Albert Pongo
Father Albert Pongo (originally from Ghana) has been partnering with the Austrian Bible Society to distribute Scriptures.
He made one of his visits to the Bible Society in July to pick up a huge box of English Bibles and several copies of French Bibles. All of these Bibles were being brought into detention centres in Vienna. Albert reported that with the new right-wing-government less refugees would be arriving in Austria, but the police would be more focussed on those who are already there – those who have been refused asylum but are still staying in the country. According to Albert, at least every week there is a charter-flight bringing back some of these people to Nigeria, Armenia, Afghanistan and to European capital cities where the asylum seekers first arrived.
Albert visits detention centres every week to lead services and talk to the asylum seekers. He reported that every week he meets new arrivals. Many already have Bibles (received from the Austrian Bible Society at a refugee camp or through a church), others request a Bible. The situation of failure and destroyed hope, of an unknown destiny and shame, is difficult. Giving the gift of Scripture means a lot to people fleeing from horrendous situations without the hope of a safe future.
