Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to understand the perception of Church leaders
in Bunia on the church's care to the children that were orphaned due to war. It
explored the church's ministry to orphans as well as factors that hindered addressing
the issue of orphans.
Data was collected by using interview which was aimed to church leaders
whereby one leader was interviewed from each church in Bunia. The procedure used
to analyze the findings was based on grounded theory approach with focus on
qualitative method. The research findings, as a result, revealed that the church in
Bunia is inactive to take care of orphans because of poverty and lack of biblical
teaching about her responsibility to minister to orphans. Poverty and lack of biblical
teaching were found to be major hindrances to the need to take care of orphans.
Because the church does not address the issue, orphans lack education, shelter, heaIthcare,
the word of God. They are subjected to live on their own, cast away from the
rest of the community, and most of them find their place in the streets where they are
exposed to poverty, premature sexual practices, sexual abuse, drug, theft, insecurity,
diseases, HIV /AIDS, premature death, persistent trauma, and dirty words.
Some recommendations were made to the church and leaders, and for further
studies. Recommendations for the church aim at encouraging and suggesting way
forward in taking care of orphans in Bunia, whereas further study recommendation
consists of suggestion of possible topics vis-a-vis orphans that need to be exploited
