Above is a 2013 interview with our partner and head of REMAC, Floribert Kazingufu. Since this interview was filmed, several churches as well as the medical clinic have been forced to close their doors due to ongoing political unrest and violence.
How (and Why) We Began
By the year 2008, the Second Congo War (also known as the African World War or the Great War of Africa), had been over, officially at least, for five years. During this war, nine African countries and approximately twenty-five warlords with their associated militias struggled for control of the gold, diamonds, tin, ivory, and rare earth metals found in the mineral rich Democratic Republic of Congo. Unfortunately, signing a piece of paper stating the war is over doesn’t automatically end the fighting.
Despite a formal end to the war in July 2003, the conflict minerals continued to fund the free ranging militias, bringing terror and suffering to the poor, unarmed populace of central Africa. Best estimates state that in 2004 roughly 1,000 people a day died from easily preventable diseases and malnutrition. By the year 2008, the war and continuing conflict that followed had caused 5.4 million deaths, principally through disease and starvation. This made the Second Congo War the deadliest worldwide conflict since World War II. In addition to the millions who died, another 2 million were displaced from their homes or sought asylum in neighboring countries.
The church didn’t escape this dire suffering. Prior to the war, there was a considerable presence of western missionaries to help God’s people in this oft forgotten portion of the world. But when the war began, the western missionaries were forced to flee due to the intensity of the fighting. This left the local church bereft of the much needed physical support that only the western church could provide.
The medical clinics that operated in the bush villages were now closed. There was no personnel or medicine available to treat diphtheria or malaria. Infant mortality skyrocketed. Many of the churches met out in the open on whatever free land they could find. The infamously corrupt governments in the area labelled churches without “proper” buildings to be a cult and outlawed them in many places.
More importantly, there was no instruction available for young, would be pastors. The majority of the pastors did not own a Bible because there was no one to print them. When Bibles were available, there was no money to purchase them. The pastors began to learn their theology from shyster health-wealth charlatans. The true gospel - that Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day - was seldom heard.
To combat the grim realities that faced these abandoned churches, Floribert Kazingufu began an association of local churches with the idea that the churches could help one another instead of each standing on its own. This association is known as REMAC.
When Dr. Baker was made aware of the situation in Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo, his heart broke. He determined that, God helping him, he would do what he could to assist these forgotten churches. Thus Becoming Mature began. Beginning in 2008 and continuing nearly every year after, Dr. Baker traveled both alone and in groups to the border of DR Congo and Burundi. Each year, Becoming Mature supplies Bibles translated into Swahili for the local congregations. Yearly conferences are held for the pastors of REMAC to provide desperately needed theological training. Any excess funds raised are used to offset the cost of food and housing for the pastors traveling long distances to attend the conference. To date, seven church buildings have been funded and built so that the congregants could get out of the rain and worship indoors, as well as allow them to be recognized by the local governments and ease persecution. Most importantly, the gospel has been preached and pastors have been equipped to guard against false teachings. As one pastor put it, “Before [Becoming Mature] came, I taught people that God wanted them wealthy. Now I tell them how they may have their sins forgiven.”
Dr. Baker’s health began to decline in 2014 and is now to the point where he can no longer travel at all. Still, because of God’s mercy, his son, Pastor Jacob, is now being used by God to take his father’s place and continue working with the local African church. It is our prayer that, as God grows this ministry, more resources will become available, more teachers sent, and more churches built.