LOCAL PARTNERS
Bisoke Balikenga, DR Congo
Provincial youth worker investing in young people through encouraging them in their education and peacemaking and raising up new leaders
Working with the Anglican Church in Congo, Bisoke started a peace centre in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri province in eastern DRC. Ituri is a region rocked by tribal fighting.
Thousands of people have fled attacks in their villages and travelled to Bunia in search of relative safety – with 200,000 displaced people now in the area.
They are in desperate need of food, water and shelter, and are deeply traumatised. Many women and girls who arrive at the peace centre have suffered sexual violence, and been rejected by their families as a result.
Related prayer news and stories
DR Congo: visas received
Praise God that mission associates Judy and Tim Rous have received their five-year missionary visas for DRC. Pray for Judy and Tim next week as they have a two-day diocesan staff meeting followed by an all staff day retreat. Read more
Sudan: keep praying for peace and stability
Bishop Hassan James, local partner in Kadugli Diocese says: “We thank you for your continuous love and prayers for our country, Sudan. So far, the situation is very difficult, but our hope is in God.” He asks prayer for the cease-fire to continue for a longer period and for peace and stability. “The humanitarian situation […] Read more
Bisoke’s story
Based in Bunia, eastern DR Congo, Bisoke worked with CMS mission partner Judy Acheson for many years and then took over as provincial youth worker in 2009, when Judy retired. He is Church Mission Society’s longest-standing local partner in Africa.
Bisoke is married to Furaha, and has three children. He has been involved in youth activities since 1989, and studied at Daystar University in Kenya. He describes his vision as reaching “young people with the gospel, enabling them to discern the way forwards and to make informed decisions”.
He is also passionate about raising up young “Christian patriots”, who can contribute to the fight against poverty and work towards the reconstruction of DR Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Bisoke works in several dioceses across these countries, and is committed to training youth workers and promoting youth work throughout the region.
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