Help the Congo Boys - IMPORTANT!
I received this e-mail this afternoon:

Hello to all my friends and family,

I do not mean to abuse the privilege of having access to your email address, but I do mean to appeal to your compassionate hearts. Please take a small amount of your time to read what myself and colleague Keith Briant have put together regarding an appeal to our Minister for Immigration, the Senator, the Honourable Amanda Vanstone, to exercise her discretionary powers on compassionate grounds, to provide protection and residency for a group of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Known as the Congo Boys, or more recently as Vox Congo, these guys have become known around Australia for their musical talents and inspiring Christian ministry. The 3 we are advocating for are Adolphe, Etienne and Matense. I have come to know them quite well over the past 18 months and they have deeply touched my life. I have come to know them so well because our church, Knoxfield Church of Christ, has been providing housing for them during this time as they have been appealing their case to the Magistrates Court for protection and Asylum in Australia. Unfortunately, their appeal was dismissed and they have now decided to appeal directly to the minister.

As a Christian and as one who has journeyed with these 3 men, I am committed and convicted to help them with their appeal. It is my calling to 'seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with my God'. I appeal to you all to look deep into your hearts and respond to this humanitarian appeal if you are able. As followers of Jesus we have a duty to seek what is just and humane for all God's people in this world we live in. Where influence is available to us, let us use it wisely and for the good of serving God.

Below are some options on how you can respond:

Attached is a file containing a petition, their summarized story and instructions on how to write a letter to the minister (for those of you who know or have experienced the ministry of the Congo Boys). If you are interested in passing a petition around your office/work place, friends and family, you can fax it complete, back to +61 03 9801 6215. Any letters can be sent to Keith Briant at the address provided. There he will collate them as a package to be sent to the minister, or you can email them to myself or Keith at the email addresses provided. Our contact phone numbers are also included if you would like to ask us any questions.

If you would like to use email please take a short time to read Adolphe, Etienne and Matense's brief story and add your name to the petition below (of course it is more desirable to have you sign the petition attached and fax or mail it back). Pass this around to as many people as you can, either by handing on a petition or emailing it. When emailing, be sure to copy this email, create a new one, then paste the copy and add your name, then send it on.

NOTE: Unfortunately time is not a luxury, we only have until Friday, April 9th 2004 to lodge this appeal with immigration. Because Friday (Good Friday) is a public holiday we need to have received all petitions and responses by Thursday, April 8th 2004 at the latest to be sent off. If you are a recipient of this petition, please note the due date and the urgency of a reply.

Thankyou for your time and your faithful response,

God Bless.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Riessen,
Minister, Knoxfield Church of Christ

The Congo boys have been living at my parents church, and teach my little brother, Justin, to play the drums.
Here is a copy of the petition. Please get as many people as you can to sign it, and fax or post it so it will get to Amanda Vanstone by Thursday (AEST).