Imani, Espoir, & Love Ministries
A NEW THING
The road to a permanent church in Lubumbashi has been a long one, fraught with many obstacles and difficulties, yet built on the certainty that the Lord is doing so much more than we know to reach the people in this small corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Seven years ago, a small, but devoted group of people, led by Pastor Jean-Baptiste Banza, met in a small structure on loan to the tiny congregation. The situation was tenuous, at best, and in short order their meeting space was taken to be used for some other purpose and this small group was left without a place to come together to worship and grow in their walk with Jesus. Pastor Jean-Baptize Banza, together with his small congregation, quickly found a place where they were able to erect a small temporary place to gather, consisting of plastic tarps, large sheets, some wooden poles, and a partial wall. Though humble, the people continued to show up to their makeshift church, week after week to make much of Jesus, all the while praying for a more permanent situation. Afterall, tarps and partial walls don’t hold up well to the rainy season and muddy floors make gathering year-round difficult.
At the time, newly founded, IEL Ministries was sure that this was the exact reason the Lord had called us into existence. We prayed and quickly determined, with the help of Pastors Kennedy Banze and Jean-Baptise Banza, to aid in building a permanent church for the currently nomadic congregation of Lubumbashi. The idea was met with enthusiasm and praise for the Lord that was answering a prayer. We began gathering funds and Pastor Banza committed to finding a piece of land that could be purchased and used for these purposes. We were full steam ahead…sort of. First we learned, we had to have bricks made - not bought and delivered, but made, by hand. Then, we realized that only so much work can take place during the rainy season; when the rains come work slows considerably. And this work, whether in the dry or rainy season, would have to take place around the schedules of the men in the congregation because they would be the ones doing much of
the building, while also doing the things required of them to provide for their families. There was a lot to be learned about the way these things go in DRCongo. We had no idea when we began what a process this would be, nor how much of an effort it would take from the people of the congregation and Pastors Banza and Banze, nor the amount of trust in the Lord we would need to see this project through to completion. But GOD has a plan for a church in Lubumbashi, DRCongo.
It took some time, but eventually walls were constructed and the roof covered with several tarps. Still not ideal, (and again, tarps and dirt floors don’t mix well with the rainy season) however, there were walls, made of solid bricks, on land that was purchased, and a place for people to come together to hear the Word of the Lord and to praise Him. Hope springs eternal. Then, in late 2024 and early this year, a permanent roof, concrete floors, and an altar were added. WHAT?!?
Finally! Finally, though not complete (we still need chairs, a podium, instruments, bibles, and a plethora of other things), there is a permanent church in Lubumbashi where the people can consistently come together rain or shine. And, what’s more, though seemingly inexplicable, the Lord has grown this congregation and continues to do so. They overflow with the steadfastness of the God we all serve. We pray that through this church, many more will hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. He is calling His own to Himself and we are just glad to be a part of it.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19