Meet an African Pastor Podcast

Marvin Vah

This interview is with Marvin O. Vah, pastor of Deeper Life Bible Church in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Liberia. In this conversation Marvin shares his testimony of how he came to know Christ. He also shares a little about his pastoral ministry. The majority of the conversation is about challenges in spiritual warfare Marvin has faced, including a physical demonic attack. Interviewed October 31st, 2024.  (53 minutes)

David Fugoyo Baime on the Book of Judges

This conversation is with David Fugoyo Baime from South Sudan, who is now pastoring in Uganda with the South Sudanese congregation at St. Paul Namirembe Cathedral, Kampala. Fugoyo is also the Vice Chancellor of Restore University. In this discussion, Fugoyo shares about a former dissertation in which he studied the book of Judges. We talk about what he appreciates about the book, the leadership lessons that African leaders can learn from the book, and how he suggests pastors can preach through the book. Interviewed October 17th, 2024.  (46 minutes)

Augustine Ocho

This interview is with Pastor Augustine Ocho from Calvary Chapel in Nazigo, Kayunga, Uganda. Augustine shares his testimony about how he came to know Jesus personally, after having been raised as a child in a Roman Catholic family who did not attend church regularly. He shares about church planting and reaching out to those from Roman Catholic backgrounds. He also answers a few questions about his life as a pastor and about some of the challenges facing African churches today. Interviewed September 26th, 2024.  (49 minutes)

Stephen Omoko on Bride Price

This interview is with Rev. Stephen Omoko, pastor of Otucopi PAG church in Soroti, Uganda. Stephen shares about the very controversial topic of bride price. He first explains the practices in various African cultures, and the benefits or problems that result in society from these practices. Then we look at bride price from a Christian perspective and compare it to the idea of appreciation rather than a negotiated fee. Interviewed September 9th, 2024.   (65 minutes)

Joseph Antwi on Savings Groups

This conversation is with Joseph Antwi, pastor of Great Commission Church International in Gomoa-Nyanyano, Ghana. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Joseph works with The Chalmers Center to start and monitor savings groups in Ghana. He speaks about the history of savings groups, why they are so helpful to the materially poor, and analyzes common problems that arise in some savings groups. The curriculum he mentions is found here. Interviewed August 8th, 2024.  (61 minutes)

Conrad Mbewe on Grief

This conversation is with Conrad Mbewe who pastors Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia. He also teaches at African Christian University and has written several books. Conrad shares his personal testimony about losing his son Mwansa and the process of grief his family went through. He shares what he learned about God during his grief, what Scriptures gave him comfort, and his wisdom for how to better care for others who are grieving. Interviewed July 23rd, 2024.   (60 minutes)

Patrick Mapundula on Retirement

This interview is with Rev. Patrick Mapundula who pastors St. Agnes Anglican Church in Blantyre, Malawi. Patrick is now retired, but that has meant giving up a majority of his ministry while still being an assistant pastor at church. In this conversation, Patrick shares why he chose to retire, how he prepared for retirement, and he gives some tips and lessons to other pastors concerning retirement. Interviewed July 9th, 2024.   (33 minutes)

Rugereka Vincent on Street Preaching

This discussion is with Pastor Rugereka Vincent from Cornerstone Fellowship International in Kigali, Rwanda. Vincent shares about his experiences with street preaching: his methods, the joys, the challenges, how people respond, and how he preaches differently from many other street preachers. Interviewed June 12th, 2024.  (34 minutes)

Emmanuel Okwalinga on Church Discipline

This interview is with Bishop Emmanuel Okwalinga who recently finished his term as bishop for North Teso Pastorate, Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), Uganda. He shares wisdom and experiences about church discipline - it's purpose, how it is normally done in PAG, mistakes which sometimes happen, which sins are most commonly disciplined, discipline for false teaching, and hopeful stories of restoration after church discipline. Interviewed May 31st, 2024.  (80 minutes)

David Cloete on Faith, Gospel-Centrality, and Race Relations in Post-Apartheid South Africa

This interview is with David Cloete, pastor of Hope City Presbyterian Church in Cape Town, South Africa. We discuss some of the ongoing pains and divisions concerning race in South Africa today. David passionately shares about the importance of a Gospel-centered approach to race relations. Interviewed May 22nd, 2024.  (75 minutes)

Star Isaac on Being a Refugee

This is a testimony shared by Pastor Star Isaac Losusanna of how he ran from South Sudan and became a refugee in Uganda. He explains what it was like being a refugee and how God used him to start a church in the camp. He currently pastors Zion church in Yei, South Sudan. He also shares about going through a Helping Without Hurting in Africa training with me while in Uganda and how he put the training into practice back home. Interviewed May 9th, 2024.  (58 minutes)

