Share this
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…” – Psalm 127:1
In a land once marked by conflict, fear and loss, a quiet testimony is rising.
It is not a story of human achievement, but of God’s grace.
Not a celebration of programs, but of His faithfulness.
This is the story of the Democratic Republic of Congo—
And what God is doing through His Church.
He Entered in Our Weakness
The Church of the Nazarene entered the DRC in 1990, at a time when the country was in great distress.
Conflict in the east had displaced thousands.
Children in cities like Goma had no homes, no parents, and no access to education.
The future was uncertain.
But God did not abandon His people.
He planted His Church in the ashes.
And through faithful men and women, He began to build—one act of love at a time.
He Built Schools to Carry His Light
One of the first burdens God placed on the hearts of local and national leaders was this:
Educate the children.
From that burden, the Church began building schools—not for fame, but for faithfulness.
Today, by God’s grace, there are over 110 Nazarene schools in the DRC.
These schools offer more than academics.
They are places where:
✓ Children hear the Gospel.
✓ Chaplains disciple young hearts.
✓ Classrooms become communities of hope.
The first school, the Zanner Institute in Goma, named after Richard Zanner, was only the beginning.
It now stands as one of the top schools in the region.
Its graduates are leaders—not just in society, but in the Kingdom of God.
Each school is deeply connected to a Nazarene church.
And in every classroom, Jesus Christ is lifted up.
He Is Growing His Church
Since 1990, the work of God through the Church of the Nazarene in the DRC has grown steadily.
Today there are:
- 33,426 members
- 394 churches
- 7 organized districts
But these are not numbers to boast in.
They are souls.
They are families restored, children reached, lives transformed.
This growth has come through more than preaching.
It has come through compassionate ministries, education, and evangelism through tools like the Jesus Film—bringing the Good News to remote corners of the nation.
He Is Still Moving
The Church in the DRC continues to walk in obedience.
The vision remains clear:
To make Christlike disciples in every community, whether rural or urban.
To continue loving, serving, and standing with the people—body, mind, and soul.
There are still challenges.
But there is also an unshakable hope.
And it is not rooted in us.
It is rooted in Christ.
To God Be the Glory
This is not the Church’s story.
This is God’s story.
It is the story of what He can do when we say yes.
When we plant in hard places.
When we teach the young and serve the broken.
When we depend on His Spirit more than our strength.
The Church of the Nazarene in the Democratic Republic of Congo is simply a vessel.
It is God who calls.
God who builds.
And God who saves.
May every classroom, every pulpit, and every church planted lift high the name of Jesus Christ.
We Give Thanks
We thank the many faithful leaders who have served the mission.
We honor the pastors, chaplains, teachers, and members who continue to labor in love.
And we give all glory to the Lord, who alone makes the work fruitful.
May He continue to bless the Church in the DRC.
May His presence go before them.
And may the Gospel of Jesus Christ continue to bring life where once there was despair.
