Discipling Our Nations Effectively » Dakar

Church Attacks in Senegal Must be Probed

Administrator — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:34:32 +0000

STATEMENT OF THE RELIGOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION OF THE WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

For Immediate Release

July 7, 2011

WEA-RLC has learnt that at least six churches were attacked during the recent protests over constitutional amendments in Senegal in West Africa. These attacks in the national capital of Dakar are worrisome and puzzling, as this Muslim-majority country is seen as a model of tolerance and religious co-existence.

Protests erupted on June 23 after President Abdoulaye Wade made an attempt at what the civil society and political opposition called a “constitutional coup.” His government introduced a bill seeking constitutional amendment reducing the requirement of at least 50 percent votes to become President to 25 percent so that Wade, in power for 11 years, could remain in office.

“The protests had nothing to do with the churches that were attacked,” Executive Director Godfrey Yogarajah said. “It is also clear,” Godfrey added, “that the attacks were not spontaneous; they were planned and organized taking advantage of the protests. How else do you make sense of mobs launching attacks on six churches when there was absolutely no immediate provocation?”

Local sources have told WEA-RLC that the mobs targeted new churches including Pentecostal and Baptist, which are growing in the country. The Roman Catholic Church is seen as a traditional organization in Senegal, but some Protestant congregations are accused of having links with foreign groups and are therefore seen with suspicion.

While churches have been attacked in the country in the past, violence of this scale is a new development. Sufi Islam, to which the majority of Senegal’s Muslims belong, is widely believed to be tolerant. Over 90 percent of the 12.5 million people in the country are Muslim.

Abdoul Aziz Kebe, an Imam at a Dakar mosque and Professor of Islamology at Cheikh anta Diop University, condemned the violence, stressing that Islam calls for peaceful relations between Muslims and members of other religions, according to West Africa Democracy Radio.

“It is worrisome that no one, not even the government, has a clue who the attackers were although the attacks raise many questions. Does that mean a section of the Sufi Muslims have become extremist? If so, is a foreign group behind it or some insiders are promoting radical Islam? Who is their leader? What is the strength of this new grouping and what are their plans?” Godfrey said.

WEA-RLC urges the government to ensure religious freedom for all Christian and other groups, to investigate all aspects of the violence to nip in the bud the efforts to radicalise sections of the local Muslims, and to abstain from violently repressing the protests which will only lead to a state of anarchy in the country.

For further information please contact Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director, at wearlc@sltnet.lk, or visit http://www.worldevangelicals.org/commissions/rlc/.

The Religious Liberty Commission is monitoring the religious liberty situation in more than 100 nations, defending persecuted Christians, informing the global church, challenging the Church to pray (www.idop.org) and giving all possible assistance to those who are suffering. The Commission also makes fact-finding trips and meets with governments and ambassadors speaking up for the suffering brothers and sisters. At the United Nations, the Commission reports about the situation and arranges special hearings with Christians from countries under pressure.

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Call for Peace and Forgiveness Following Unrest in Dakar

Administrator — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:21:55 +0000

Dakar, Senegal – June 30, 2011

Note: Original article is in French and has been machine translated into English.

The leaders of the ransacked and/or set on fire churches call their faithful to remain calm and be tolerant, and ask the Sénégalaises authorities to protect the places of worship.

The religious leaders activate themselves to calm the spirits and to alleviate the tensions. L’ Association of the Churches and Ministères Pentecôtistes of Senegal (AEMPS) called the faithful Christians to calm and forgiveness.
It invited those which attack the places of worships to cease the attacks. This association whose all the 5 attacked churches are members also invited the faithful Moslems, Christians and all the population to observe the religious tolerance of which Senegal always been evident.

” We exhorted everyone, religious authorities but also our faithful to not to replicate” affirmed Pasteur Louis Louhaya, general secretary of l’ AEMPS. ”

It is necessary to forgive, that is the message of our Jesus Lord, we have that in our heart and we will live with that” he added.

The leaders Pentecotists finally asked the Sénégalaises authorities to dissuade the authors from these attacks and to take care of the protection of the places of worships. ”

I exhort them to do everything to take care of the safety of the people and property” said Bishop Abdoulaye Ba, president of l’ AEMPS. ”

With my Senegalese brothers (…), Senegal does not deserve that, we know only peace and the téranga, let us exert what our ancestors have us bequeathed” it has concludes.

Read original article published in French by WADR here…

Les leaders Chrétiens appellent au calme et invitent au pardon et à la tolérance au Sénégal by WADR. Uploaded with Newscoop

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2007-2008 Classes Begin

Administrator — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:29:54 +0000

Classes begin at the Senegal Theological Bible College & Seminary. Many new students from the local churches in Dakar, Senegal.

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Work Stops on Building Repairs

Administrator — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:27:03 +0000

Repair work on the DONE Building in Dakar has come to a stand still after payment for the work done in phases one and two was made. The Ministry and the contractors took the decision to suspend the work until a fix date can be agreed upon for final payment when work is completed. Meanwhile work on the second and third floors is completed and both the Ba’s and the Browne’s have been relocated back into the building.

