Worldwide Prayer Meeting

Feb 26, 2025 | by Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

Prayer Focus -

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Parc de la Rwindi, Parc National des Virunga, République démocratique du Congo

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,

To reach out and touch Him

And say that we love Him.

Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.

Robert Cull

The Salvation Army Song Book #386

Prayer

Dear Lord, we worship You without actually seeing You, at least with our physical eyes. But we see You in action. My heart is beating inside of me and that would not be possible without the miracle of life that You have made happen by Your design. I see houses and buildings and know that someone built those, even if I never saw them do it. And so I see creation and know that You are the someone who did that because that is far more complex than any building or machinery or anything. I don’t see You physically, but I see You at work all around me and I sense Your presence in my life. I can’t see things like love or compassion or joy, but they are real, and You made those. So, when I may doubt You because I can’t “see” You, remind me that You daily send thousands of messages that You are here, and You see me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Background of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo

            The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered from exploitation going back centuries, beginning with Arab slave traders who were succeeded by African raiders who sold captives to slave traders in the New World. Later it became a Belgian colony for 60 years, but the Belgians did nothing to prepare it for independence which was granted in 1960. Five years of chaos and violence followed, ending in Mobuto Sese Seko seizing power in a military coup. Interference from foreign powers, and Mobuto’s suppressive dictatorship and corrupt administration did little ease the suffering of the Congolese people.

            Laurent Kabila came to power in 1997, but his rule was erratic and corrupt as well. Frequent invasions and other foreign interference led to Kabila’s assassination in 2001, with his son, Joseph Kabila appointed to take his place. In 2003, all foreign forces withdrew and in 2006 the country enjoyed its first free elections with Kabila winning a disputed election. He was subsequently reelected and served until he was eventually replaced by Felix Tshisekedi. These were years of tremendous turbulence and violence.

            Estimates of the death toll from these years exceed 6 million dead from the violence, resulting disease, and starvation. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are endemic and may be the highest of anywhere in the world. Victims include children and the elderly.

            There is a small, elite rich that continues to exploit the majority who live subsistence lives. Education is improving for the young, but disease is still widespread, and contagious disease often becomes an epidemic as did COVID and Eboli. Child labor is often necessary for families to survive but perpetuates the national problems.

            Despite all this bad news, more recently there has been some stabilization in the country although huge problems remain. The DRC has tremendous natural resources including abundant, rich land, diamonds, oil reserves, and other mineral resources. The poor infrastructure and the country’s instability are the main hurdles to moving toward economic stability and prosperity.

            There is freedom of religion in the DRC, with a huge growth experienced among Christian believers from 1.4% of the population in 1900 to over 90% today. Unfortunately, some of this is mixed with traditional African beliefs but there are efforts to establish a stronger biblical faith among believers there. Last week there was an attack by Muslim radicals in a rural area that resulted in 70 Christian men, women and children being brutally killed in a church.

            The Salvation Army: The first Salvation Army corps was established in Kinshasa in 1934 by Adjutant (later Commissioner) and Mrs. Henri Becquet. By decree of Leopold III, Armée du Salut was given legal status, with powers set out in a Deed of Constitution, on February 21, 1936. Work spread to Congo in 1937 and 16 years later it became a separate command, eventually elevated to territory status. Congo (Kinshasa) and Angola Territory was renamed on March 1, 2008, when Angola became a command, then became the Democratic Republic of the Congo Territory on June 1, 2008.