Mahrous Karam

This interview is with Mahrous Karam, pastor of Evangelical Presbyterian church in Luxor, Egypt. We learn about his local church and ministry, as well as the story of how their church building had to be moved due to the discovery of Egyptian artifacts. We also talk briefly about the different kinds of churches in Egypt and about living as a minority in Egypt. You will hear in the conversation a church member translating from Arabic to English. Interviewed March 31st, 2024. (39 minutes)

Edgar King on Multicultural Churches

This interview is with Edgar King, pastor of Trinity Vineyard Church in Nakuru, Kenya. Edgar is also the National Director of Vineyard Churches of Kenya. In the conversation we talk about the various kinds of diversity in Trinity Vineyard - ethnic/racial diversity, language diversity, and doctrinal diversity. Edgar shares a lot of wisdom about the blessings, joys and challenges of pastoring a multicultural church, and how God uses the challenges for everyone's spiritual growth. He also shares encouragements, cautions, and strategies for church leaders who want to reach out to diverse people in their cities and communities. Interviewed February 7th, 2024.  (65 minutes)

Simon Peter Emiau on the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda

This interview is with Presiding Bishop Simon Peter Emiau who leads Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda. Simon shares about the history of PAG, his current ministry, and the denomination's strengths and weaknesses. We look ahead at the next 10 years and Simon shares about both the challenges and the opportunities facing the church, especially the missional opportunities. Interviewed January 8th, 2024.  (66 minutes)

Joseph Byamukama on the False Prosperity Gospel

This discussion is with Joseph Byamukama who is based in Kampala, Uganda, and is the Team Leader at Veracity Fount, a ministry that seeks to help equip the Ugandan Church through theological research and resources. Joseph blogs at www.byamukama.com. In this discussion we look at some of the false doctrines in prosperity gospel teachings and Joseph gives biblical context to commonly misunderstood passages. Joseph shares about the damage being done by prosperity teachings coming from the USA, but also explains how prosperity teachings can arise out of African Traditional Religion. Additionally, we go on a short tangent about Christians using "declarative prayers."   Interviewed December 8th, 2023.  (54 minutes)

Yusufu Malahu on Door to Door Evangelism

This interview is with Rev. Yusufu Malahu, a coordinator of Africa Inland Church Engedi Leadership Training and Retreat Center in Arusha Tanzania. In this conversation, Yusufu shares his passion to share the Gospel with people of the Meru tribe and explains how he started a new church plant with a few Meru families. Most of the discussion centers around door to door evangelism - what it looks like in practice, why it's fruitful, some of the challenges it includes, and why Yusufu thinks more pastors should engage in it.    Interviewed November 23rd, 2023.  (43 minutes)

Joseph Nyamutera on Partnerships

This interview is with Rev. Joseph Nyamutera from ADEPR Masaka Church. Joseph is the director of Rabagirana Ministries in Rwanda, but he also works in Kenya. In this conversation, Joseph shares about the topic of partnerships between churches or between organizations, both international and local partnerships. Some of the issues addressed include why some organizations only think of partnership in terms of money, importance of shared values, drawbacks of some large national partnership associations, competition between churches, unhealthy dictation by Western partners, and positive examples of healthy partnerships to show a way forward. Interviewed October 18th, 2023.  (81 minutes)

Emmanuel Magambo on Community Development

This discussion is with Rev. Emmanuel Magambo, pastor of PAG Kabale Bible Church in Kabale, Uganda. Emmanuel is also the secretary and treasurer for Kigezi - Ankole PAG Pastorate (Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda). Emmanuel shares his reflections on community development in Uganda in terms of what the common practices are, the role of the local church in community development, and how the worldwide church can better partner with Ugandan churches for community development.  Interviewed August 11th, 2023.  (59 minutes)

Conrad Mbewe on Expository Preaching

This discussion is with Dr. Conrad Mbewe who pastors Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia. He also teaches at African Christian University, has written several books, and preaches and teaches at conferences around the world. Our conversation was all about preaching, specifically expository preaching. We look at why it is crucially important, how African Christians respond to it, the cultural challenges against it, whether pastors have time to prepare messages this way, and much more.  Interviewed May 31st, 2023.   (61 minutes)

Telmis Budrus Jamal

This interview is with Telmis Budrus Jamal, pastor of Free Charismatic Church of Africa within Morobi Refugee Settlement. Telmis is a refugee from Sudan who lives in Uganda. In the interview, Telmis speaks in Arabic and his friend Afendi Omar translates for him. Afendi is also from Sudan and also living in Uganda, and pastors Four Square Gospel Church in Umwijo Refugee Settlement. In the conversation, Telmis shares a bit of his testimony, about how he came to Uganda, about what life and ministry are like in the settlement, and a little about the current war in Sudan.  Interviewed May 17th, 2023.   (67 minutes)