FROM OBSTACLES TO OPPORTUNITIES

Originally, the plan for the DRC this year involved a massive Gospel Campaign in Kinshasa, supported by several smaller events in nearby neighborhoods. But as I shared with you, tension and conflict have escalated in this country in the past months. Our team had to be nimble and reassess the changing situation.

“It just didn’t make sense for us to go to Kinshasa at this time,” explained Bret Sipek. Instead, the decision was made to shift focus to a series of smaller, yet highly strategic cities in the Lubumbashi region in July, far from the heart of the unrest.

This change of plan has become an inspired opportunity. These newly-targeted cities are booming, thanks largely to mining. Once sleepy villages, places like Fungutume, Kasumbalesa, Kipushi, and Likasi have swelled to populations of over 100,000 or more, becoming vibrant urban centers. Many of these cities didn’t even exist in their current form just a few decades ago!

Despite rapid development, these mining hubs are often spiritually starved. People come from all over for work and opportunity, and they also bring with them deep needs. These towns are often marked by high levels of exploitation, prostitution and substance abuse – the issues that come with rapidly-growing frontier towns.

The CfaN team has already conducted “Fathers’ Meetings” in each location, gathering senior pastors and bishops to build unity and share vision. Local churches are not only welcoming the initiative – they say they’ve been praying fervently for it.

“In these cities, you see people praying all night,” said Bret. “They cry out to God. It feels like their voices are being heard in heaven.”

Despite – or perhaps because of – the rapid growth and harsh conditions, these places are fertile ground for revival. Several of the planned campaign cities lie near the border with Zambia. Kasumbalesa and Kipushi, for instance, are strategically located to impact not just Congolese communities but also those across the border.

Border towns often serve as intersections of culture, commerce, and movement. In our experience, they’re also places where hearts are open, and communities are responsive to the Gospel.

One of the most exciting developments is a growing emphasis on equipping African evangelists for Africa. In the DRC, our team is pioneering a new initiative: bringing in Zambian “Fire Campers” – budding evangelists who have completed a CfaN Fire Camp – to minister in the DRC Firewave (multiple smaller outreaches leading up to the main event). It marks the first time that Fire Campers from one African nation are being mobilized to serve in another.

Further south, Evangelists Randy Roberts and Denis Artyushevskiy (both CfaN Bootcamp graduates and veteran campaign organizers) have been mobilizing local churches in Mozambique, where three Gospel Campaigns are planned this year – two in July and one in October. Randy shared:

One of the main benefits (in addition to salvations) that we have observed from campaigns is the unity that is cultivated within the body of Christ. We usually don’t see this until preparations are well underway or even after the campaign. However, that is not always the case. We are already witnessing the Body of Christ come together in just the first few meetings in Mozambique.

This story from Tete is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working on the hearts of the people.

In 2007, pision broke out within one of the biggest denominations in Tete – the Zion church. Half followed Bishop Lucas Zaba, forming the United Christian Zion Church, and the other half followed Pastor Manuel Pita, forming the Apostolic Zion Church. These two men had not worked together or even shared a meal since.

We always endeavor to hear God’s voice and be led by His Spirit. If He’s leading us somewhere, He’s already been there before us.

In 2022, our campaign in Beira saw 208,157 salvations. News of this reached Tete, and both men began praying for us to come. When we arrived, their hearts were ready. Within two meetings, they repented, forgave one another, and joined the Board of Advisors to prepare for the campaign in July.

In 2022, our campaign in Beira saw 208,157 salvations.

Our friends Nick and Marlee, missionaries in Tete for13 years, wrote this message to Denis: “One of the things that impacted my wife and I most was how well the pastors from various churches worked together. There was such honor in the way they spoke to each other and how they trusted and made choices together. We also loved seeing how unified they already seem to be, all excited to work together for one goal – to see people saved here in Tete!”>

I am firmly convinced that we have the best team of campaign organizers in the world! But no matter how good they are, they cannot do this alone. The regions they’re working in are volatile. Logistics are complex. Costs are always rising. And the enemy does not want us there.

As a team, we feel a great sense of urgency for this region, where anything can change in a moment, and frequently does. There’s no time to waste. We also feel a growing excitement in our spirits for what God is doing there right now. The Gospel will be proclaimed to cities that didn’t exist a generation ago, to people crying out for something real – people who need Jesus.

These are not just plans – they are divine appointments in the making. We are stepping into cities old and new, into places just desperate for a touch of God. There is hunger in these places. There is hope. And there is an open door for the Gospel – but we cannot walk through it alone.

Will you walk though it with us? Will you help us to write a new chapter of salvation, healing and revival for these cities? Your gift, big or small, can help make that possible. Thank you so very much if you are able to invest in these African campaigns with your donations and prayers.

Together with you for the Gospel,

Daniel Kolenda
(Together with the whole CfaN team)

These Gospel Campaigns are all funded by partner donations. Will you help us meet the costs and bring in the harvest? 

Further south, Evangelists Randy Roberts and Denis Artyushevskiy (both CfaN Bootcamp graduates and veteran campaign organizers) have been mobilizing local churches in Mozambique, where three Gospel Campaigns are planned this year – two in July and one in October. Randy shared:

One of the main benefits (in addition to salvations) that we have observed from campaigns is the unity that is cultivated within the body of Christ. We usually don’t see this until preparations are well underway or even after the campaign. However, that is not always the case. We are already witnessing the Body of Christ come together in just the first few meetings in Mozambique.

This story from Tete is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working on the hearts of the people.

In 2007, pision broke out within one of the biggest denominations in Tete – the Zion church. Half followed Bishop Lucas Zaba, forming the United Christian Zion Church, and the other half followed Pastor Manuel Pita, forming the Apostolic Zion Church. These two men had not worked together or even shared a meal since.