1986

History is a funny thing – it doesn’t really have a beginning – but the history of Pamoja Ministries can clearly be linked with Sig & Joy Feser’s arrival in Africa. That happened in 1986, when Sig Feser went on a fact-finding trip to Kinshasa, DR Congo (then called Zaire), following the call of God. Africa had never been Sig’s goal – his family had immigrated to Canada when he was a child and he had grown up being taught by his mother to thankful for having “made it” to Canada. But God called the Fesers into missions, and so, in 1988, they moved to Kinshasa. They only stayed there for 8 months before they were kicked out by the government – pawns in a dispute between the church group and the government, but the impact of those 8 months has shaped more than 20 years of subsequent ministry. Corner stones were laid in Kinshasa that continue to support the ministry of Pamoja today. Here, then, is some of the early history, as told by Sig.

The Beginning

by Sig Feser

This picture records my first African Church meeting (1986) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire). It was “Sukana Sanza”, “Super Sunday”, when the many FEPAZA churches in Kinshasa sent representatives to the end of the month super-meeting. We estimated 3000 people outside the main FEPAZA church building. Why were they outside? There were already 3000 people crowded inside! The church group is called “Nzambe Malamu”, “God is Good”!

People walked miles to get there. Their enthusiasm for a 8-hour Worship Service amazes us still today! Can you see the one car in the ‘parking lot’? It belonged to Pastor/Apostle Alexander Adini Abala, leader of the group of 3000+ churches across the Congo, and in many other countries as well.

This was our powerful initiation to the African Church and African Culture. What does a picture like this say to you, about how to spend your life and resources? We committed 24 years ago, and the commitment is still solid.

As we entered the church building I looked back and these men were looking at me. I was told that these were untrained leaders from other FEPAZA churches throughout Kinshasa, coming to learn and be encouraged. It was these faces which sealed our commitment to work towards “Preserving the Harvest” by training Church leaders.

These pastors were as excited as we were. The small group of Elim Fellowship missionaries/teachers, of which we were a part, were the first foreigners to work within the FEPAZA churches.

Later in the week, still in Kinshasa, we attended a major Evangelistic Outreach in the heart of the city. The light brown to the edge of the picture is composed of people’s hands reaching out to find the provision of God for their needs. We ourselves don’t do many open-air evangelistic meetings; we feel called to work so that the Harvest can be Preserved and the people can learn how to be good disciples of Jesus.

These days we work with literature and dvd-teachings to train tens of thousands of African church leaders. We’ve expanded our ministry to include reaching kids and youth with media products such as films and CDs. Pamoja Ministries is Discipling Cultures through Media.

A picture like this reinforces the scripture: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Perhaps you’re called to be a laborer? Or perhaps you’re called to be a supporter of the ministry?

Alexander Adini Abala was the founder and apostle of the 3000+ FEPAZA churches of the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire). His apostolic ministry was marked with outstanding miracles. Several people have been raised from the dead. We met a couple of them. Many people have been healed.

At one of the “Super Sunday” meetings, a village man brought his crippled son. The son’s legs were like bent, thin sticks. Adini prayed. Nothing. He prayed again. Nothing! Eyes open, “Nkombo la Yesu”, “In the Name of Jesus”, he slapped those stick legs. Before our eyes those legs straightened, filled out with muscle. The boy stood and walked. Outstanding!

It took me (Sig) several years to shake free from some of the effects of a Scientific Materialism training which denies a spiritual realm and redefines the essences of what it means to be human. Remember, I am a PhD Physicist by training! God is greater than Physics, anytime, anywhere.

We were able to remain only 8 months in Zaire. An issue arose between the church and the government and the government “kicked us all out” to assert its power over the church.

Our exit from Zaire is an exciting story, but suffice it to say our next step in missions was in Nairobi, Kenya and then to Tanzania.