and seek the paths of peace
In the Philippines, in Sudan, in Myanmar,
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Colombia, in Israel/Palestine
And in places we do not know.
We give thanks for their witness.
We grieve when they are taken, injured, or killed
Because they sought to follow Jesus faithfully —
Because they challenged the status quo —
Because they pursued justice for the people.
Watch over them.
Bind up wounds.
Grant courage and faith.
Stand with their families and those who love them.
Bring release to those who have been abducted.
Speed the day when justice rolls like waters
Over all lands
And around your world.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
— Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
A prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo
God who bears the hurt of the world, we pray for our sisters and brothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Guide the people to turn from violence and to seek justice. Bless the efforts of those who work for peace. Speed the day when all people live together in safety. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
A prayer for Africa’s children
Tell the participants that a common greeting among the Masai people of East Africa is “and how are the children?” Invite them to join you in prayer. Note that their response will be: “make us your healing hands for the children, O God.”
One: Loving God, you have called us to be a healing presence in a hurting world
All: Make us your healing hands for the children, O God.
One: In Malawi and Mozambique and Mauritius, in Zambia and Zimbabwe,
All: Make us your healing hands for the children, O God.
One: In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea, in Lesotho and Kenya and Uganda,
All: Make us your healing hands for the children, O God.
One: In Ghana and Liberia and Sierra Leone, in the Republic of South Africa and Angola,
All: Make us your healing hands for the children, O God.
One: In Cameroon and Niger and Rwanda, in Sudan and Madagascar and Ethiopia,
All: Make us your healing hands for the children, O God.
One: Loving God, when we ask, “and how are the children?” we know that the children are not well.
All: Make us your healing hands for the children, O God. Amen.
— Africa’s Children: A Church Response to Children’s Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Peacemaking Program, the International AIDS Office, the Office of Child Advocacy and the Office on Africa have produced a resource Africa’s Children: A Church Response to Children’s Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa . This free booklet provides an overview of the situation faced by children and suggests ways that Presbyterians can respond. |
