Église Mont-Sinaï (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo)
The Église Mont-Sinaï (formerly Brikin) is a congregation of the Communauté des Églises de Frères mennonites au Congo (CEFMC – Community of Mennonite Brethren churches in Congo) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The church began meeting on 23 July 1984 as a cell group of the Ozone parish, initiated by deacons Sébastien Mavikidi, Mbemba Mabanda, Makila Kibaka, and Kabengi. In September 1985, the group began to meet on a plot of land owned by Papa Kabengi on 24 Kananga Avenue in the Mama Yemo neighborhood of Ngaliema municipality. Its first preacher was Deacon Musitu, who served for two years.
In July 1987, through the initiative of Reverend Béatrice Kadi, the cell group became a sub-congregation of the Ozone parish and moved to the property of Deacon Mbemba Mabanda, under the leadership of Deacon Makila Kibaka. In 1990, also thanks to the advocacy of Reverend Kadi, the group received 565 USD for the purchase of a plot of land from the European Mennonite Evangelization Committee (EMEK). These funds were given via the intermediary of Canadian missionary Roger Fast. For the purchase of the plot, Fast took with him Reverend Tshiniama (Reverend Kadi’s husband and senior pastor of the Ozone parish), and Reverend Mununga Masolo (ecclesiastical coordinator for the CEFMC city-province of Kinshasa). In that year, the sub-congregation was led by Reverend Tshiniama.
In May 1991, the church was inaugurated as a full congregation and named Brikin after the neighborhood where it was located. Reverend Munongo Kudipama served as the congregational leader and began the construction of a church building. The roof was financed by missionaries Robert Neufeld and Arnold Prieb, while the members covered the costs of the walls.
Reverend Munongo served for several years but was dismissed by the church conference due to misbehavior and misconduct. Reverend Musangu served as interim leader for nine months. From 2007 to 2012, Reverend Gérard Mambakila (former legal representative of the CEFMC) served as congregational leader, followed by Reverend Idéal Kingudi Bieto from 2012 to 2013. Reverend Séraphin Kimwanga Nduwa began to serve as senior pastor in 2013. In 2014, the church changed its name to Église du Mont-Sinaï.
In 2013, the church launched several programs and construction projects. The members intended to open a health clinic, build a church office, fence the entire church compound, and organize schools within the compound. Unfortunately, a division within the church prevented the full completion of these projects.
In May 2018, the congregation of approximately 380 members split in two with some members leaving to start their own congregation. Among those who left, some said that the pastor was mismanaging the church’s finances. Others described the church as a tribal church, since 95% of the members were from the Yaka tribe. The church conference suspended Reverend Nduwa for six months, but an investigation found the accusations against him to be false. He resumed his position in November 2018 and continued as congregational leader.
In 2023 the congregation was trying to advance and complete the construction of the office, the pastors’ house and the abandoned schools. The school had operated for only three years due to the church division, and the wall construction and dispensary projects were on hold due to limited finances. The church office was under construction.
The senior pastor was responsible for the administration of the church and coordinated all activities. The second pastor oversaw evangelism and church life and acted as the assistant coordinator of church activities. There was a congregational committee with four members, including the two pastors. The thirteen deacons had their own two-member executive, while the youth and women’s ministries each had a four-member executive. In addition, the Protestant lay ministry (MILAPRO – Ministère laïc protestant) had an executive of three members.
The church had no budget. Members’ monthly offerings were used to pay the pastors. If, for example, the members gave 120,000 FC (about 60 USD) one month, the senior pastor would receive 50% of this amount, the assistant pastor 40% and the other staff 10%.
The Sunday morning order of worship included a prelude, a biblical invocation, a time of intercession, a congregational hymn, a first round of choir singing, announcements, a testimony, a second round of choir singing, worship, Bible reading and message, offerings, recap of announcements, and a final prayer. In May 2021, the church added a 7:30 am French-speaking service to its 9:45 am Lingala service.
The congregation also held a variety of activities during the week, including a warfare prayer meeting on Mondays, a cell group prayer meeting on Tuesdays, an intercessory prayer meeting on Wednesdays, and a teaching service on Fridays. On Thursday, the pastors had their office hours, and the choirs rehearsed. An evangelistic activity took place on Thursday and Saturday afternoons. The congregational steering committee, which included the pastors, deacons and sector leaders, met on Saturdays.
The church had approximately 185 baptized members in 2023. About 45 adults attended the French-language service and 140 attended the Lingala service. Each year, approximately 5-7 people were being baptized and joining the church.
Bibliography
Church records (including congregational property record, cash book, membership book, project book, church administration book, pastor’s salary book, social book, and entry and exit slips).
Bieto, Kingudi. Former congregational leader. Interview by Kayibanda Ardan on 20 December 2022.
Katshiayi, Kathy. Deaconess of the congregation. Interview by Ardan Kayibanda on 25 May 2022 at the church.
Kudipama, Munongo. Former congregational leader. Interview by Kayibanda Ardan on 20 January 2023.
Mabanda, Mbemba. Deacon of the congregation. Interview by Ardan Kayibanda on 30 May 2022 at his home.
Mavikidi, Sébastien. Deacon of the congregation. Interview by Ardan Kayibanda on 15 July 2021 at his home.
Additional Information
Address: Avenue Dimanga 18, Mama Yemo neighborhood, Ngaliema municipality, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Phone:
Website
Denominational Affiliations: Communauté des Églises de Frères mennonites au Congo (CEFMC)
Church Archives The congregational records are kept in a cupboard in the church building.
Église Mont-Sinaï Pastoral Leaders
[Name of Church] Membership
| Pastoral leaders | Years of service |
|---|---|
| Deacon Musitu (cell group preacher) | 1985-1986 |
| Deacon Makila Kibaka (sub-congregation leader) | 1987-1990 |
| Reverend Munongo Kudipama (congregational leader) | 1990-2006 |
| Reverend Musangu (interim congregational leader) | 2006 |
| Reverend Gérard Mambakila | 2007-2012 |
| Reverend Kingudi Idéal Bieto (congregational leader) | 2012-2013 |
| Reverend Séraphin Kimwanga Nduwa (senior pastor) | 2013- |
| Author(s) | Michel Ardan Nkandi Kayibanda |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 23 February 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Kayibanda, Michel Ardan Nkandi. "Église Mont-Sinaï (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 23 February 2023. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=%C3%89glise_Mont-Sina%C3%AF_(Kinshasa,_Democratic_Republic_of_Congo)&oldid=174893.
APA style
Kayibanda, Michel Ardan Nkandi. (23 February 2023). Église Mont-Sinaï (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=%C3%89glise_Mont-Sina%C3%AF_(Kinshasa,_Democratic_Republic_of_Congo)&oldid=174893.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
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