August 9, 2004 Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of Congo …. [Jules K.K. Lumbu/ANN Staff]
Four Seventh-day Adventist churches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are being rebuilt roughly 18 months after a special global offering was taken to raise funds for reconstruction.
Two churches are located in the capital city of Kinshasa: the Bandalungwa church, the city’s central Adventist church, as well as the University Church of Kinshasa. This choice of the two buildings in Kinshasa is strategic. Bandalungwa church is not only the central church in Kinshasa, it is also the “mother church” of all Adventist congregations in the region, said Pastor David Lunganga, executive secretary of the church in the West Congo district. The Bandalungwa church has nearly 1,500 members and has led to the establishment of 34 other Adventist churches in the area.
“Therefore, to rebuild this church will give a new image to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in the entire region of Kinshasa,” Lunganga said.
Added Pastor Fumakwa Fum, executive secretary of the church in West Congo, “The history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the region of Kinshasa in general, and of Bandalungwa in particular, starts around 1955 when some repatriates from the church in Kirundu in the region of Kisangani returned and founded the Nkwanza Mission. From there the work moved slowly to the capital city of Kinshasa.”
The University church is also strategically located, situated on a hillside near the University of Kinshasa. This church has been serving Adventist students on the campus. “Rebuilding it is also to give a new vision to the academic staff and students,” said pastor Tshika Kandakanda, West Congo assistant treasurer.
The two other churches slated for reconstruction are in the North East Congo church region. One is the Kisangani Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was devastated by the Congo’s civil war. The other is the Adventist University of Lukanga which received help to complete its church started some years ago, regional officials said.
Dedication of the new Bandakungwa church is slated for November; other dedication dates are yet to be announced.
Copyright © 2004 by Adventist News Network.
