Meet an African Pastor Podcast

This interview is with Kefas Solomon Akundo, Director of Nigeria-Integrated Development Programme of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria. Kefas is located in Takum, Taraba State, Nigeria. In this conversation, Kefas talks briefly about his ministry of teaching pastors and working for community development. But the main focus of this podcast is about the tribal conflict, banditry, religious conflict, and kidnapping that is making Nigeria, and particularly Kefas' region so insecure. He shares encouraging news about how the churches are responding to this violence, and asks for serious prayers from the listeners. Interviewed May 30th, 2022.   (54 minutes)

This interview is with Rev. Samuel Baker Uramba from the Church of Uganda, Nebbi Diocese. Sam is a chaplain of Uringi Secondary School, where he also pastors a church congregation that meets in the school's chapel. In this interview we focus in on Sam's evangelistic efforts and strategies to reach out to Muslims, Sam's prayer habits, and Sam's encouragements to Christians living in the United States. Interviewed April 6th, 2022.   (39 minutes)

This interview is with Rev. Timothy Mutunga Katola of Redeemed Gospel Church in Machakos County, Kenya. We discuss how Mutunga planted the church he pastors, his retirement from his work with Resonate Global Mission, the challenges facing African churches today, and his work with Timothy Leadership Training. Interviewed March 23rd, 2022.    (37 minutes)

This interview is of Pastor Chris Shiundu of Exploits Worship Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Chris shares his interesting testimony about how he came to know Christ and also about how he became a pastor. He shares about his church's ministry to the poor and to prisoners. But we mainly discuss the topic of the Holy Spirit and the Church. Chris discusses his views on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Chris ends by appreciating and challenging both African churches and North American churches in relation to the topic of the Holy Spirit. Interviewed March 8th, 2022.  (59 minutes)

This interview is with Pastor Masabo Jean Jacques from Nyanza-Lac Baptist Church in Burundi. Masabo is from the Baptist Union of Churches in Burundi. In the conversation, Masabo shares his testimony about how he got saved and also about how he became a pastor. He shares about the history of violence in Burundi and the Church's response. We also briefly discuss his role as legal representative of the denomination, and what he prays about for the United States. Interviewed February 10th, 2022.  (32 minutes)

This interview is of Rev. Stephen Omoko, pastor of Nakatunya PAG in Soroti, Uganda. Stephen shares about how God called him to be a pastor and shares about the ways churches can really hurt their pastors and how he has experienced this himself. We also discuss dreams, counseling broken marriages, counseling families, adolescents, and single mothers, and what Stephen has learned from his school about how to be a better counselor. Stephen also shares about the strain that ministry can put on marriage because of being over busy. Interviewed Dec. 22nd, 2021.   (42 minutes)

This interview is with Rev. Otto Zachariah from Gulu, Uganda. Zachariah is the Diocesan Mission Coordinator from the Diocese of Northern Uganda.  Zachariah shares his testimony about how he became a Christian, and about the time he was abducted as a child by the LRA (Lord's Resistance army) and how he later escaped. He talks about the difficulty of living in an IDP (Internally displaced people) camp and how God used him to minister there. Other topics that we discussed include the importance of forgiveness, teaching people skills and hard work, his ministry of teaching pastors today, and what he appreciates about the Church of Uganda (Anglican). Interviewed November 30th, 2021.  (42 minutes)

This is an interview with Pastor Lam Tushabomwe, pastor of Rwakakwenda PAG Church in Isingiro, Uganda. Lam speaks in the Runyankole-Rukiga language and the translation into English was done by Rev. Magambo Emmanuel. In this conversation, Lam shares about his testimony about how he became a Christian and some of the challenges he went through because of becoming a Christian. He also shares about what his life is like as a pastor and shares about some of his regular ministry activities. Interviewed December 1st, 2021.  (34 minutes)

This is a special episode in which Rev. Magambo is interviewed concerning the topic of homosexuality and how it is viewed by churches in Uganda. He follows up on his article about the Christian Reformed Church of North America as this denomination debates how to view homosexuality. See the original article here - A Ugandan Perspective. Emmanuel is the secretary and treasurer for Kigezi - Ankole PAG Pastorate (Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda). Interviewed December 1st, 2021.   (41 minutes)

