Mission Congo: Outlining the Charges Against Operation Blessing

This post was written by DOC NYC blogger Minnie Li

Pat Robertson, the televangelist for the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), set up the charitable Operation Blessing to assist the Rwanda refugee relief in 1994. While he claimed that money raised through his show “The 700 Club” would be used for relief in Rwanda, reporter Bill Sizemore reported in 1998 that it was actually used to fund Robertson’s African Development Corporation (ADC), an entity that coordinated diamond-mining operations.

In MISSION CONGO, directors Lara Zizic and David Turner investigate the charges against Robertson on screen. Following the film’s screening at DOC NYC on Saturday, Zizic said that Robertson is displeased with the release of their film and “has definitely made that well known.” She added, “But as of now that’s the only reaction.” Robertson, for his part, has fired back against the claims, with Operation Blessing threatening a lawsuit against the filmmakers.

According to the film, while refugees were dying of dehydration, malnutrition and cholera, Operation Blessing provided Bibles and Tylenol. The film also outlines allegations that Robertson had close ties to Mobutu Sese Seko, a man closely connected with the Rwandan genocide.

The film interviews relief workers, doctors, nurses as well as Operation Blessing personnel and pilot. Zizic said, “Most of the people that we interviewed who worked for Operation Blessing genuinely wanted to help and thought that they were able to. They were rather disappointed, mostly by the lack of supplies, the lack of organization and the inability to accomplish things.”