“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and The Central African Republic (CAR) are two countries that have known much darkness. Their people are wracked by war, human rights infringements and extreme poverty. However, they have been touched by a Light far greater than any darkness of this world. During recent trainings in the DRC, Harvesters found this Light shining brightly in the most unexpected places.
From a Godly Meeting to Answered Prayers
Two years ago, Pastor Duale Langba – president of the evangelical community in Ubangi Mongala, DRC – had a chance encounter with Harvesters Regional Director for Central Africa, Reynold Fourie, at a conference they were both attending. As Reynold explained Harvesters’ mission of planting churches through evangelism and discipleship, a stirring rose in Duale’s heart as the vision resonated deeply with his own.
At the beginning of 2025, Pastor Langba shared this leadership vision with his community: Stage one was “to activate churches to evangelise and disciple.” That same year, God brought this vision to life. In October – thanks to the God-ordained meeting – Harvesters launched our church-planting programme in Gemena with 277 pastors.
“This training is the answer for the first stage of my vision,” Pastor Langba shared. “Harvesters works to plant churches and it’s an answer to prayer for me to collaborate with you.”
Giving Their All to Receive Training
Gemena lies in the remote north of the DRC, near the border of CAR. Roads are mostly inaccessible, yet pastors came from far and wide to attend. Some travelled over 500 kilometres on small motorbikes; others crossed the mighty Congo River. In a wonderful move of God, five pastors from CAR even managed to cross the border to join us.
The training ignited a powerful flame in pastors hungry for training. “When we return to our county, we will activate the whole church for evangelism,“ said pastor Gbaka Tagba Benjamin from CAR. “Then we will plant churches and disciple people. From the members of the church plants, we will choose leaders and train them. And we will follow up with them and teach them to repeat the process. With the Lord’s help, we will plant many churches.”
CAR has been tormented by a civil war since 2012. They have every reason to abandon all hope. But God is using these pastors to transform their country.
It Takes a Body
It’s clear that God has His hand upon this church-planting movement which has now launched in Gemena. From orchestrating the divine meeting between Pastor Duale and Harvesters, to the deep hunger of pastors travelling for miles to attend. Furthermore, the whole local church community played their part by opening their homes and providing food for all the attendees.
This is how the Body of Christ functions: believers opening homes, ministries joining hands, pastors travelling and crossing borders – all to fulfil the Great Commission. Despite the region’s turmoil, God’s light is shining through faithful servants who are aflame with the love of Christ.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
