Ted and Patricia Grosbach
Region(s): Africa
Field(s): Democratic Republic of Congo
Poster: download PDF
Website: click here to visit
Region(s): Africa
Field(s): Democratic Republic of Congo
Poster: download PDF
Website: click here to visit
Bio: Former AIMers in Malawi, Ted and Pat Grosbach received their appointment to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia in May 1984. Unable to secure resident permits for Congo, the Grosbachs lived in Zambia, where he piloted his plane into remote areas to conduct leadership training and also taught in the Bible school in Lusaka. From 1987 to 1991 Missionary Grosbach visited the DRC monthly. However, upon returning from deputation, he was refused entrance until 1996. In the interim he flew to the border and met Congolese pastors for worship, fellowship, and instruction. In 2000, the Grosbachs moved to Botswana to fill the need of a resident missionary. When legal registration of the church was acquire, they moved to Lubumbashi, DRC, to give more direct supervision to the Congolese church. Pat Grosbach recently released their missions story, From A to Z.
Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo/Republique Democratique du Congo
Area Coordinator: Theodore D. GrosbachSuperintendent/President:
Population: 62700000
Area: 905,351 sq. mi.
Capital: Kinshasa
Languages: French (official), Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
Religions: Roman Catholic, 50%; Protestant, 20%; Kimbanguist, 10%; Islam, 10%; traditional, 10%
Formerly known as the Belgian Congo and also Zaire, the Democratic Republic of Congo lies in west central Africa. In 1877 Henry Stanley navigated the Congo River and explored the interior. Through Stanley’s efforts, King Leopold II of Belgium obtained personal title to the territory, an area one-fourth the size of the United States, and accumulated a vast private fortune from ivory and rubber through Congolese slave labor. Belgium eventually assumed control and granted the colony independence in 1960. Civil war ensued, and violence has marked the history of an independent Congo. Since 1997, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive in-flow in 1994 of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. Field Superintendent Ted Grosbach leads the United Pentecostal Church of the Democratic Republic of Congo. After 17 years, he successfully registered the church in August 2002. He stated, “Last year the church baptized 520 people and 489 received the Holy Ghost. There are now 46 licensed ministers, 97 churches, and almost 6,000 constituents. The growth in the church really increased when we were able to become residents in 2002. We have begun a national youth program, children’s ministries, campus ministries, and women’s programs. Wings over Africa is flying into various areas of the country, conducting leadership training, church planting, and assisting with humanitarian aid. We also have an English literacy program with 150 students.”
Additional Information:
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003. Joseph KABILA as president and four vice presidents represented the former government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil society. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006. The National Assembly was installed in September 2006 and KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006. Provincial assemblies were constituted in early 2007, and elected governors and national senators in January 2007. The next national elections are scheduled for November 2011.
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003. Joseph KABILA as president and four vice presidents represented the former government, former rebel groups, the political opposition, and civil society. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006. The National Assembly was installed in September 2006 and KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006. Provincial assemblies were constituted in early 2007, and elected governors and national senators in January 2007. The next national elections are scheduled for November 2011.
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