Humble Beginnings
Barry Dudeck, Hearts for the Congo, inc. Board Member 7/6/2026
We were doing something to help a new ministry Hearts for the Congo. Soon this ministry would become more than we could imagine. The church was excited about this mission; we had met Reverend Bisoke Balikenga and fallen in love with him, and with his vision to help feed the people in his ministry area and build a well at their school. We would no longer just listen to stories of defenseless children, widows, and displaced persons suffering while senseless killings surrounded them. Our church would help the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo find a safe place to get drinking water.
I remember the mock-up, well-made, Alex Marshall (Julia’s husband). It was built to introduce us to the proposed project and the kind of work and commitment needed for it. For some of us, it seemed like a big bite into the ministry realm.
I joined the committee mainly because my friend had joined and I wanted to be around him. I knew everyone on the committee at first. Over time, new faces appeared, and I volunteered to be part of the finance side of the committee. “Send us $25.00 a month and get a t-shirt”. We were so proud of those shirts and what they stood for: saved lives and safe water.
Rev. Bisoke Balikenga Bernard with Barry Dudeck at the New Wineskins Conference 2025
It was wonderful what $25.00 could do; before we realized it, God had placed people in our midst who would double or triple our funds. I sat in amazement as more wells were built, a school was repaired, and people found salvation in Jesus. Widows and orphans were placed together, and they found purpose in helping and healing from the evil that had been pushed upon them.
We spent more time with Rev. Bisoke through emails and phone calls, we were introduced to his family, and we found ways to get medical help for them. We grew closer and discovered Rev. Bisoke’s sense of humor and his heart to help the people of the DRC.Truthfully, before this Hearts for the Congo ministry I was content sitting in the pew hearing about how Pastor David would tie his life into the scripture reading for that week. I was in Bible studies, I oversaw a ministry to the homeless, and I sat on a couple of other ministry boards. I was ok. I felt impotent when it came to helping in the world
That changed when I was given the chance to show Christian love to folks I would never meet. I believe I’ve been called to this ministry; I’ve changed because of my relationship with this ministry. I have grown for the better. I think of our friends 6,000 miles away, drinking a cool cup of water.
I hope and pray that one day the conflict will be over, and maybe we will not be needed anymore. The people will not worry about being safe, and children will have access to fresh water, and they won’t need to think about where it came from.
Our blessing is that we are called to help with many new projects; there are so many needs. I pray by the Spirit of God, that peace will break out, and the people will be safe at last.
Children will only worry about what grade they got on an arithmetic test instead of safe drinking water. God’s got this. I don’t understand His ways, but he has a plan.
I was blessed a couple of months ago to spend some more time with Rev. Bisoke; he and I were roommates at the recent New Wineskins Convention. I found out Rev. Bisoke, has never met a stranger; he was in his element. He found friends everywhere we went, some he had known for a few minutes, others he had known from years ago; each was greeted with a joyful ,"Ooh la la," and a grand handshake. We would walk through the crowd, and I would lose sight of him before I was halfway to the exit. I am no shrinking flower; I would greet my new friends and still wouldn't see Rev. Bisoke. Several nights, I would wait for him in our room so we could pray together, and he would finally arrive, bristling with energy that could only be from the Holy Spirit. We would get to our prayers after several “ooh-la-las.” We prayed together while walking to and from different groups and teachings. I must admit I was a little jealous of his time, but God was in charge, not me or anyone else there. I was so blessed; everywhere I turned, I saw the face of Christ Himself in the visage of the attendees.
My time with Rev. Bisoke and the others from Hearts for the Congo energized me and gave me direction and insight into how Hearts for the Congo can change lives and give hope where there was very little.
I want the reader to understand that the Congo needs our prayers and funds for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need everyone to know how a donation as small as $25.00 a month can change lives. Prayers heal and lift our family in the Congo.