02.19.2026
From The Field
We want to hear from YOU before you scroll and hear from Jeremie in DR Congo.
This month we heard from Jeremie in rebel-occupied Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His message surprised us.
A Letter from Jeremie
📍 Goma, DRC
Dear Friends,
“I am sending this message after taking time to count and reflect on all the goodness of God,” wrote Jeremie from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo last week.
It has been one year since his city was occupied by militant rebels. One year of living in what he calls a “red zone.” One year that most of us would describe as the opposite of stable.
But Jeremie wasn’t writing to ask for help - though the needs are real and urgent. He was writing to celebrate.
“It is now one year that God has been so close to us in these very terrible moments.”
In the middle of instability many of us cannot imagine, he is counting goodness.
He continues:
“We have been in a fiery furnace and even thrown into the lion’s den. Yet the Lord is seeking worship that rises from beside lions and praise that comes from the desert. Here, he conceives hearts that have only him, hearts for whom he represents everything.”
When we face uncertainty: a financial strain, a difficult conversation, an unknown future, our instinct is often control. We make plans. We calculate outcomes. We try to stabilize our environment so we can stabilize our emotions.
Jeremie’s community does not have that luxury. You cannot plan around bullets and bombs. You cannot predict what tomorrow will bring.
So what do you do when control isn’t an option?
Jeremie answers:
“As we are counting 365 days under a special grace, we testify that God has been very close to us. Love and grace are overflowing. I have seen people lift their eyes to heaven and cry out, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits.’ I have seen people on their knees, with grateful hearts, lifting their hands and saying, ‘So far, You have rescued us.”
People on their knees. Grateful. In a war zone.
And suddenly our own anxieties feel different, not because they are insignificant, but because we are glimpsing a different way of being human when nothing is certain.
Jeremie writes something that shifts perspective even further:
“Our Master was and still is in control. Here, we have taken our place among the lilies, and as long as we are breathing, the name of Jesus Christ is the name we will be proud of. We are grateful for every tear he has dried, for every bullet or bomb he has stopped.”
“He has dressed us with a beauty that is seen from within. Even if this looks opposite to what the world sees, this strength and resilience are the beauty God has formed in us and a prelude to the greatness that awaits us.”
A prelude.
Not the end of the story. Not even the climax. Just the beginning movement of something still unfolding.
Life Continues With Purpose.
What may be most surprising is not only their faith, but their forward movement. Even in ongoing instability, Jeremie describes action:
“There are hungry mouths to feed, broken hearts to heal, orphans to care for, diseases to prevent through clean water, communities to encourage, churches to build, leaders to equip, souls to win for the kingdom, transformation to establish, inspiration to provide, and innovation to promote.”
Not waiting for stability before engaging with purpose, but discovering that purpose itself creates stability. Community creates stability. Showing up for what matters creates stability.
“We are celebrating life here in Goma, not counting or remembering deaths or looting that happened, but we cling to Jesus Christ to see where he is leading us.”
“God has taught us how he is able to cross the Red Sea with us and take care of us in the desert, because this is what this year has looked like for us.”
And still, he holds hope:
“We are still in the situation, but as glory is rising, restoration is falling. As praise is rising, healing is falling. Our Master is holding our future, and the season of restoration is coming. Victory is on the way.”
He does not know when. He does not know how. But he knows where his stability comes from.
A Question For You…
Jeremie’s letter quietly asks each of us a question: How do you remain grounded when the future is unclear?
His answer isn’t found in better circumstances or carefully constructed plans. It’s anchoring yourself in something that doesn’t move when everything else does.
Not outcomes - but faith.
Not control - but trust.
Not isolation - but community.
Not fear - but purpose.
Jeremie closes with gratitude:
“Thank you for being God’s instruments in encouraging the people here and for giving meaning and purpose to life. I have seen leaders being used by God for the benefit of heaven. Thank you for fueling them and energizing their efforts to support life in their local communities.”
“We rely on the same God who touched your hearts. May he increase your blessings and keep our hearts connected for the interests of heaven. As we combine our prayers, lives are being impacted here.”
Connection. Purpose. Presence. Hope.
The kind that sings beside lions. The kind that praises in deserts. The kind that keeps building, serving, and innovating when there is every logical reason to stop.
Maybe stability was never about certainty after all. Maybe it has always been about what holds us when certainty disappears.
With gratitude,
All of us at African Leadership
Leaders like Jeremie continue serving their communities because people like you stand with them.
Field Updates
Field Updates
📍 Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, there is ongoing tension in the north where clashes between government forces and militia continue. However, a new leadership class has begun in the Somali region, one of the largest people groups in the country, creating an important opportunity for growth and impact! Asrat has been completing graduation programs for many classes around the country.
📍 Malawi
In Malawi, classes are going well, though some pause during farming season so students can keep up with agricultural responsibilities. Weather patterns remain challenging, with some regions now experiencing dry spells that threaten crops. Rising fuel prices are also increasing the cost of basic goods. This week, Leonard will be in Dowa district to distribute relief maize (corn) to their teachers.
📍 South Africa
In South Africa, ministry activities that slowed during December are beginning to start up again. This new season brings renewed energy and motivation, with leaders eager to continue projects, strengthen churches, and invest in ongoing programs that support their communities. Allan is currently supporting churches that are struggling, including preaching in a community affected by violence.
Pray With Us
Pray for wisdom, provision, and guidance for leaders
Pray especially for ministry leaders and families in Uganda - for wisdom as they plan the year ahead, provision of training materials for waiting classes, peaceful stability after elections, relief from extreme heat through needed rains, and God’s guidance and provision for their children’s education and daily logistics.
🇺🇬 Uganda
Pray for peace, protection, and needs to be met
Pray for God’s provision, protection, and restored communication for leaders and students serving in challenging conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in areas affected by conflict, economic hardship, and recent disasters.
The town of Rubaya experienced a tragic landslide when heavy rains triggered the collapse of a mine. Over 200 lives were lost, and families are left to pick up the pieces.
🇨🇩 DR Congo
Pray for continued health and harvest!
Pray for peace and stability amid ongoing conflict in Ethiopia, for the provision and distribution of Bibles, and for God to bless the new classes beginning among Somali communities with growth, unity, and lasting spiritual impact.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Pray for strong leadership and provision
Pray for encouragement, renewal, and strong leadership for struggling churches, especially those facing violence and decline, and ask for timely rain to prevent drought and sustain communities in Cape Town.
Pray for continued health of our Country Directors and leaders across Cape Town.
🇿🇦 South Africa
We also invite you to share your own prayer requests below — our team prays over each one.
Thank you for being part of a community that chooses hope,
even when the future feels uncertain.