This is an interview of Rev. David Kangangi Njoka, pastor of Life in Christ Church in Nairobi, Kenya. In our conversation, David shares about his weekly ministry as a pastor, the joys of co-pastoring with his wife, and preaching at mechanic's garages and construction sites. He also shares about the challenges facing Kenyan churches today including people wanting instant blessings and also the current movement of Christians wanting to return to African traditional religion and their traditional regional gods. At the end, David encourages North American churches to trust in God and not in their riches. Interviewed November 10th, 2021.   (48 minutes)

This is an interview with Rev. Osire David who is pastor of PEFG Okunguro Assembly in Bukedia, Uganda. PEFG stands for Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of God Church. The translation from Ateso to English is done by Rev. Robert Odukatum. In this conversation, we hear Osire's testimony about how he got saved and how God helped him through serious marital challenges. Interviewed October 26th, 2021.   (33 minutes)

This interview is with Rev. Robert Odukatum who is a District Overseer, a position to support the Bishop's work of caring for and teaching pastors. He lives in Katakwi, Uganda and serves with Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda. In our conversation we talk about his years of doing youth ministry, the huge task of training pastors, and the many challenges that rural pastors face. Interviewed October 25th, 2021.   (33 minutes)

This interview is with Pastor Moses Egonu, pastor of Pamba PAG Church (Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda) in Soroti, Uganda. In our conversation, we talked about Moses' time spent as a captive with the Lord's Resistance Army and how that influenced his life and ministry. We also talked about his desire to get married and what the marriage process looks like in Uganda. Interviewed October 12th, 2021.  (41 minutes)

This interview is of 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). Our conversation focused on matters of church structure, offices, and polity. We looked at the roles of pastors, elders, and deacons, how pastors are supported financially, the difficult expectations congregations have for pastors, and how worship services are planned. Interviewed October 2nd, 2021.   (45 minutes)

This interview is with Pastor Solomon O. Davis from Monrovia, Liberia. He is the national leader for the Christian Reformed Church in Liberia. In our discussion we talked about the challenges pastors face in ministry, the challenge of the prosperity gospel, the history of Liberia, and the influence of American culture in Liberia. Interviewed September 29th, 2021.   (30 minutes)

This is an interview of Rev. Jared Kaka Rioba Bosire pastoring Baptist Church Umoja in Nairobi, Kenya. In this conversation, we talk about Jared's life as a pastor and about how his church reaches out to the materially poor in Nairobi. We also discuss his doctoral thesis on reconciliation and reflect on tribalism and political conflicts in Kenya and what lessons the Kenyan churches have learned that might be valuable to North American churches. You can listen to Jared's preaching on YouTube here. Interviewed September 28th, 2021.  (42 minutes)

 

This is an interview of Rev. Mitogo T. Opira, Global Coordinator and pastor of Global Christian Assembly in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mitogo is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and has pastored in both the DRC and the USA. He is currently in the USA, but travels regular to different African nations to train pastors. In this interview we compare Mitogo's experiences as a pastor in the DRC compared to being a pastor in the USA, including his difficulty finding pastoral positions in the USA as an African. We also discuss differences between North American and African churches, and what North Americans learn from African churches. Interviewed September 24th, 2021.   (40 minutes)

 

This is an interview of Pastor Emmanuel Akatukunda from Kampala, Uganda. He pastors PERM Banda Church (Pentecostal Evangelical Revival Ministries). In this interview we discuss the joys and challenges of urban ministry in Kampala, reaching out to the poor, the strengths of African churches and what North Americans can learn from them, and Emmanuel's appreciations and cautions concerning the North American Church's role in theological education in Africa. Interviewed September 15th, 2021.   (40 minutes)

This is an interview of Pastor Eyadu Moses from Soroti, Uganda. He is pastor of Otucopi Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church. In this interview we discuss many topics including the challenges and joys of being a pastor, tent-making as a pastor, and how to listen to God. Interviewed August 31st, 2021.   (31 minutes)