Light in the Darkness: Hope Endures in Eastern Congo

The challenges facing Brenda Buell and the ministries of Buell School and Tracy’s Heart in eastern Congo have grown increasingly severe. As M23 rebels have violently seized control of the region, communities are enduring widespread hardship. Banks have closed, food supplies have been disrupted, clean water is scarce, and disease is spreading. Yet even amid this heartbreaking reality, God continues to faithfully sustain His work.

As Brenda shares, "even in a war zone, the light of Christ shines in the darkness." Through Buell School and Tracy’s Heart, the love and power of Jesus Christ continue to bring hope where it is needed most.

Buell School was established to provide affordable secondary education for students whose families could never otherwise afford it. The ministry began through the prayers and faith of Brenda Buell and the local director of Tracy’s Heart. They stepped out in obedience with just three classrooms and no funding for uniforms, school supplies, or salaries. In an extraordinary act of faith, local Congolese teachers volunteered to teach without pay until support could be raised.

Today, Buell School serves 63 students in grades 7–12 and recently celebrated a remarkable milestone. Yakobu, an orphan displaced by war, became the school's very first student. This year, he also became its first graduate to pass Congo's rigorous national examinations. Soon afterward, all 16 students in the inaugural graduating class successfully passed and received their official government diplomas.

These diplomas represent far more than academic achievement. They equip these young men and women with opportunities for employment, higher education, and leadership, ensuring they are prepared when God opens new doors for their future.

The same commitment to sharing Christ's love is evident through Tracy’s Heart, which ministers to vulnerable young women between the ages of 16 and 25. While the ministry often serves survivors of abuse, it has recently focused on caring for orphaned young women who have nowhere else to turn.

One such young woman is Ornella. After being found living on the streets while trying to care for her three younger siblings, Tracy’s Heart provided her family with a safe two-room home and enrolled her in vocational training leading to government certifications in sewing and computer skills. Today, her future has been transformed. She is joyfully engaged and is even waiting to celebrate her wedding until Brenda can return to Congo to share in the occasion.

God's faithfulness is also evident in the ministry's growth. Buell School now serves as the legal parent organization for Tracy’s Heart, providing tax advantages that allow more donor support to go directly toward ministry in the field.

Although the needs remain overwhelming, God's provision continues to sustain this work. Lives are being rescued, educated, restored, and pointed to the hope found only in Christ.

Please continue praying for Brenda, the local ministry team, and every student, woman, and child connected to Buell School and Tracy’s Heart. Your prayers are an essential part of God's ongoing work in eastern Congo.

You can also watch Brenda's recent conversation to learn more about the ministry and specific ways to pray.