Dear Friends,
Over the next several weeks, we invite you to intercede with us for Christian leaders from Francophone Africa. Historically, the 21 countries in this region – where poverty, warfare, political instability, and syncretism remain urgent concerns – have received less attention and fewer resources than English-speaking African nations. ScholarLeaders collaborates with three key institutions in Francophone Africa through the Vital Sustainability Initiative and has sponsored 30 Francophone African leaders through Leader Studies. Learn more about the region here.
This week, please join us in prayer for Jean Musavuli from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The most populous French-speaking country in the world, the DR Congo is home to nearly 112 million people from 250 ethnic groups. Around 96% of Congolese are Christians, about half of whom are Catholic and the other half Protestant. Though rich in natural resources, the DR Congo has suffered much colonial and commercial exploitation, as well as political instability and corruption. Two decades after the two Congo wars (1996-2003), which killed six million people, armed conflict among rebel groups persists in the east.
Jean is pursuing a PhD in Old Testament at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (UK). His research interprets Nehemiah’s work and reforms from a postcolonial African perspective. Jean has served for several years at the Congo Initiative’s Center for Church Renewal and Global Mission. He also teaches Bible and Theology at Christian Bilingual University of Congo. Jean contributed to The Hebrew Scriptures, which provides commentaries from 34 biblical scholars from around the world. Jean and his wife Linda have three children: Paul (11), Nathan (8), and Joshua (5).
Jean shares the following message:
Dear SL Community,
I am very thankful to be part of this community. Your support has been very helpful in my research journey, despite all the instability we endure in our region.
My research revolves around Nehemiah’s role in postexilic Judah under Persian power and how it relates to Christian leadership in postcolonial African states in our context of modern world empires.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has gone through many challenges, leaving the country in a continuous situation of socioeconomic chaos. Our population suffers both from corrupt leadership at the national level and from external powers envying the country’s minerals, particularly with the rise of green energy and electric vehicle industries.
As a result, over 100 militia groups (originating from neighboring countries) are creating chaos in eastern Congo to facilitate the plunder of minerals at the cost of innocent blood. Perhaps the most horrific of the armed groups, the Allied Democratic Force, terrorizes local populations to occupy their land. Consequently, over 6 million people have died in the past two decades.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for our national presidential and parliamentary elections in December. Pray for peace through the electoral period, as well as God-guided elections and respect for the electoral results. Pray for good governance that demonstrates the fear of the Lord and supports the welfare of the population.
Pray for the breaking of the terrorist network pursuing blood minerals in eastern Congo. Pray for peace in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri Provinces, which have suffered and continue to suffer the most.
Pray for the Church to be energized to be salt and light in the darkness.
Pray for Christian Bilingual University of Congo (UCBC) to boldly continue its mission of preparing a new generation of leaders with Christian ethics for the Congolese Church and society.
Pray for my family, for God’s continuous protection in Beni, as I travel for my residencies in the UK.
Pray for my wife’s studies at Biola University as she studies remotely. Pray for her visa needs, so she can be on campus this coming fall semester.
Shalom,
Jean Musavuli