In the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, something extraordinary is happening. Amidst remote towns and challenging terrain, people are encountering Jesus—and their lives are being transformed. These stories are not just local victories; they carry a message that echoes across continents, especially to those of us in the Western world.
Earlier this year, a team from CDLA (Centre for the Development of Indigenous Christian Leadership) set out from Lubumbashi, traveling over 650km to Kisenge and Sandoa. Their mission? To share the gospel and disciple new believers. The journey was split into two groups: the women headed to Kisenge for a women’s conference, while the men led a mixed seminar in Sandoa.
In Kisenge, the conference focused on Getting Started and Growing as a Christian. Attendance grew daily—from 318 on the first day to 818 by the fourth. But the real impact was spiritual: 27 people received Jesus into their lives, and 152 confessed their sins. These are not just numbers—they represent hearts awakened to grace, lives redirected by truth.
In Kipushi, 2,468 Christian women gathered for the 46th edition of the Garenganze Brethren Church’s annual conference. The theme, “The woman who thirsts and hungers for the word of God” (Amos 8:11), resonated deeply. Under the leadership of Mama Celestine and CDLA speakers Isabelle, Furahisha, and Françoise, the women were equipped to evangelise and disciple others. The results? 717 people received Christ, 25 were baptised, and the outreach extended even to prisons—bringing both the gospel and practical aid to inmates.
But the mission wasn’t without danger. On the final night of the Kipushi conference, bandits attempted to rob the organising committee, demanding the offering money. Thankfully, young men assisting with the event intervened, protecting the team and diffusing the threat. It was a stark reminder that spiritual work often faces resistance—but also that God raises up protectors in times of need.
What This Means For Us
These stories are more than inspiring—they’re convicting. In a world where Western Christianity often wrestles with comfort, distraction, and spiritual apathy, the hunger for God in places like Kisenge and Kipushi is a challenge to our hearts.
When hundreds respond to the gospel in remote villages, it reminds us that the Spirit of God is not bound by geography or culture. Faith is flourishing where the Word is preached boldly and where people are desperate for truth. It’s a call to the Western Church to reawaken—to remember that the gospel is still powerful, still urgent, and still changing lives.
The impact of coming to faith in Jesus is not just personal—it’s societal. It brings healing, hope, and transformation. It redefines values, restores broken lives, and builds communities rooted in love and truth.
So, as we witness transformation in Central Africa, may we be stirred to pray, to support, and to reflect. The gospel is alive. The Church is growing. And the call to faith is as urgent in Kaitaia and Invercargill as it is in Lubumbashi and Sandoa.
Murray and Joy (DPG 23)
Project: CDLA (ID: 7027)