By CAR Team
October is CAR month! As in the past few years, the synod’s companion synod team for the Central African Republic (CAR) asks that congregations, on one or more Sundays of the month, have special prayers and a mission offering for the church in CAR. If October does not suit your church calendar, please choose any other time that works for your congregation.
As part of our CAR emphasis month, our committee will host two presentations to raise awareness about the situation in CAR and the work we are doing in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church there. You are invited to attend these presentations: October 13 at 9:45 am at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston, and October 27 at Zion Lutheran Church in Brenham (details to be confirmed). If you’re interested in hosting a presentation in your congregation in the future, please reach out to us through the synod office.
From November 5-15, 2023, a small delegation from the three U.S. partner synods visited CAR to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (EELRCA). Representing the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod were Bishop Mike and Véronique Eberhart, co-chair of the CAR Committee.
This significant trip, the first in 11 years due to unrest in the region, has been documented in detail on Bishop Mike’s blog: 100th Anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of CAR and in the trip report: CAR 100th Anniversary Report.
Since the visit, communication between the EELRCA’s bishop’s office and our committee has been strong and consistent. We were deeply saddened to learn of two tragic events since the trip. First, the Church of Baboua, which was under construction, collapsed due to severe weather. Even more tragically, in February 2024, 17 church members were killed by rebels while working in the fields outside their village, near Bohong, where one of the church’s dispensaries is located.
This August, we were honored with the visit of Willie Langdji, the ELCA’s regional representative for French-speaking West and Central Africa. We thank Faith Lutheran in Bellaire for hosting Willie, where he shared updates on the health and education ministries we support in CAR. The Gallo and Bohong clinics/dispensaries have significantly strengthened their capabilities. A dedicated team of nurses, pharmacists, and midwives manage daily operations, with periodic visits from a surgeon. Willie discussed what it would take to establish a fully operational medical team on-site year-round—resources are needed, of course, but local capacity building is key.
We also learned that, thanks to the generous contributions from our synod in recent years, three new permanent schools have been built, and a high school is in development. This is especially important since access to high schools in the region is extremely limited, and previously, students had to leave their families to attend.
Our work in CAR is deeply rewarding. Seeing firsthand the impact of our efforts has reinforced how much we can accomplish and how many obstacles we can help overcome. Together, with your prayers and donations, we can support a willing and resilient community as they work towards self-sufficiency.