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DONE Building Retrofit Continues

Administrator — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:22:03 +0000

Dakar, Senegal: Retrofitting the DONE Building in Dakar is still in process. Renovation work on the second floor is completed and already Bishop Ba and has family have moved. Renovation work on the third floor will be completed over the week end and Rev. Browne and family is expected to move in early next week.

With other building being constructed on the both sides of the building, engineer says that it is not necessary to continue with previous plans of removing the third floor. According to the engineer this puts the building in a better position to retrofit as compare to the previous plan of knocking down the third floor which could have effected and cause harm to the building because of the impact of knocking. They indicated that when retrofitted, the building could go for another 7 to 10 years.

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No Longer With DONE Ministry

Administrator — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:48:38 +0000

We wish to inform all of our Friends, Sponsors, well wishers supporters and the world that the following persons; Samba Diedhiou, former Coordinator of The Senegal Theological Bible College and Seminary, Bernard Kapuku, former Pastor of the Parcelles Evangelical Church and Abdoul Maiga, former Dean of the Senegal Theological Bible College and Seminary are no longer within the DONE Ministry.

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Micro Finance Women’s Day 2007

Administrator — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 23:43:22 +0000

Dakar, Senegal Sunday June 3rd was observed throughout the Republic of Senegal as national women Day. Women from the Dakar church and the Rufisque cell group were all present on this day for a wonderful and worship together. After the service they had a joint meeting to discuss how they as women can be self supporting and self sufficient. They also discussed the Micro finance, how it works and the future of the different women groups if they work cooperatively. They also discussed about the problem and difficulties that women faced and the potential of improving their lives. At the end of the meeting they agree to pray and work together as women to improve their lives.

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Revival Ministry Seminar

Administrator — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 23:36:33 +0000

Dakar, Senegal A three man team lead by Pastor Bert arrived in Dakar as guest of the Ministry, from the 17^th thru the 28^th of May. Other member of the team included Anthony Heald and Rev. Paul. During their stay in Dakar a week long seminar was held for leader and church workers of the ministry. The seminar ran from 10:00am to 5:15pm daily.

The week long seminar and revival services brought together over 150 participants from a cross session of Bible Believing Churches in Dakar and its surroundings.During the revival services many were blessed. 19 persons confessed receiving instant healing from several body pain, while 7 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 9 Muslims and 2 animist accepted Jesus Christ as Lord in their lives.

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Building Flooded – Sewage Line Bursts

Administrator — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:13:48 +0000

On Friday July 21, 2006 at around nine o’clock p.m. it was discover by the prayer and intercession team;( who was holding a one week fast and prayer session), that the septic tank hole in the church was leaking vast amount of water. This happened because during the remolding of the area that hosts the church, the bathrooms and toilet holes were sealed up to get more space. It was these seals that burst open because the main plumbing line on the street was blocked after a rainfall.

The situation was very serious. Before anything could be done to stop the water temporarily half of the rugs in the church were soaked in toilet water and had to be taken out. It was decided that the team on the ground could handle the situation and there was no need to disturb the Bishop. Everyone immediately got to work cutting the soiled rugs out and taking them for cleaning. Capping the hole temporarily until the people in charge of this kind of problem could be contacted. The next day the government team in charge was contacted and the situation was put under control. However God was with us. Everything was done on time for our regular service to be held on Sunday.

Read more about this multipurpose building that hosts a 150+ member church, Bible College & Seminary, student and staff housing and micro-enterprise beauty salon.

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Update DONE West African HQ Building

Administrator — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:10:29 +0000

Architect Richard Donohoe visits DONE West African Headquarters in mid-June. His visit was in response to a request from the DONE board to evaluate the building for short-term solutions prior to the three-month rainy season beginning in July. While providing a recommendation toward a long-term building solution for DONE headquarters. Read report of ceiling collapse during Palm Sunday service here.
TOUR: Reverend Thomas Browne and Reverend Liberty took Dick (as he wish to be called) through the entire building in order to see and examine the cracks in the walls. Next he was taken into the church and shown the areas that had been affected and the type of repairs that have been put into place. Dick took notes, measurements and analyzed bricks used for building in Senegal.

ANALYSIS: The following is the preliminary reasons for the ceiling collapse. During the extreme rains in August 2005 the building took in tons of rainwater that was not able to drain from the building. This was caused by the lack of drainage outlets and building style. Because the water could not drain fast enough from the building it migrated through the walls creating the cracks in the structure and the collapsed ceiling.

SHORT-TERM SOLUTION : After a critical examination of the situation he came to the conclusion that short-term emergency repairs should quickly be put into place before the heavy rains this year. He recommended using penetrating sealing on the entire outside of the building where water could affect, while sealing cracks and holes with cement, and tearing down or re-roofing the stairways. Further he called for large drainage pipes to be placed along side the walls for water to drain off the building as soon as it rains. As for long-term solutions he called for the entire top floor to be cover or if necessary replace the building.

DONE board member the Reverend Patrick Novak came from the United States to join Dick for a final analysis and implementation of the short-term solutions. Together they had the chance to talk with local masons and sealing experts to get an insight of the kind of materials that could be purchased locally. Before leaving for the United States Reverend Novak conferred with the DONE Board and money was immediately allocated for repairs. The short-term repairs have the building in a better condition to withstand the coming rainy season.

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