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Congo rdc |
CHURCHES
The so-called spiritual revivalist Churches
are presently multiplying in
Kinshasa and throughout the country
The presence of these Churches in the capital goes back to 1990, to a time when the precursors of this new current criticised the traditional religions (Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Kimbanguist) for their abstruseness, their torpor, indeed for being completely out of touch with the people’s aspirations. The people have been going through a trying time, vis à vis the country’s social, economic and cultural situation. Pastors from these new Churches took the opportunity of the prevailing general disillusionment, to further their own interests. It was a time when all national structures were being called into question: 1990 was the year of «perestroika», of «glasnost», in short, a time of opening up to democracy.
In many people’s minds, the traditional Churches had failed in their essential mission: i.e. looking after the people of God. Christ, himself, had stated: «If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me; I am the rock from which living water flows». Many people are followers of Christ and so they sought consolation in these new Churches which set to work dispensing miracles such as healing incurable diseases; praying over sterile mothers and lo and behold, they had children; praying that the long-term unemployed should find work, and so it happened; ensuring that ladies who were decidedly on the shelf, managed to get married, and so on.
Consequently, the traditional Churches began to lose their congregations. Many among the faithful could see for themselves that Christ was active on the side of the «reformers». On the other hand, the traditional Churches were dying despite an ever-increasing appeal to such aids to religion as rosaries, crucifixes, statues, holy water, etc. The use of which, according to some, is clearly against one of God’s Ten Commandments and could be construed as idolatry. Reverend Kutino Fernando, founder of the Army of Victory Church, puts it this way: «The great secret for achieving the prosperity which comes from God, is not to be found in idolatry, rather in faith in what God wants. One must be mad keen about one’s faith, just as I am. Even when all seems dark, we have to hope for light.» In both Congo RDC and Congo-Brazza, Rev. Fernando has become a celebrity of sorts. At the end of 1999, he was imprisoned for the umpteenth time. During one of his radio and television ministries, he had burned a simple notebook in which were written some verses of the Koran. In order to appease the wrath of the Muslim community, the government had to intervene and lock him up for a few months.
Sing and dance like David
Music is a powerful means for getting people together and a new kind of artiste has now put in an appearance on the ecclesiastical scene — «Christian artistes» as opposed to «secular artistes». Thanks to their songs inspired by the Bible, these Christian musicians have become a deciding factor in helping the solid implantation of the new Churches.
The Media has also made a positive contribution. There’s the sterling example of Fernando Kutino and the Good News Church. Now, other Churches have progressively set up their own radio and/or television networks. The Churches’ pastors and tele-evangelists look after the preaching. Services can last as long as four hours. God is invoked by the congregation often at the top of their voices, with canticles, praises and prayers. Spiritual concerts and gospel plays are also broadcast. Yes. You can be assured of substantial spiritual sustenance!
All this takes place in properties which serve both as TV/radio studios and church plants. Transmitters and all the necessary television and radio material are frequently squeezed into an area sometimes as small as 50 x 25 square metres, which the Churches either own or lease. However, these new Churches are quite capable of taking over one or other of Kinshasa’s two big football stadia (seating 40,000 and 80,000) which they can easily fill. The music and songs heard during these revivalist sessions arouse the envy of Congo RDC‘s most popular singers. Furthermore, the country’s «profane» singers are «borrowing» more and more material from the Christian repertoire since they are aware of the ever-growing impact of spiritual songs and music.
The new Churches together with all their musical paraphernalia have made their spiritual élan felt in the outlying districts of the country, and also in neighbouring Angola and Congo-Brazzaville. Brazzaville in particular has many new adherents who’ve received the «good news» from across the Congo River. And the Message has gone even further — as far as Europe and America where the Congolese diaspora are to be found in great numbers. Churches of African origin have established their «embassies» everywhere.
Come back to the Church if you want to be saved
Many young people and adults, some unemployed, have found a home in these new Churches and there’s plenty for them to do. They can serve the Church as musicians and choir members. They can participate in the ministries of welcoming and spiritual intercession. They can volunteer as cleaners, etc. At the same time, they undergo a personal (re)conversion as «brother» or «sister», as they like to call themselves.
Ten years after the appearance of this neo-evangelist movement, some questions are now being asked. Why have dozens of Churches emerged? «Perhaps a taste for money», say some, «but at the same time we can’t ignore the fact that God must be with us, otherwise with all the crises which have befallen the country, we would no longer be here». A fact to note: The Congolese are not yet completely stifled by these new Churches and it’s being observed that here and there, cracks are beginning to appear in the new Christian structures.
Race for the leadership: The pastors of the various Churches used to work together. Now they’re engaged in an all-out war which is not always doctrinal. They’re more concerned with feathering their own nests under the guise of religious convictions. Their preaching has become an ideal moment to slip in some gibes against their «adversaries.» For these tele-evangelists transformed into stars, the prize is to bring into their fold as many sheep as possible. And so the traditional Churches have become referees watching the up-and-coming Christian fanatics tearing themselves apart. Adeace is a young lady from Brazzaville and is a member of the Catholic Church. She says: «As far as we are concerned, we don’t force anyone to come and pray with us, contrary to the young Churches who love to practice smooth talk». (N.B. The Catholic Church also has its own radio station in Kinshasa called Radio Hope).
Internal fighting: There are splits within these new Churches. Some members have managed to persuade sections of the «faithful» to follow them, and have founded their «own» Churches. The greatest bone of contention remains money, and a few brawls have broken out concerning the use and destination of the colossal amounts collected during the weekly services — and there’s sometimes two, three or even four of these!
Another disturbing matter concerns human relations between men and women, especially among the young people. Relationships of this kind are not always innocent, and, sad to say, are to be found among both pastors and faithful. A number of church leaders have risen up against this alleged love inspired by the Spirit: «You have brought worldly matters into the house of the Eternal!», they say. The moral failure in a number of Churches has inspired a famous Congolese singer, Papa Wemba, to add his own protest in a song entitled: «The face of Jesus».
Papa Wemba maintains: «I attack all those who pretend to be true follows of Christ, and use this to commit evil in his name.» The video clip of the song caused a sensation throughout the country and among the Congolese communities in western Europe, especially within the Kimbanguist Church. The Kimbanguist Church felt it had been picked on and tensions rose so high that the Communications Ministry forbade the broadcasting of the video clip. The Kimbanguist Church took Papa Wemba to court and he had to pay a fine and to publicly apologise to the Church. (The Kimbanguist Church has just started broadcasting on its own Independence Radio).
Between State and Church
The average African, Congolese, is a sincere believer and deeply religious. The first thing he/she does when disturbed is to turn towards the supreme providential Being, at the same time trying to find a solution to his/her own problems. It’s this which doubtless lies behind the proliferation of so many new Churches in Africa: in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo RDC, Congo-Brazza.
The Catholic Church in Kinshasa is aware of what’s happening. The Church has involved itself in the Charismatic Renewal movement in order to be in touch with these new forms of evangelisation. Will this openness become more generalised? Will there be a new kind of ecumenism between the traditional and the new Churches?
Still in Kinshasa — a new threshold has been crossed by these «young» Churches. A number of their representatives were received by Joseph Kabila, the new Head of State. President Kabila doesn’t want these Christian groups to remain outside the general running of the country, Rather, he would like to see that they are given the opportunity to play an active role — they’ve been after this for some time. So from now on, Congo’s newly-established Churches will be seen in the echelons of power where they will be rubbing shoulders with their elders of the traditional Churches — God willing!
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