Central African Republic Archives - Stories

Front-Line Workers Visit Sudanese Refugees

vomtechsupport — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:07:06 +0000

Front-line workers were able to minister to displaced Christians seeking refuge. Millions of Sudanese have fled the civil war in their country that began April 2023. Some escaped to neighboring nations, including the Central African Republic (CAR), which borders Sudan’s Darfur region. Though Sudan has a predominantly Muslim population, a small percentage of Christians also live there. Some have found refuge in Birao, a town in the far north of the CAR near its border with Sudan, Chad and South Sudan. Front-line workers visited with about 100 of the estimated 300 Christians living in a camp of around 20,000 refugees. “We thank God that he allowed you to come from so far away to visit us here and be with us,” said a woman who was a leader in her Sudanese church and who now regularly prays with other Christian refugees. She added that the Christian refugees face many challenges, including limited water, medicine and food.

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Christian Mother Abducted, Others Killed by Islamists

vomtechsupport — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:07:06 +0000

On Feb. 13, 2025, Islamists abducted a Christian mother of five as she worked in her family’s cropland in Bocaranga, in the northwestern region of the Central African Republic. “That day I didn’t go to the garden. I stayed at home,” said her husband, Emil. “While she was in the garden, she was caught by them and kidnapped.” The kidnappers have called Emil and demanded an exorbitant ransom for her return. “I don’t have any solution, so I cry out to the Lord for help in this situation. I cry out to him,” he said. On Feb. 27, 2025, Islamists also raided a nearby village, burning 75 homes and killing roughly a dozen people. The Islamist attacks in the area have been ongoing for several years, filling Bocaranga with displaced Christians seeking safety. Local Christian leaders request prayer that God will change the attackers’ hearts and bring peace to their land.

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Survivor of Attack Needs Healing

vomtechsupport — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:07:05 +0000

Xavia, 30, survived a brutal assault eight years ago. During a 2016 attack, rebels with a militant group set fire to numerous homes in her village. Her husband, mother, father and sisters were burned alive. Xavia was tied up and subjected to horrific torture, rendering her unable to have additional children. She doesn’t know how she survived the assault but only remembers waking up in an evacuation truck. She was sent to another country for surgery, but her emotional wounds need additional healing. According to a front-line worker, “She continues to suffer emotionally and has ongoing bouts of depression.” Due to a severe shortage of trained counselors and psychologists in the CAR, front-line workers are currently working to train pastors to provide healing care to Christians like Xavia who have suffered brutal attacks.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Central African Republic and learn how to pray.

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Caring for Orphans Amid Civil War

vomtechsupport — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:07:03 +0000

Christians have suffered greatly from civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2012. They are targeted and attacked by Muslim rebels who accuse them of assisting militias that have carried out revenge killings against Muslims. They have been driven from their towns and villages as attackers loot and destroy their homes and churches, forcing tens of thousands into emergency camps for Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs). A Christian man who cares for 58 orphans told front-line workers how insurgents targeted him with accusations, threats and assaults because of his ministry. Once, an attacker put a machine gun into the Christian man’s face and pulled the trigger; nothing happened. The attacker then shot the weapon in the air and tried a second time to shoot the Christian man in the head; again, the gun failed. The attacker then beat the orphanage director, breaking his front teeth.

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Thousands Traumatized in the CAR

vomtechsupport — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:07:02 +0000

A vicious civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR), fought among multiple political factions, including some extremist Muslim groups, has forced more than half a million people to flee their homes. Many of the displaced are Christians who live in camps for Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Front-line workers say most IDPs fear returning to their land due to ongoing lack of security; additionally, “There is nothing to return to,” said a front-line worker. “Houses, schools, churches, clinics were destroyed, and gardens no longer exist and would have to be restarted.” In addition to the challenge of daily survival facing these Christians, many are also severely traumatized by the horrors they have survived. VOM is helping our brothers and sisters heal by supporting trauma care ministry throughout the country.

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Front-Line Workers Serve Christians in IDP Camp

vomtechsupport — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:07:02 +0000

Christians have suffered greatly from ongoing civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR), where thousands have been forced from their homes. “These people are often the poorest of the poor,” said a front-line worker. “Entire villages have been destroyed, and people have had to flee with nothing. Some were digging up roots to have something to eat in order to survive.” The worker added that getting life-saving supplies (including tarps, emergency food, clothing and basic items such as cooking pots and water cans) to the internally displaced people (IDP) is extremely difficult: “Our greatest challenge is the transport of the relief supplies, including the fuel needed for the plane to shuttle the supplies. The trucks need a certain kind of 6-wheel drive vehicle, and very few have been available or willing to undertake the task due to the terrible and risky road conditions.”

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Central African Republic and learn how to pray.

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Blind Widower Attacked by Islamists

vomtechsupport — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 07:07:03 +0000

Francios Tawoura, a blind 58-year-old widower, said that when Islamists attacked his village, his inability to see prevented him from fleeing with his neighbors. The militants eventually found him and beat him, breaking two ribs. “I can’t forget this terrible moment for me,” Francios said. “But the Word of God asks us to forgive our neighbors, even if they have wronged us.” In recent years, as many as 70,000 Christians have fled violence in the southeastern part of the Central African Republic.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Central African Republic and learn how to pray.

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Finding Healing Through Trauma Ministry

vomtechsupport — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 08:07:02 +0000

Ipolite Kimono attended a VOM-sponsored training in 2021 to learn strategies for helping those who have experienced trauma. Rebels attacked Ipolite’s church in 2014 and assassinated his wife, two children, and brother along with many others. Ipolite escaped through a window, and he has spent the last several years struggling with the grief of his loss. “My heart was broken,” he said. “I constantly think about the situation, and the visions come back into my mind, and I relive that awful moment.” However, through the training, Ipolite himself has found healing as he has learned how to minister to others who have experienced trauma. “I have been able to forgive those perpetrators totally since the training,” he said. “I now help other people in the church who have been traumatized.” Pray for Ipolite as he ministers to the broken and hurting. Pray he will continue to experience healing from God as he comforts others.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Central African Republic and learn how to pray.

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Displaced Christian Encouraged by Medical Help

vomtechsupport — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 07:07:02 +0000

Emmanuel Dounia lives in an IDP camp in the Central African Republic. He was driven from his home after Seleka rebels attacked his village, burning his home and sexually assaulting his wife in front of him. His sons were killed in cannon fire, and he was also tortured. Since living in the camp, Emmanuel has struggled with his health, and access to the necessary medications has been limited. Recently, with VOM’s help, Emmanuel received the prescriptions he needed, and his peace has been restored. “My joy is immense. May the name of God be praised. Thank you — today I have peace of my heart,” he said. Though he has suffered much, his faith has not wavered as he has found comfort in the Scriptures. “What comforts me most is the Word of God,” he said. “In our camp, we never stop meeting to share the word of God.” Pray for Emmanuel to continue to find strength and encouragement from God’s word as his health recovers. Pray that his witness will reach others inside the camp with the love of God.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Central African Republic and learn how to pray.

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