Facts, Stats and Leadership of the

Democratic Republic of

the Congo Territory

• Total population to fish and disciple: 109,276,265
• 340 officers, 26 cadets, 5,449 employees
• 145 retired officers
• 201 corps, 117 outposts
• 36,245 senior soldiers
• 4,286 adherents
• 13,330 junior soldiers

Leadership

Colonel Graçia Matondo - Territorial Commander

Colonel Lydia Matondo​ - Territorial President for Women's Ministries

Lt. Colonel Dieudonné Tsilulu - Chief Secretary

Lt. Colonel Philippine Tsilulu - Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries

Prayer Requests for the

Democratic Republic of

the Congo Territory

For the country

For more than a decade, our country has been experiencing a war of aggression that has caused more than 6 million deaths to date, so we pray:

• May the Lord protect the DRC, in the face of the threats of various pandemics that are disturbing the country and against the war of aggression that is causing a lot of material damage and damage to human life (people becoming refugees, homeless or orphans etc.).
• May the Lord break through into the lives of children and young people who are involved in a culture of violence and abuse on the streets of Kinshasa.
• May the Lord touch the hearts of decisionmakers so that peace may reign throughout the country, and more precisely in the East.

For the territory

• Pray for the commissioning of new officers in June and for the new candidates who will be consecrated as cadets in October 2025.

• May the Lord give us the necessary means to finalize and carry out this great mission which is the salvation of souls. Pray that there be the opening of new posts and outposts.
• May the Lord bless and protect all the officers who are full-time in His service regardless of their background, may He bless the Salvationists and friends, may He increase the faith in each one so that there may be a total consecration and that His work may go forward. 

USA Southern Territory

Prayer Requests

• Major Christopher Thornhill, Secretary for Mission, Evangelism & Cultural Ministries
• Information Technology Department
• Leigh Banks, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Human Resources
• Katherine Guevara, Administrative Assistant, Human Resources
• Anthony Jones, Operations Technical Analyst, Donor Management Services
• Captain Nathan Bridges, Director of Curriculum, Evangeline Booth College
• Cadet Brian Shea
• Major Lorraina Crawford, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, Potomac Division
• Commissioner Dawn Heatwole, National President of Women’s Ministries Designate, NHQ
• Transitional Housing
• Anonymous prayer request for Kenya. Also for Len and Alani.
• Latrice has asked that God watch over her and promises to pray to the Lord all of her life

Something to Consider

I Trust You!

Stephen Goodell

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27).

I must admit that I am a chronic worrier. I worry about finances, job security, not having enough time in the day, not getting enough sleep at night. I feel like I worry about everything! Worrying leads to stress, and continued stress can cause serious health problems to our bodies.

When in my times of prayer, I like to say three words to the Lord: “I trust you.” These words are so important for me to find relief from our fast-paced world, and they allow me to feel God’s close presence. By saying, “I trust you,” it reassures me that the Lord is with me, and He will never leave nor forsake. And when I say it repeatedly, I can feel His peace come over me. This peace gives me a clear mind and conscience to face my worries head-on, and I draw strength from the Lord to move forward through these valleys.

Sometimes, however, the world’s problems can feel overwhelming, and these are times when I am most vulnerable to the enemy’s spiritual attacks. Satan will become more aggressive and continuously throw his fiery darts of fear and doubt my way. He wants me to catastrophize every challenging situation, and he presents the worst-case scenario. I hear him say things about how my finances will suffer, my marriage will end, my son will never speak with me again, or worse, that God will never let me into His kingdom.

When Satan attacks me, I can feel alone and helpless. However, these are times when I take a stand against his schemes, and I draw closer to the Lord for protection. Not only do I tell God that I trust Him and feel His peace, but He reassures me of who I am in His eyes. I am His child. He loves me unconditionally and has granted me eternal life through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

David wrote, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me” (Psalm. 28:7). Just as the Lord provided for David, He provides for me as well. I lean on His strength and guidance to be the best version of myself as a husband, father, and Christian man in the world. I can face each challenge in my life with boldness and confidence knowing that the Lord is always by my side. I trust Him completely and cease worrying about anything. He is with me just as He was with Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, and said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank You that when I waver, You do not. Sometimes I am like Peter when You called him out of the boat to come to You on the stormy sea. I start well, but I see the storm and I panic. Help me instead to keep my eyes on You, to trust You when the way looks difficult remembering that You always have the strength to sustain me. I trust You. In Jesus name, Amen.