Home Office Weekly Update
Change and Uncertainty in Our World
Greetings brethren around the world,
To say we live in a world that is swiftly changing is an understatement.
In the United States, President Trump and his team, including Elon Musk, have taken the world by storm with the number of executive orders, and the exposure of government waste and alleged fraud as the internal workings of the government begin to be examined. The United States today is a drastically changed nation in just about all aspects from what it was just a few months ago.
On the world scene more change is coming. The German election of a new Prime Minister is scheduled for this coming Sunday, Feb. 23. Who will win, and what direction will the country take as a result? Recent migrant attacks, and the unexpected response to a recent address to German and European leaders by U.S. Vice President Vance has generated some issues and resistance to the United States’ agenda. Will this election lead to a widening divide between Europe and the United States?
Canada is also in an uncertain state. Long-time liberal Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, resigned a few months ago, and so a new election must be held by next October. But an earlier election can be scheduled if Parliament is successful in securing a no-confidence vote—and reports suggest they are getting closer to that. Recent comments from United States leaders regarding Canada’s sovereignty have rankled some in the Canadian government, creating tensions that are unusual for the two countries.
Time and God “will tell” in these elections, as we know it is God who appoints the authorities (Romans 13:1). We watch, trust God and support the belief that “His will” will be done.
Brethren Needing Our Prayers
In other parts of the world our brethren are facing dangers, as military and government pressure increases. In Africa and Myanmar our brethren are facing challenges and need our prayers for God’s protection. We pray He protects and guards His people.
In the following two articles you will read of the pressures our brethren are facing in those areas. Across Asia and in Africa our brethren live in places where governments are unstable and things can change at any time.
Please keep our brethren in your thoughts and prayers, all the time. We are family—God’s family—who are united by His Spirit and calling. We are to become “one” with each other. That includes, of course, “putting on the bond of love [agape], which is the bond of perfection” as is written in Colossians 3:14.
Take care, brethren. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
In Christ’s service,
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Rick Shabi
Update on the Situation in Sakhangyi, Myanmar
Dear brethren,
I want to share an update on the current situation in our village, Sakhangyi, where members of both the United Church of God and the Living Church of God reside.
Since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, Myanmar has been in turmoil. Since 2012, major peaceful demonstrations have called for a return to the democratically elected government of 2020. However, the military dictatorship has responded with force, rejecting demands and violently suppressing protesters.
In the ongoing conflict, the government has suffered heavy losses and has resorted to enforcing mandatory conscription, drafting young people of all genders. In February 2024, the conscription policy was expanded to recruit 30,000 to 40,000 individuals, increasing the eligible age range. These recruits undergo only three months of training before being sent to the front lines, where they face severe casualties.
On Feb. 18, at 9:30 a.m., military personnel unexpectedly invaded Sakhangyi, seeking to arrest villagers for conscription. A young man working on a farm was taken, but as the news spread, most of the other young people managed to flee and hide. The village remained eerily quiet for the rest of the day, yet fear gripped everyone, forcing them to stay hidden without food.
Late that night, the military returned in search of more young recruits. According to UCG deacon Saw Law Eh, he and three young men slept in a farm hut instead of the village to avoid capture. The uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring weighs heavily on us, but we continue to place our trust in God.
We are in desperate need of your prayers. We believe wholeheartedly that God will protect our brethren and our village.
With love in Christ, Davidson Laybeh
Effects of War in Democratic Republic of the Congo
The United Church of God has over 600 members in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, countries ranked as the 2nd and 4th poorest countries in the world respectively, according to a May 2024 report in Global Finance Magazine. And now, in addition to terrible poverty, they are facing the effects of war.
The Rwandan-backed M23 militia is one of more than 100 militias vying for the vast mineral wealth in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In January, M23 attacked the city of Goma due to its access to surrounding mining towns. The city fell a week later, costing the lives of over 3,000 people, including the family of an individual who attends another Church of God group. Farther south, the provincial capital of Bukavu fell into chaos in anticipation of the approaching militia. People looted and pillaged, while children fired guns haphazardly. M23 finally took Bukavu on Feb. 16.
So far, around 10,000 Congolese refugees have fled across the river into neighboring Burundi, into areas where we have roughly 200 members. The Burundian president has called upon his people to protect the country’s borders, inciting fears of war on Burundian soil.
The members in Burundi are scared of being overrun by M23. One member says he’s not sleeping any more. An official letter has revived a former Burundian rebel group to combat the threat, while the very few people with means are trying to get passports to leave the country.
Back in Congo, much of the country is in turmoil. In the south, one member has seen notices posted urging government soldiers to lay down their weapons.
The rebels have repeatedly said they would march on the two largest cities of Lubumbashi and Kinshasa. In Lubumbashi, members are seeing military checkpoints and patrols. Reports of gunfire at night have spooked the residents. Ironically, many say they fear the undisciplined and poorly-paid Congolese soldiers more than M23.
A member in Kinshasa shared a video of a man being chased by a crowd who kicked and beat him with rocks and sticks because they heard him speaking another language. Tensions are high and anyone who isn’t local is suspected of being a spy.
Our members are stressed and fearful in anticipation of war coming to them and need our prayers during these stressful times.
—Tim Pebworth and Lee Page, French-language areas
