“My name is Didier, a 32-year-old single man, and I live in Bukavu, in the eastern part of the DRC. I was living in poverty and insecurity, and each day seemed darker than the last. Around me, I saw other young men my age looking stylish, connected, and surrounded by material comforts, sharing food and the internet with pleasure. But I had nothing.

“In desperation, I turned to a group of young men in my neighborhood. They seemed to lead an exciting life and quickly brought me into their circle. The first step to be part of their group was to adopt their lifestyle, which included using drugs. Drugs became my escape from reality, allowing me to carry out the orders of our “Big Gang” without pity or guilt – robberies, thefts, and assaults. Within a few months, I became the leader of a sub-gang. The solidarity within our group meant that even when I was arrested, they paid to get me released, reinforcing my belief that this life was the right one.

“But on the morning of Saturday, August 17, 2024, my life changed. An evangelism team came to my house, sharing portions of the Bible and offering me a small booklet called The Way to God (Njia Kwa Mungu in Swahili). As I read the booklet, I learned what it meant to live a righteous life and how the righteous would have access to Heaven. This opened my eyes, and I realized that my lifestyle was keeping me far from any hope of salvation. Guilt began to flood my heart, but the evangelists spoke to me about God’s love and the grace available to everyone who comes to Him.

“That day, I felt something indescribable, as if Heaven had opened for me. In a leap of faith, I confessed my sins and decided to follow Jesus Christ for the rest of my life. Since then, I have walked this new path with a peace I had never known before, determined to live according to Christ’s teachings. Today, this church supports and guides me in this new life, and I am learning each day to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and to grow in faith.”