BZM in Congo

Women reaching women in Congo

While the mission work undertaken by women in India and China was independent from the men’s, in Congo the work was much more closely linked. In Congolese villages, the men and women shared more of their lives together, although their roles still differed greatly. Girls typically did not attend school, and were left to help their mother, looking after younger siblings, gathering firewood and water, and grinding grain.

Single women were already undertaking mission work in Congo before the Baptist Zenana Mission (BZM) took responsibility for the women’s work. Although the culture was different from those they had experienced in Asia, there was still plenty of opportunity for ‘zenana’ work. Missionary women found they could help dispel the superstitions and fears held by many Congolese women, showing them the power of entering into a deep faith in Jesus Christ.

There were great changes in the Congolese women’s understanding and practical outworkings of their faith. Being uneducated they were unable to read the scriptures or song words for themselves, and were not aware of many health issues, which led to many unnecessary illnesses and deaths, particularly in childbirth and in bringing up their young children. As the mission workers began teaching girls and women, the women soon gained confidence in their prayers and started contributing in church meetings; they had safer births and were more educated as mothers; they began to meet with women from other tribes; and they went on into further education and employment. Bible-women visited the sick and those who needed help in their faith.