From Isumba to the Living God
By Dr Way Alege
When based in Nairobi, Kenya in 1984, we (Julie Loudon and Noela Elvery) were able to make regular trips into northeast DR of Congo (then known as Zaire), to record Bible teaching programs for non-readers in the local languages. In 1986, an office for the Audio ministry was set up in Nyankunde, from where recording trips were made to outlying villages. During one of the early recording trips, we met Way Alege, who was studying in Nyankunde and helped to record programs in his mother tongue. We maintained contact with Way through all his years of study including his online study for his MA degree from Deakin University Melbourne. In 2010, we were able to bring Way to Australia for his graduation and for him to meet a number of friends who have faithfully prayed for and supported the DRC Audio ministry.
Way began developing a ministry amongst displaced Pygmies while teaching at Shalom University (USB), Bunia and also completing his PhD studies online, from which he graduated in 2019. Our continued involvement with Dr Way Alege (and the teachers and workers) in the Pygmy Projects is primarily financial and providing encouragement and prayer. Over the pursuing years, we’ve continued to share with Way, who extended to setting up three villages with schools and buildings, and also with workers who provide help and training in agriculture, animal care, aquaculture, building skills, etc.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41: 10, NIV)
Since time immemorial, Isumba has been claimed as the god of the Pygmies of the Ituri forest. The common belief among the Pygmies is that Isumba rules with terror, therefore can only be called upon for specific occasions from the forest where he lives. Inviting him among the living is dangerous and susceptible to creating havoc. So, it always takes time for the Pygmies to turn to the Living God; but faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
Nzelewa was a Pygmy who adopted Dr Way in 2006 as his own son, paving the way to reach others in the area. Nzelewa died in early 2022 when he was over 70 years old. In the picture above, Dr Way is preaching to Nzelewa’s family members at Shaurimoya. Shaurimoya was the first piece of land purchased in 2012, thanks to missionary friends Julie Loudon and Noela Elvery who – together with their friends and churches in Australia – financially assist the ministry towards the Pygmies. Since then, approximately 100 total hectares of land have been purchased in Shaurimoya, Ataloholu and Kangakolo.
In addition, five schools with housing have been built, and three churches planted in partnership with CE39 (Community Emanuel – Brethren Churches in Ituri Province of northeast DR of Congo). However, despite our efforts, timber logging, large scale farming of cacao and foodstuff, and – above all – the recent invasion of the forest by the Alliance Democratic Forces (ADF) originally from Uganda, have pushed thousands of Pygmies out of the forest to the savannah.
Many lives were lost during the ADF invasion, including the abduction and killing of two pastors whose bodies were found, days later, on the side of the road. The health clinic at Shaurimoya was burned and destroyed, and the pastor killed. Pygmies all fled as rebels attacked to “steal, kill, eat, and destroy”. Recent checks found that none of the schools or other buildings were destroyed, probably because there was abundant food and other things available. Stored grain, animals, fish in ponds, equipment, and household items were all stolen, killed, eaten, or destroyed.
Over 3000 Pygmies initially took refuge on the compounds of schools and churches in Komanda. Now, we have 27 households originally from Ataloholu (47 adults, 79 children) living on the newly acquired property at Komanda. A dozen Pygmies have returned to Ataloholu and Kangakolo, but they keep on coming back to Komanda when there are rumors of insecurity. In such times, over 200 people are hosted on the new site.
Since relocating from Ataloholu to the Komanda site, the local government encouraged us to build a school. We have 15 staff in Komanda: eight Teachers, a Head Teacher, a Clinical Psychologist, a Veterinarian, an Evangelist, a Nurse, and two Caregivers. In order to avoid discrimination, other children from the community are enrolled with the 24 Pygmy children. On Sundays, the classrooms are used for worship meetings with an average of 22 adults attending and 30 children participating in the Sunday School. We are happy that the knowledge of the true God is impacting the lives of the Pygmies.
Our main strategy to reach the Pygmies for Christ is by building quality relationships with children through formal education, and with adults through skills in building, environmental protection, forestation, animal husbandry, small scale farming, and women and child protection. In order to have legal ownership over the land and national recognition, it was important to register our actions according to government regulations. Therefore, CERCEP (Capacity Building and Professional Management Center) was established as a community-based organization working in remote areas, especially the Ituri forest, under Communauté Emanuel (Brethren Church in northeast DR of Congo), to reach the Pygmies. This registration also paves the way for self-reliance and sustainability.
Lilian, the Nursery School Teacher, has recently initiated a Bible Study exclusively with the women, while Robert Mokili, who has focused on door-to-door evangelism, has extended his ministry to the Komanda Hospital in his spare time.
During recent conversations with village elders Apomu, Lelia and Apacidi, they admitted that Isumba is not able to control the current situation, saying, “We have turned to worship the true God.” Some months earlier, Apomu’s wife stated, “I am ready to believe in Jesus. I understand that Jesus hates sin, but we are always tempted to steal from peoples’ farms for survival. There is no food. Even now, our worry is that we will one day fall into the hands of the ADF as we go looking for means of survival, and that could lead to our death.”
Though we were chased by the rebels from our original sites, we thank God for the gifts from Australia for the purchase of more land so that we have been able to settle and are now reaching more Pygmies, even if we do not have much to offer. In addition to the present site of Komanda, our ministry extends to seven other Pygmy sites based within Komanda that host approximately 550 other Pygmies.
In recent weeks, we have been harvesting cassava from our old field at Ataloholu and are planting corn even though security measures are not totally granted. As the rains are back, we have cleared up to one hectare of land for planting corn and other crops, and a couple of pygmies have returned to live on site.
Pray that God will grant us peace. That is where your prayers are highly valued. Monthly reports are available on the website www.wordnworks.org
Praise God for a wonderful work