On Feb. 14, a remarkable email sparked my interest for several reasons. It had been sent to various ministers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America from Rev. Pierre­-Honore Kazadi, General Moderator and Legal Representative of the Eglise Reformee Au Congo (Reformed Church in Congo, or ERCO).

First, I did not know there was a Reformed Church in Congo. The letter was also striking in its sincerity and openness. I determined to write to Rev. Kazadi to encourage him in the Lord, pledge our prayer support for the ERCO, and learn more of their history and doctrinal positions. The correspondence that ensued has been quite exciting and informative.

The original communication from Rev. Kazadi consisted of three separate letters. The first was addressed to the Clerk of Synod, asking the RPCNA to enter into a relationship of cooperation with the ERCO, to exchange delegates at conferences and Synod meetings, and to “send missionaries who can come to live with us to assist the church in the evangelical mission.”

The second asked for assistance in establishing a theological seminary in the province of Katanga since “the community doesn’t have money to send people abroad to study.” It was asked that the seminary, which would be called “Katanga Reformed Theological Seminary” (KRTS) be somehow affiliated with the RPCNA, perhaps as a branch of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

The third letter was addressed generally to the pastors of the RPCNA, asking them “to be in a friendly relationship” with us, our families, and our ministry.

The Reformed Church in Congo was established largely through the efforts of Pierre Kazadi and his wife, Astride, who became convinced of Reformed truth through personal study in 1990. Rev. Kazadi gives this account:

“We are not a dissident church or separated from another group. The church began with the couple of Pastor P. H. Kazadi and his wife, Astride, who is also president of the Reformed Women’s department. This couple was in prayer urging and praying [to] God that the church should be birthed in this milieu. After the answer of God, this couple started evangelism house by house and in different public places (in the morning and in the afternoon), through the truth [of the] Word of God. Our church was created by the power of the Holy Ghost, whom Jesus sent to assist us. For this church to start, we had to work very hard in evangelism to bring people to Christ. It was a hard work and [done] without being supported even now. We live at random and by miracle.”

As to the church’s beliefs and practices, Rev. Kazadi explained that the Reformed Church in Congo “is based on the standard doctrines,” in which he includes “The confession called ‘Belgica’ and the confession of faith of Westminster, the catechism of Heidelberg, the canons of Dordrecht (1618–1619) to which are added the ecumenical creeds, the symbol of the apostles, the symbol of Nice and the symbol of Athanase.” He further stressed that “we are a psalm-singing church, according to the truth word of God in the Bible (Deut. 12:32, Jer. 13:10, Mark 7:6–9, Col. 2:1–23, John 4:21–24, Rom. 1:18–25, Eph. 5:14–21). In worshiping meetings, we give the respect and glory to God, not to will of human as well as the others (Matt. 5·47–48, 1 John 1:5–10, Matt. 22:37–40).”

The polity of the ERCO is presbyterian. Rev. Kazadi explains: “The government of our church is organized as follows: there’s the local congregation and many congregations form what is called a presbytery, and several presbyteries form a general synod. Our church has already done two general Assemblies or general Synods (in 1995 and in 2000) and the third general Assembly will be organized in 2005. Nevertheless, there’s a conference of the executive counsel each year.”

The Reformed Church in Congo faces numerous challenges as a result of the economic, social, and political difficulties that beset this African nation. On a personal level, Rev. Kazadi notes:

“I am doing the work of evangelist to bring souls to Christ day and night and plant Reformed churches in Congo,…but because of many difficulties that our country is in, and I believe you know them very well.…The church is still very young and members are not able to support me. I have a family and my children at school. I lack means to make them study. Sometimes we lack even the most necessary things to life, i.e., food.…Can you imagine that sometimes (like now) we spend two days without eating?”

Despite these obstacles, difficult for the American Christian to even imagine, the energetic ministry of Rev. and Mrs. Kazadi has grown to a denomination that numbers 75 congregations, 5,650 members, and 25 pastors! Yet the work of the ministry is slowed by economic disadvantages. For example, Rev. Kazadi writes, “Most of our congregations are planted in the country (rural area), few are in the cities.…The church is facing serious financial and developmental problems. In short, the church is very poor because of social, political, and economic problems of our country which have occurred since 1960 (42 years). Try to understand that people are not employed, and the few [who] are employed are sometimes unpaid for eight months.…Certain of our congregations are in the country but we fail to visit them because the church doesn’t have any means of transportation (nor even a single vehicle). Roads are very bad.…The contact is broken with congregations which are in villages.”

Formidable challenges notwithstanding, the Reformed Church in Congo has a grand vision for the Kingdom of God in their poverty-stricken land. The general goals of the church include the following:

• To teach people the true Word of God through conferences and seminaries.

• To prepare people for the uptaking of the church by Christ and for eternity.

• To draw people from ignorance and false doctrines which have entered the church.

• To plant the church almost everywhere to make it powerful.

More specific goals outlined by Rev. Kazadi include the establishment of schools, hospitals, agricultural programs, transportation services, and denominational administration facilities. This smalI denomination in an impoverished country has an enthusiastic agenda for the out­working of the Reformed faith in every area of personal and national life.

Our congregation has already begun to support these brethren, both through prayer and financial assistance. Let me conclude with Rev. Kazadi’s own moving appeal:

“The Reformed Church in Congo asks to brothers and sisters of RPCNA (of all presbyteries) to pray for us, for our projects (our vision for the future) and for our country. We ask you to pass these (sic) information to all people of RPCNA. Don’t be afraid of our answer to your question. We are only looking forward to receive some brothers here in Lubumbashi. RPCNA is the first church with which God has allowed us to link relationships and a partnership with the Reformed Church in Congo. Feel free to use our church as your field of mission here in Africa. The Bible says: ‘The field is big, but workers are few.’ We need you here, please. You will be welcome.”

Editor’s Note: Given that the relationship with the Reformed Church in Congo began very recently, ties are just beginning to be developed. There are actually many congregations and denominations in Third World countries that have sought ties with denominations in North America, and so it takes time to be discerning about which relationships God is leading a denomination of the RPCNA’s size to pursue. The Foreign Mission Board, which has pursued other such relationships and at times sent a representative overseas, is considering the recent contact with this denomination in the Congo. This church has also been brought to the attention of the Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery. Those desiring more information may contact the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham, N.C.) RPC.

Doug Comin is pastor of the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham. N.C.) RPC, and is a member of the RPCNA Board of Education & Publication.