The History of Salvation among the Banyamulenge

Like other African communities, the Banyamulenge, before receiving the Good News of Jesus Christ, followed traditional religious beliefs. They practiced ancestor worship, made ritual offerings, and consulted diviners. This way of life lasted for many centuries until the Good News reached the region where they lived in the year 1919.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ was brought by missionaries from European countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway. When the Gospel arrived in the Great Lakes region, it was mostly accepted by neighboring ethnic groups. However, the Banyamulenge did not accept it at first and continued to follow their traditional beliefs.

A Munyamulenge man named Ntakandi, who worked for the white missionaries, was the first to receive and believe in the Word of God. He was saved and later baptized in a place called Lemera on January 31, 1922, where he was given the name Samuel.

After the salvation of Ntakandi Samuel, no other Munyamulenge person believed for many years. It wasn’t until 1945 that a few others received salvation and joined him. Among those saved during that time were Kajabika André and Matayo Mungungura, along with a few others.

These first Banyamulenge believers faced serious challenges. They were rejected by their families and communities to the point that no family was willing to give them a bride. They were accused of abandoning their culture, their marriages were broken off, mocked, and suffered many other forms of discrimination and exclusion because of their new faith.

In 1951, a powerful spiritual revival took place, leading many Banyamulenge to receive salvation and turn away from their old ways. They abandoned idol worship and became new creations.

Their salvation was truly remarkable — many of them were saved without anyone preaching to them or urging them to believe. It was the Holy Spirit Himself who touched their hearts and led them to accept the gift of salvation.

After the Church of Christ was established, it grew strong. God raised up powerful prophets who delivered messages to the people about the times they were living in. People began to pray with great passion, and this marked the beginning of great miracles and powerful spiritual visions.

These included people miraculously learning how to read and write through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, supernatural teleportation where individuals suddenly found themselves on distant mountains, miraculous healings, and many other extraordinary events.

The church also faced many challenges, including the death of many key leaders during various wars and acts of violence committed against the Banyamulenge. These tragedies forced many Banyamulenge to flee to different countries. As a result, they began to carry out the work of evangelism in foreign nations such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and other parts of the world across different continents. Today, the Banyamulenge are preaching the Good News in many places around the globe.

Today, the Banyamulenge as God’s people mostly belong to the Pentecostal church. They continue the work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through Igisirimba, singing, preaching, worship, and various other ways to bring back the lost sheep from all over the world.

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