Congo has great potential but struggles with many problems. One-third the size of the United States, its vast territory contains huge reserves of mineral wealth and potential for food, fiber, and energy production. It has a population of more than 40 million, among a dozen major language groupings, in the great basin of the Congo River. This beautiful land ranges from the familiar hot, tropical rain forests of the river basin to upland plains and savanna to highlands and the lake region in the east complete with snowcapped mountain peaks rising to 17,000 feet.

After seventy-five years of European control, the Belgian Congo was granted independence in 1960. Tragic turmoil and chaos followed during the next five years. Political restructuring and unification then took place, including subsequent name changes and the adoption in 1972 of the new name: Zaire. In May 1997 when Kabila Laurent and his troops forced the departure of President Mobutu Sese Seko from office, the country was again designated as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

AIMM (called Congo Inland Mission when its workers arrived in 1912) has linked Christian witness with social concern from the beginning of its work in Congo. The planting and growth of a Believer's church through years of change and tension resulted in an autonomous national body. Missionaries are presently involved in ministries by invitation of the national church. AIMM involvement is primarily in the south central provinces of East and West Kasai, in Bandundu, and in the capital city of Kinshasa. Church ministries continue in medicine, education, and community development as well as evangelism, disciplining, Christian education, literature production, radio ministry, and church leadership training. AIMM relates to two Mennonite churches: the Mennonite Community of Congo and the Evangelical Mennonite Community commonly referred to by their French acronyms CMCo and CEM.