Gale and Chrisann Dawson: January and February 2008
Dying Under the Radar
Report says 40,000 die in Congo each month...
By Seth Colter Walls | Newsweek Web Exclusive Jan 22, 2008
In a new report released Tuesday, the International Rescue Committee updated its running total on Congo's dead since the outbreak of war in 1998. Their number, counting surveys through April 2007, now stands at 5.4 million deaths. The country's top killers have been preventable conditions such as malaria and malnutrition--the spread of which has been made possible by a ravaged postwar infrastructure and struggling economy. Forbes reports that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the seventh most dangerous country to live in.
Year end Statistics for 2007
The Lord has greatly blessed the NETS ministries throughout the 2007 year. We have 21 churches/satellite churches scattered throughout the Congo. The combined weekly attendance is 1,342. This passed year there were 1,199 professions of faith (adults and children that are being followed up for discipleship) and 217 baptisms. Our two colleges have a combined enrollment of 49 students ranging in ages 25 to 62 years old, and eleven college teachers. At our village, Maluku, God has shut down one Charismatic and two liberal Methodist churches. The pastors of these three churches have resigned and enrolled in our college. We also minister monthly in two military camps and one police station.