Guinea Report, December 2009

Despite all the difficulties, God is building His church in Guinea!

On 28th September 2009 the army, who took power after the death of President Lansana Conte on 23rd December 2008, violently repressed a peaceful demonstration killing at least 157 people and raping between 50 & 100 women, in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. On 3rd December 2009, the leader of the Junta, Captain Dadis Camara, was shot, but not killed, by his aide de camp who was mainly responsible for the massacre at the stadium.

International political specialists like Louise Harbour, who is leading the International Crisis Group and an NGO specializing in the study of situations like this one, are worried that the country might fall into civil war and affect neighbouring Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast. The west African state leaders want to send troops. The army & the opposition are negotiating in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, in order to find a solution to this crisis. We need to pray for peace to return to this beautiful country.

There is a Newfrontiers church in Conakry and a church plant in a village, Koukoudé, four hours away from the capital. These two churches are running two schools of 380 children in Conakry and 150 children in Koukoudé. John Kpikpi actually left the country whilst the demonstration on the 28th September was starting just after having established a team of four elders in Conakry.

Three weeks after this event, Nicolas Thebault, the newly established lead elder, and his family, received orders from the French embassy to leave the country within three days.

It has been a great test for the church to endure through the disastrous political situation, a destabilized leadership team, a deteriorating economic situation, few jobs and increasing food prices! The country, which already suffered under poverty has been lead into an even worse situation.

However, in this difficult situation the church is doing well. The leadership team is taking its place whilst waiting for Nicolas and Elaine to be back hopefully for the beginning of September 2010. Children’s clubs and youth groups have been started and the schools are growing. Praise God!

Please pray for:

• A peaceful solution to the political deadlock
• The leadership of the church: James Baker, Fengai Mondeh, Prince Momo, and their families
• The leadership of the school: Mosh Davies, Maina Dixin, Sia Gbonia
• That God will help our churches & our school in this very difficult time especially in providing food, money & medical covering
• The Thébault family whilst they are waiting for the door to reopen for them. Pray for a good settling down in France and that they will discover the good things that God has in store for them