Family tell of fascinating time in Congo

The McAllister family will speak at Wellington Church.

David McAllister will speak of how he survived the kidnap and murder of his colleagues to bring help and hope to 500,000 people in DR Congo - one of the most dangerous places on earth

The special event at Wellington on October 22 at 7.30pm will feature the New Irish Choir & Orchestra as well as David McAllister accompanied by his father, Bob (91) and brother, Bill.

Following the release of BBC documentary ‘A Deadly Mission: from Belfast to Congo’ - an hour-long film following the fascinating life of David’s parents, Bob and Alma McAllister who left the shores of Belfast Lough to live as missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo - the family are now telling the next part of the story.

With the help of local choir and orchestra New Irish Arts, Bob will tell stories of how he survived, of how his late wife Alma was held at gunpoint as she delivered a rebel’s baby, and of how the couple raised their three children in one of the most dangerous places on earth.

This past June, Bob shared these stories to royal couple Kate and Will, at a royal garden party set in the grounds of Hillsborough Castle.

David, now Tearfund’s Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leads aid and development operations on behalf of Tearfund, a Christian charity working in the world’s poorest places.

Tickets can be bought for the Ballymena event at www.tearfund.org/ni or from Wellington Church.