Testimonies
Pastor Ruth
Ruth’s Story Is So Compelling
Prostitution and Chaos
The story of Ruth, a woman from Kisangani, DR Congo, can only be understood as a woman completely transformed by Christ. In her younger years, Ruth was a prostitute and offered up the services of other women and girls throughout the city for prostitution, as well. Because of this, she was well-known throughout the entire city. Her life left little to the imagination as she sold herself and others for money. Eventually, she chose to leave the world of prostitution to begin a family.
Ruth was part of a large Muslim family with numerous brothers and sisters. She is married and has two young children. Ruth’s sister Bibiche described their family life as chaotic, loud, and full of anger. She also mentioned that some family members engaged in witchcraft and other rituals that added to the chaos throughout the family.
Opening Her Eyes
In August of 2019, Evangelist Rob and Pastor Mark of For His Glory traveled to Kisangani to meet with church leaders and share the Good News of Christ with some of those from the community. One of those was Ruth, who, as Mark preached on the authority of the Kingdom of God, surrendered her life to Jesus Christ. She was now a new believer and was just learning about what it meant to follow Christ. Her family, however, did not take kindly to her newfound faith, therefore they began cursing her and wishing her dead for deciding to follow Jesus.
Dead in the Body, Alive in Christ
Not long thereafter, in October of 2019, Ruth died. She had been suffering from high blood pressure and had a heart attack. During the two hours that Ruth was dead her body was being prepared for transport to the local mortuary. Her family was in misery, weeping at the loss of their sister and feeling guilty for how they had treated her. While weeping and mourning their loss, and after being dead for some time, Ruth suddenly sat up and exclaimed, “Jesus!”.
Her family was in shock, and in response, immediately began praising Jesus for bringing Ruth back from the dead. As her brother Ali, who had been a devout Muslim, explained after seeing his sister raised from the dead, “I had to believe in Jesus, there was no other choice.” As a result, Ruth’s entire family put their faith in Jesus.
Jesus on His Throne
Ruth, upon dying, recalled seeing streets of gold and precious jewels. She ended up in a room where Jesus was sitting on a throne in full glory. She was holding a Bible in her hand when she was suddenly thrust back into her body, sat up, and proclaimed the name, “Jesus!”. She recalls the tears and weeping being turned to sounds of joy at her return to life.
A New Disciple and Disciple Maker
Just a little over a week after Ruth died and was brought back to life, the For His Glory T4T trainers arrived in Kisangani, including Brother Samuel who is For His Glory’s Africa Director of Training. The T4T trainers had decided to split the city into four zones and provide the exact same T4T training in each zone to provide as much training in the city as possible. Without explanation, Ruth attended all 4 trainings and brought new believers to each training. She was on fire for Christ!
Brother Samuel, who saw Ruth at all the trainings, asked her why she kept coming to the same training. She shared her story and Samuel quickly realized how God was using Ruth to spread the love of Christ through Kisangani.
Since that time, Ruth has now brought over 100 people to Christ. Her family, once described as chaotic and angry, was now full of joy, contentment and peace having chosen to follow Christ.
Ruth Builds a Church Using T4T.
Ruth continues to share Jesus with everyone she can, leading them to the Lord and discipling them through T4T. Since first coming to Christ in 2019, Ruth and her team have led over 2,000 people to faith in Jesus! Ruth is now an ordained pastor and is continuing to grow God’s Kingdom through her ministry!
From Egide Bizima, Africa Director for T4T Reporting
Transforming Cities In Africa
The Commanding General of Eastern DR Congo Comes to Christ
Recently, Pastor Dr. Nguba, the leader of the Training for Trainers (T4T) teams in the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of The Congo, was asked to come to General Kapinga Mwanza’s office for questioning. General Mwanza is the military commander for the Eastern Region of DR Congo.
General Mwanza is responsible for security in the eastern region, which is one of the most dangerous areas in all of Africa. In fact, over the last 20 years more than 6 million people have been killed due to the violence in this part of DR Congo.
Pastor Nguba and his team did not not know why the regional military commander wanted them to come to his office. One can only imagine what it must have been like for these local pastors to be summoned by one of the most powerful military leaders in their nation.
When they arrived at the military base, the officers on duty welcomed them and escorted Pastor Nguba and the rest of the T4T team to the General’s office. At this point, the team was very curious to hear why the General had invited them.
After a short time the General came in and welcomed them, trying to help them feel at home. General Mwanza then began to share why he wanted them to come and meet him at his office.
He explained, “Back in early 2020, we observed that some of the streets that used to be serious security problems for us due to drug abuse, prostitution and drunkenness began to improve. In our findings, we figured out that the positive changes we were witnessing on the ground was the result of the T4T groups in the area! These groups were fully responsible in bringing about that change by preaching the Gospel in the streets”.
The General continued, “Earlier, I thought that T4T was a new type of church plant that has come with a powerful message that is changing people for the better; but I came to realize that it is a movement involving many churches.”
At first the General didn’t want to dig deeper into what T4T was, but slowly he became aware that some of the soldiers in his command were involved in T4T. These T4T members were quietly changing the lives of many of their fellow soldiers and that’s what made him want to meet the leadership of T4T and talk to them.
The General continued by saying, “I used to be a religious person when I was young, before joining the army, but I didn’t know that Christianity can change someone’s life and make them a better person or that it could make a violent street become a calm, secure place in the city! I didn’t know that churches could help the city in this way!”
Next the General asked emphatically, “Now, I want you to tell me what to do or give to the people that can change their mindset to the extent that even the most disciplined soldiers are members of T4T?”
Pastor Nguba summarized to him the principles and foundations of T4T and explained, “We are just doing what our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples to do.”
The General asked again, “What is the difference between the Jesus of all those churches in the city and the Jesus of T4T? Many of the churches in the city of Goma have been here for a very long time but nothing like these changes has ever been seen before!”
Just prior to answering the General’s question, Mrs. Adel Mudumbi, one of the T4T leadership team, read Jesus’ “Great Commission” to the Church from Matthew 28: 18-20. Then she continued by saying, “We have one common Jesus; the only difference is the way we serve Him. All those believers in the churches throughout the city are supposed go out and share their testimonies and lead nonbelievers to Christ as Jesus Himself commanded, instead of staying in their churches and waiting for the people to come to them.”
General Mwanza asked her to read those verses again but more slowly. She repeated the same verses from Matthew 28: 18-20. After listening carefully to the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ the General said, “I feel in my heart that I need to be a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ from now on. Do you want me to kneel down so that you can pray for me?” Then he knelt in front of them and Pastor Nguba led him in the prayer of surrender.
The power of the Holy Spirit touched the heart of the General as the team was praying for him. Additionally, in the outer office, the Holy Spirit touched Chief Warrant Officer Mabuilu, the chief escort and bodyguard of General Mwanza, and he cried out loudly, “I also want to surrender my life to Jesus Christ!” The team went out to where Chief Warrant Officer Mabuilu was and led him in the prayer of surrender as well.
Dr. Nguba and Mrs. Adel Mudumbi leading Chief Warrant Officer Mabuilu in the prayer of surrender in the headquarters of Eastern DR Congo Military Base.
General Kapinga Mwanza in the middle of Mrs. Adel Mudumbi and Dr Nguba, with Evangelist Oddon on the far left.
General Mwanza promised the T4T team to continue the movement on his base and to reach other military bases with T4T.