Mission Pilots Fly 750 Solar Audio Bibles to Displaced Families in Ebola-Hit Eastern Congo
The devices carry recorded Scripture and a Christian radio station's Ebola-prevention broadcasts to a camp where insecurity has disrupted in-person ministry.
Learn more ›BUNIA, Democratic Republic of Congo —
Mission Aviation Fellowship has flown 750 solar-powered audio Bibles into Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province, for families living in the Kigonze displaced-persons camp, Christian Daily International reported Oct. 29, citing MAF reports.
See where this is ›The devices were supplied by Galcom International, a Christian ministry based in Hamilton, Ontario. Each one holds recorded Bible passages and picks up broadcasts from Rebuilders Radio, a local ministry station that airs information on how Ebola spreads and how to prevent it. Rebuilders Radio staff handed out the devices through churches and the camp, and nine churches distributed 350 of them at Kigonze in September.
Getting the shipment there took weeks. The radios were first sent from Canada to Nairobi, Kenya, to travel overland, but that route was blocked, and flight permissions, border restrictions and aborted flights caused more delays. Two attempts by Canadian MAF pilot Dominic Villeneuve were called off because of mechanical problems before another MAF pilot completed the delivery.
“It was a herculean effort to make the flight happen,” Villeneuve said. “We took courage in the Lord and He made it happen.”
See where this is ›Tim Whitehead, executive director of Galcom International, said the project depends on Galcom, MAF and Rebuilders Radio working together, with the goal of helping more families hear practical information. A camp resident, interviewed in French, described the radio as one that comforts and preaches peace.
Galcom has shipped 5,000 more radios that are expected to arrive shortly, and it is raising money for another 5,000 it plans to ship before Christmas. Christian Daily said insecurity in the area has disrupted in-person ministry.
As of Oct. 20, the World Health Organization reported 9,704 confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola, in Congo, including 4,687 deaths, with 7,040 cases and 3,271 deaths in Ituri province alone, according to Christian Daily. The WHO has also reported imported cases in Kenya and Nigeria this month, and no vaccine is approved for this strain.
