Our Story

Background

In December 2008, local Churches and individuals in U.S partnered with Rev. Dr. Bagudekia Alobeyo to save the lives of 24 family members during the brutal attacks launched on civilians by the Ugandan rebels known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the Territory of Dungu, in the North Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the homeland of Alobeyo. The eastern part of Congo has been devastated and ransacked by war since 1997.

Meet Bagu

Father, husband, leader and minister, Bagudekia (Bagu) Alobeyo is a man committed to following the call of God. Throughout his history he has worked full time for local and international organizations, which include roles as a child and family counselor and the Director of the West African region at Geneva Global, Inc. For the past eight years, Bagu has been heavily involved in planting churches among the African immigrants in Philadelphia, PA—a big part of which involves liberating the refugees in his homeland Dungu, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He was born and raised in a Christian home in Dungu. When he became of age, he attended seminary and went on to serve in ministry full time in roles such as youth pastor, Bible school principle, senior pastor, vice president of the Evangelical Church in Central Africa (CECA-20), president of community development and a church planter in urban centers.

Bagu came to the U.S. in 1994 to study urban missions at Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS). He graduated in 1998 but was unable to return to DRC because of the war. In 2003, he obtained a doctorate in Urban Missions.

He currently serves as a Senior Research Analyst at American Bible Society and responds to various invitations to minister the word. He is married to Suzanne Alobeyo and has five boys.

The Operation

On Thursday, December 11th, while many in the United States were picking out Christmas presents, a brave pilot from Missionary Aviation Fellowship landed his plane in a warzone on a primitive airstrip near the small town of Dungu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and picked up 24 people in the name of Jesus Christ. These refugees scrambled from their hiding places to meet the plane and escape the brutal violence of heavily-armed rebel groups that are terrorizing the region. Amnesty International says that daily abuses against civilians, including widespread killings, rape and other serious human rights violations are being committed by lawless bands of thugs, displacing 300,000 people in the DRC. By God's grace, one family of 24 people, including 3 orphan children, was saved because of the courage of a pilot, the generosity of American Christians, and the compassion of a faithful son, brother and uncle, Bagudekia (Bagu) Alobeyo.

Bagu arrived in the DRC on Sunday, December 14th, to a joyful, tearful reunion with his father, mother, and extended family on the compound of a church Bagu had planted in Ariwara back in 1992. The group told horrible stories of abuse in their homeland and harrowing stories of survival on the run. They spoke of uncertainty about the future, regret for those who were left behind, and great sorrow over those whose lives were lost. Yet, through it all, they remain thankful to God, for the pilot, for the provisions from Christian friends in the United States, and for Bagudekia's bold initiative. Each evening after dinner the group worshipped together, shared stories of God's grace in their lives and offered prayers of thanksgiving to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

While in Ariwara, Bagu was able to buy basic supplies for his family: food, medicine, blankets, towels, clothing, bedding, and items for cooking. On Wednesday, December 17th, a young rebel was shot and killed in the center of town, shutting down the marketplace and bringing a halt to all activities. Local police advised Bagu to stay away while they reestablished security. The following day Bagu filed legal documents and ordered other items that were needed to settle his family. On the last day of his trip, he finally found a house for rent, signed a lease, and made payment for two months. Before he left, Bagu did all that he could to orient his family to their new home and prepare them to provide for themselves in his absence.

The BBC reports that more than 400 people have been slaughtered near Dungu since Christmas day. Approximately 20,000 have fled to the mountains, some having their lips cut off as a warning not to speak badly about the rebels. While these atrocities continue, one large family of 24 begin a new life, in a new community, with many formidable challenges still ahead of them. But they are alive, by God's mercy, and for this they are grateful beyond words.

Watch the film taken while the rescue mission took place
Watch/download mac version of the film. (.mov file)
Watch/download pc version of the film. (.avi file)