In Memory of Pastor Benito Sabango
We fondly remember our dear friend and coordinator for the Africa missions.
Pastor Benito went to be with the Lord in August 2012
We miss him dearly
Pastor Benito & Bethel City Churches
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Pastor Benito Sabanga
Africa Missions Coordinator for NorthWest Missions
Africa embraces more than 10 religions plus numerous traditional cults, has 53 countries with over 600 million people in 3,000 ethnic tribes speaking 1,995 known languages. No wonder the continent has had more missionaries per capita than any other country in the world; but there still is a rapidly growing need for the Word of God to be spread especially to the rural communities and considering the current AIDS epidemic.
We have all heard of the wonderful evangelistic successes in Africa through visiting ministries, such as Reinhard Bonnke, T.L. Osborne and Benny Hinn. But there remains the need for these converts to be established in the Word of God so that they may grow into their full potential to become disciples, serve the Lord and return to win their villages, provinces, borders and their nations for Christ. You cannot talk about missions without talking about Africa. It may be a biased opinion, but it is part of the wonderful global commission set by the Lord -- to go into all the world.
Benito Sabanga had a burning passion for missions and to reach the people of the rural areas with the Word -- taking the Gospel world wide!
Benito Ralet Sabanga was born and raised in the vast Zaire, currently Democratic Republic of Congo. His family was a Christian Pentecostal family where He learned to fear God and was saved at an early age. He was baptized with the Holy Ghost in 1982 and since then the Lord began to use him with a great anointing upon his life. Benito writes,
In August 1985, he left his parents' home under God's direction and began to preach the Good News of the Kingdom in his home country (the DRC). Several churches came into being through his vigorous evangelistic ministry, which was punctuated with miracles, signs and wonders. Many people got saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed and delivered from the power of demon spirits. He served the Lord as missionary in Sudan, Uganda before continuing to Kenya, East Africa. In the year 1993 he arrived in Kenya from the DRC. He established a base in Kisumu city by starting the Bethel City Church. Today, his wife Joan, continues to maintain their base in this lakeside city with their son, Joel and daughter, Sonya.
Operating in Kenya, Uganda, Congo(DRC), Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, the church has its headquarters in Kisumu, Kenya. It has been in operation for 19 years in Kenya and other nations. Bethel City Churches incorporates an orphanage and widow sponsorship program, pastoral care and church planting along with Praise & Worship seminars, revivals, conferences and inter-denominational meetings.
We have all heard of the wonderful evangelistic successes in Africa through visiting ministries, such as Reinhard Bonnke, T.L. Osborne and Benny Hinn. But there remains the need for these converts to be established in the Word of God so that they may grow into their full potential to become disciples, serve the Lord and return to win their villages, provinces, borders and their nations for Christ. You cannot talk about missions without talking about Africa. It may be a biased opinion, but it is part of the wonderful global commission set by the Lord -- to go into all the world.
Benito Sabanga had a burning passion for missions and to reach the people of the rural areas with the Word -- taking the Gospel world wide!
Benito Ralet Sabanga was born and raised in the vast Zaire, currently Democratic Republic of Congo. His family was a Christian Pentecostal family where He learned to fear God and was saved at an early age. He was baptized with the Holy Ghost in 1982 and since then the Lord began to use him with a great anointing upon his life. Benito writes,
In August 1985, he left his parents' home under God's direction and began to preach the Good News of the Kingdom in his home country (the DRC). Several churches came into being through his vigorous evangelistic ministry, which was punctuated with miracles, signs and wonders. Many people got saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed and delivered from the power of demon spirits. He served the Lord as missionary in Sudan, Uganda before continuing to Kenya, East Africa. In the year 1993 he arrived in Kenya from the DRC. He established a base in Kisumu city by starting the Bethel City Church. Today, his wife Joan, continues to maintain their base in this lakeside city with their son, Joel and daughter, Sonya.
Operating in Kenya, Uganda, Congo(DRC), Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, the church has its headquarters in Kisumu, Kenya. It has been in operation for 19 years in Kenya and other nations. Bethel City Churches incorporates an orphanage and widow sponsorship program, pastoral care and church planting along with Praise & Worship seminars, revivals, conferences and inter-denominational meetings.
ABOUNDING MINISTRY CALLS
On an ever-increasing trend he received invitations to preach and hold short teaching seminars in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, the DRC and all over Kenya. He ministered the Gospel in cities, towns and villages, in the rural parts of Africa where many city-based ministers hardly penetrate due to poor infrastructure and lack of telecommunications systems.
