French Ministry

Lesha* was a young woman living the life of a street prostitute in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Because poverty is so prevalent in Congo, many young women feel they have no other option.   Then Lesha “happened” to hear one of Charlotte Mpindi’s messages geared especially for women. Drawn to the messages of hope and direction, Lesha continued to casually listen to the weekly broadcasts, produced by the French media outreach of Back to God Ministries International. One day Lesha felt convicted to go to the BTGMI ministry center in Kinshasa. There she met Mama Pasteur Francoise, the women’s discipleship coordinator. Mama Francoise spoke with Lesha about her life, the Bible, and salvation in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moved in Lesha’s heart and she gave her life to the Lord. Lesha made a commitment to leave the life of prostitution, but that wouldn’t be easy. Everyone knew her…[Read More]

Josette was standing next to her fiancé, discussing their upcoming marriage. In the next moment, without warning, they were buried by rubble caused by the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. “My future husband died beside me and I was trapped under the rubble until 11pm that night,” recalls Josette, who also lost her left arm in the accident. “It was the worst day of my existence.  After the earthquake I couldn’t stop crying. I believed I had truly lost everything.” For a long time Josette kept her feelings inside, quietly grieving the pain and loss—until she learned about a counseling ministry provided in partnership with Back to God Ministries International and Christian Reformed World Missions. Josette met with Pastor Gregory Brutus hired to lead a pastoral care ministry focusing on earthquake victims with special Help Haiti funds.   “Pastor Gregory listened and prayed with me and gave me some…[Read More]

Lusa Bahati, a senator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, testifies that her faith motivated her to offer greater service to her country. And she said Back to God Ministries French media outreach helped her grow in faith. Senator Bahati, who lives in the outskirts of Kinshasa, often listened to Perspectives Réformées, the French radio program produced by Back to God Ministries International, and broadcast in the DR Congo. Through this she learned about our Bible study correspondence program. At a recent ceremony in Kinshasa, celebrating the graduation of 800 people who completed the program, Senator Bahati testified to the power of the Gospel that changed her worldview, and especially the way she conducts her political activities. “This study gave me a new perspective on my work as a senator. My life has been transformed. My faith is now firmly established in Christ and my Christian witness has been strengthened.”…[Read More]

Radio is still one of the most effective ways of mass communication to people in Haiti as they continue to recover from the devastating earthquake in January 2010. Now, thanks to “Help Haiti” donations and the work of twelve volunteers from Fremont (MI) First CRC, Back to God Ministries International (BTGMI) is able to reach even more people with words of hope from Scripture. Shortly after the earthquake, French ministry leader Rev. Paul Mpindi began preparing special messages for the Haitian people. Initial response was very encouraging. Looking for answers and hope, nearly 2,000 listeners signed up for the BTGMI Bible study course.  But through our partners in Haiti, Rev. Mpindi came to realize we were missing a large segment of the population whose first language is not French, but Creole. “Programs in the Creole language would speak the good news of the gospel in the ‘heart language’ of the…[Read More]

Huguette felt like her future was bleak. She was raised in Congo as a member of the Eckankar occult sect. She found herself living in “fear, frustration, hostility, division, and finally ended up in dire poverty.” She adds, “My experience in the sect brought me difficulties in my family and terrible troubles in my personal life.” But then Huguette found hope through a series of radio messages called “The Curse and How to Get Out of It” by Back to God Ministries International French leader Rev. Paul Mpindi. In this series, broadcast throughout French-speaking Africa, Rev. Mpindi confronted the issue of the occult and its devastating effects on people’s lives. He also offered biblical hope and deliverance through the power of Jesus Christ, laid out in seven practical steps. After listening to the Rev. Mpindi’s messages, Huguette visited our Perspective Réformées ministry center in Congo's capital city, Kinshasa, where the…[Read More]

Extreme heat in the city of Bangui, Central African Republic could not deter approximately 700 women from coming for two days of biblical training presented by Rev. Paul Mpinidi, Back to God Ministries International French ministry leader. On March 5 and 7, 2011, Rev. Mpindi provided training on the topic A Biblical Foundation for Victorious Living and Service. “It was wonderful to teach all the women who were packed into the room,” reports Rev. Mpindi.  “The ladies listened closely, asked questions and prayed together every afternoon for three hours.” Praise God for great attendance at this learning experience!  Pray also for a similar men's conference to be held Friday and Saturday March 11-12. Rev. Mpindi  asks, “Please continue to pray for grace and strength.  The 120-degree heat is draining much energy out of me.  But I don't complain, because neither do I miss the cold in Michigan!” We hope to…[Read More]

On January 12, 2010 a devastating earthquake forever changed the lives of people in Haiti. It also put a temporary halt to Back to God Ministries International outreach as radio stations were destroyed and participants in our French Bible study correspondence course lost their homes, relatives and friends—and some lost their lives. However, as people began to rebuild their lives, they turned to God’s Word for answers and hope. By God’s grace our Bible study program tripled in size from before the earthquake—from 900 students in January 2010 to more than 3,000 today! In November 2010 Rev. Paul Mpindi was able to be in Haiti to celebrate the graduation of 147 participants who completed the series of lessons! "I was blessed to witness first-hand how Scripture changes people's perception of themselves and of the world,” reports Rev. Mpindi, BTGMI French ministry leader. “In Haiti, most people feel like God has…[Read More]

Nzuzi Lukumbo, regional manager of Back to God Ministries International French media outreach (pictured on far right), returned from a visit to Haiti encouraged about ministry happening in this country so recently devastated by a massive earthquake. His visit occurred as the cholera outbreak was beginning, but before the recent floods. Still, he found people facing their troubles with courage, and looking to God’s Word for comfort. “People want us to continue the ministry, even while they are in the midst of restoring their lives,” Nzuzi observed. Following the January 12, 2010 earthquake, understandably much of Back to God Ministries International French outreach in Haiti was put on hold. Radio stations were wiped out and staff members assisted with disaster relief. Before the earthquake 37 volunteer mentors worked with 900 students enrolled in the Bible study by correspondence program. Some of these students and their mentors lost their lives and…[Read More]

We don’t hear much about it on the news, but the Democratic Republic of Congo is plagued by political instability. On a recent trip to this region, Rev. Paul Mpindi saw God accomplish amazing things in the lives of pastors and church leaders, through a message of peace and forgiveness. Nearly 8,000 pastors, elders, deacons, and other church leaders crowded into a large cathedral in Kinshasa on Thursday and Friday afternoons, July 22-23 to participate in pastoral care training led by Rev. Mpindi, French leader for Back to God Ministries International. “The response from the people here was overwhelming,” reported Rev. Mpindi. “We talked about sin, the things that bind people,” Rev. Mpindi said. “It was a blessing to see so many participants come forward for prayer. I talked with at least a thousand people who confessed terrible things. I was tired, but they kept coming. God gave me His…[Read More]

French ministry leader Rev. Paul Mpindi visited the follow-up discipleship center in Bangui, Central African Republic this past February. While he was there, a fourteen-year-old boy who was enrolled in the Bible study by correspondence program came to the center. This young student reached into his pocket and began counting out coins--the U.S. equivalent of 50 cents. He wanted to help pay for the printing of the certificate marking his completion and graduation from the Bible study program. Moved by this gesture, Rev. Mpindi asked the teen where he got the money for this contribution. "I collect wood sticks and sell them," the boy replied. "I praise God for people like this young man who understand the value of studying God's Word," notes Rev. Mpindi. "I also thank God for the prayers and support of God's people as we try to meet the spiritual needs of God's people in Africa."…[Read More]