Focus on Mission

Focus on Mission is a changing feature that introduces the health work of some of PC(USA)'s global partners: their history, their accomplishments and their needs.

Focus on Mission: Democratic Republic of Congo

Focus on Mission is a changing feature that introduces the health and development work of some of the PC(USA)’s global partners:  their history, their accomplishments and their needs. 

For more than 100 years the Presbyterian Church has been engaged in mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a sprawling central African nation that is still struggling to overcome a history of colonial oppression and recurring civil strife. Presbyterian missionaries in the late 1800s were pioneers in evangelizing the vast Kasai region and in working to protect the Congolese against the brutal practices of the rubber industry and the slave trade. Mission stations sprang up in the early years of the 20th century, with teams of missionary evangelists, teachers, translators and health care providers. At the peak of the Presbyterian mission presence there were more than 200 Presbyterian missionaries serving in the country then known as Zaire. Learn more.

Focus on Mission: MALAWI

Focus on Mission is a changing feature that introduces the health work of some of PC(USA)'s global partners: their history, their accomplishments and their needs.

Malawians live amid stunning natural beauty, but severe poverty threatens the health of many. Photo by Dr. Sue Makin

Malawi, a small land-locked country located in central east Africa, was recently classified the poorest nation on earth. But Malawi has a strong and historic network of health missions that founded five hospitals, fostered extensive community health programs and now works to address the cause and effect links of poverty and illness. Health and community development activities are facilitated through PC(USA)'s partner, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, (CCAP) whose membership now exceeds that of PC(USA.)  Read more about Malawi.