It was a random stop on his travels back to his military base that changed Pastor Ernest forever. Pastor Ernest is a military chaplain at a base north east of Goma, DRC. On route, he stopped by a small chapel he saw on the outskirts of Goma and met a group of impassioned men and women. Impressed by their understanding and grasp of the Word of God, he asked where they had gotten their training. They sent him to meet with Denis Hangi, the director of African Leadership Congo.

While meetings with Denis, Pastor Ernest was made aware of the theological training Denis provides for church and community leaders. Additionally, Ernest found Denis’ trauma healing materials to be much needed as a military chaplain.

Quickly, Denis and Ernest found themselves planning to train the chaplains at Ernest’s base north of Goma. Since 2019 when the first chaplain class was trained, the vision has grown. Now, with the help of Denis, military chaplains receive their Gospel training around the Beni military base and are then sent out to the posts around the country. Now, on orders of the government, these Gospel trained men spread out across the country taking the Word of God with them. And not Scripture, classes are now being taught basic trauma healing care so that they can care well for the populations they encounter along the way.

With more than 75 chaplains trained over the past 5 years, the impact is profound. Army officers, soldiers, and the communities they protect give witness to the care they receive from the chaplains, the truth they learn, and the salvation they keep. Despite trauma, war, and poverty, the impact made through that random stop at a chapel continues to change eternity for so many lives in north east DRC.