Vox Congo in the Dandenongs

Over the past month Vox Congo have visited Belgrave twice. The first was for UNOH's Surrender 06 conference at Belgrave Heights Convention Centre on Saturday night, August 25th; the second at St. Thomas More's Catholic Church in Belgrave for Oxfam's Freedom Concert last Sunday afternoon September 17th. Here's the stories and pics. I forgot my camera for the Freedom Concert, so unless someone out there has some better pics, you're stuck with my mobile phone pics again.

Surrender 06 (25/8/06)
Urban Neighbours Of Hope hosted their third annual Surrender Conference in August at it's new venue, Belgrave Heights Convention Centre. What an absolutely amazing 3 days with speakers such as Ash Barker, Mick Duncan, Daryl Gardiner and Tony Campollo. On the Firday night Anti Skeptic rocked the stage, then on Saturday night Vox Congo got the place jumping.
I've seen Vox Congo play numerous times now and I swear they just get better and better. My wife Verity Skye joined them to sing the song she wrote for the album, inspired by their plight for asylum in Australia.
Since Refugee Sunday was the following day I introduced Vox Congo with some disturbing statistics about the number of displaced people we have in our world today. The NCCA stats revealed on Jan 1st 2006 that there are more than 25 million people 'displaced' in our world due to civil war, natural disaster, political oppression, etc. While many are displaced within their own countries, 11.5 million escape to a foregin country to seek refuge or asylum. 7 million human beings are detained in detention camps for more than 10 years. Childern born into detention don't know life outside a camp.

With these disturbing statistics Vox Congo count themselves among the 'lucky ones' who still hold onto that glimmer of hope that their story will be heard and immigration will have compassion. In the Democratic Republic of The Congo since 1997, 4 million people have been internally displaced, 2 milliom nationals have died.
Yet Vox Congo take the stage once again and punch out that message of hope in a faithful God and Good News about Jesus with such energy and enthusiasm. How do they do it? With nothing else but the grace of God and the hope they have in Christ.

Freedom Concert (17/9/06)
Vox Congo played at a fundraiser concert for Oxfam Australia hosted at St. Thomas More's Catholic Church in Belgrave. Sweet Sassafrass and Brightwater also preformed. Vox Congo was the final act and wow! The church was packed! VoxCongo started slow then eventually had the whole church on their feet, dancing and you guessed it, in the congo line.
Event organizer Judy Wolff asked Etienne in an interview, 'What does the future hold for you?' He so simply and calmly responded, 'our future is in God's hands'. These guys have amazing strength and conviction.

If you haven't checked this blog for a while and want to learn more about the conditions of Bridging Visa E (members of Vox Congo are on this visa) check the previous post.

Thanks again everyone for your support of Vox Congo, the momentum is amazing and it really keeps their spirits up. They'll be back in the hills this Sunday at Upwey Anglican church at 10am.

Blessings,
Mark Riessen