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Missionaries Profile

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mission challenges: recovery from civil war and continuing conflicts with rebel groups, leadership training, evangelization of less reached groups, holistic ministries

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%

Languages: French and English (both official), Lingala, Kituba, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.

Name of nationality: Congolese

Land area: 875,525 sq. mi.,(2,267,600 sq. km.), slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Population: 62,660,551 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Capital: Kinshasa

Nelson, Virgil and Lynn Nelson Virgil and Lynn

The Nelsons work in Kikongo where they train leaders of all ages. Virgil teaches classes at the Pastoral Institute where students and their families come to receive training in rural ministry. In addition to classroom experience, the students and their spouses plant fields and raise chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and fish to supplement their diet.


Lynn provides support to teachers in both the Kikongo high school and the primary school that is run by the Pastoral Institute. The primary school, started by the Nzungas (who now serve as International Missionaries in Haiti), provides a quality, Christian education for young children. Lynn also assists in the women’s school at the Pastoral Institute. The school provides an education for the students’ wives who receive an education in French, church history, family planning and other subjects.


Languages used in ministry: French and Kituba