This book illustrates the work to partner with Congolese believers to promote healing and health among the hurting and oppressed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The people of Congo, in the heart of Africa, have suffered greatly due to war and AIDS.

The continent of Africa has only 10% of the world's population, yet 66% of the world's nearly 31 million individuals infected with AIDS. According to UN statistics, there are 11.4 million orphaned African children that have lost both their parents to AIDS. Numerous wars and tribal conflicts have resulted in death and population displacement as well as economic hardship and unemployment.

The impact of war and AIDS has been enormous, but through all these severe problems, Congolese Christians have been reaching out to encourage and support those in need. The members of New City Fellowship (NCF) church in St. Louis, Missouri have been blessed to work together with many dedicated Congolese Christians who have sacrificed greatly to serve those around them in need. We long for God to bless us and our partnership so that we can be a blessing to the nations.

Our collaboration flows out of a view of the world that is revealed in the Bible. The root cause of poverty and despair is not a lack of resources. The root cause is a broken relationship with God. That broken relationship with God leads to conflict within us, with others and with the created world. A restored relationship with God leads to the restoration of other relationships and produces the hope and true abundance that can overcome poverty and despair.