He was speaking on the first anniversary of the invasion of Goma, in late January 2025, by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. The rebels went on to rape and recruit children as fighters as they continued their progress south. Speaking to the Church Mission Society, Bishop Gordon said that, despite ongoing challenges in the region, the Church had continued its witness and care. “The 2025 invasion adds another layer of trauma to more than 30 years of conflict. Church attendance in the archdeaconry had doubled during 2025, and improved access had enabled the building of a new church in Kibumba.