In Kenya alone he endeavored to preach the Gospel in more than 20 major towns and many remote villages. The need for evangelism and discipleship in this nation is great and urgent. This is more so especially in the villages and outskirts of major towns. In these places people are prone to becoming sick due to lack of proper foods and inaccessibility to proper medical health-care. Poverty is at its highest toll in most of these parts due to several reasons. Some of these places are so densely populated that the inhabitants have very little land to develop for food and other purposes. Every year we watch on our television heart-rending scenes of scores of the Turkana people in the Northern parts of Kenya starving to death. The climatic conditions of some parts of this country prohibit major aspects of farming such as agriculture and horticulture. Thus, people in these areas are exposed to many different kinds of health hazards and poor living conditions.
In the past years we have reached these people with no more than the Bread of Life (the Word of God). We have witnessed the faces of men, women and children glowing with a new radiance after receiving God's Word and becoming saved and healed after the prayer of faith or delivered of evil spirits yet they remained hungry and destitute.
Today we are determined to take both the Word of God and material help. We are urgently trusting the Lord for finances to buy food, clothing and other material things, (including cheap medicines) to help alleviate the suffering of the most impoverished of these dear souls. Whereas we may not help all, we believe with the Word of God on one hand and material support on the other, we will be able to win the hearts of whole communities to the saving love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Kenya alone he endeavored to preach the Gospel in more than 20 major towns and many remote villages. The need for evangelism and discipleship in this nation is great and urgent. This is more so especially in the villages and outskirts of major towns. In these places people are prone to becoming sick due to lack of proper foods and inaccessibility to proper medical health-care. Poverty is at its highest toll in most of these parts due to several reasons. Some of these places are so densely populated that the inhabitants have very little land to develop for food and other purposes. Every year we watch on our television heart-rending scenes of scores of the Turkana people in the Northern parts of Kenya starving to death. The climatic conditions of some parts of this country prohibit major aspects of farming such as agriculture and horticulture. Thus, people in these areas are exposed to many different kinds of health hazards and poor living conditions.
In the past years we have reached these people with no more than the Bread of Life (the Word of God). We have witnessed the faces of men, women and children glowing with a new radiance after receiving God's Word and becoming saved and healed after the prayer of faith or delivered of evil spirits yet they remained hungry and destitute.
Today we are determined to take both the Word of God and material help. We are urgently trusting the Lord for finances to buy food, clothing and other material things, (including cheap medicines) to help alleviate the suffering of the most impoverished of these dear souls. Whereas we may not help all, we believe with the Word of God on one hand and material support on the other, we will be able to win the hearts of whole communities to the saving love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
TRANSPORT
Preaching in the interior parts of Africa is no simple task! In many rural places, public transport means are rare while in some it is completely out of question. Some roads are bad, some roads are very bad; either rocky or full of potholes. We had to walk long, hilly, or muddy distances to penetrate and access some villages where the reception of the Word of our Lord was phenomenal. Our Lord sent us "into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature". Although Kenya is a Christian nation, dear friends, the degree of ignorance of the Word of God in the rural areas is still appalling. Will you stand in prayer and support with us for support which will enable us to penetrate these villages?
SHORT-TERM MISSIONARIES
We are particularly grateful for the endeavors of NorthWest Missions. When they were here they worked with us to do door-to-door evangelism, held open-air meetings, and taught and preached in the church. Theirs, to us, was a successful time of ministry as souls opened up to the implicit reception of the Gospel of Christ and hearts were drawn to Him through their teachings, which exhibited the love of God. We came to cordially appreciate the ministry and support of NorthWest Missions under the leadership of Dave and Kris. With NorthWest Missions financial support the Bethel City Church has been able to continue to support the widows and orphans under our care. NorthWest Missions provided support for Pastor Benito so that he could continue to take the Gospel to the world. They also donated a bicycle for a preacher in Kisii, Kenya. They helped the church in many ways. Their goal was to meet the needs of the church in Africa through the Word of God and any other sacrificial way they could. And this they were doing with real dedication. They continued also to support the leaders of the Feeding and Literacy program so it could continue.
Dave and Kris.....May God bless you and reward you abundantly for your labor of love and work of faith!" by Pastor Benito
The attitude of the Kenyan people toward the Gospel, and their receptivity to the Word, are commendable. Kenya is a multi-tribal country yet most of these tribes are Gospel friendly. (the only threat here is the rapid spread of the Muslim faith in some parts of the country). We need to counter this Muslim move with great urgency. In his own meetings, he saw God graciously drawing the hearts of our people to Himself through miraculous healings and deliverances. In deed the harvest is ripe and the need to reach out with grater force is even greater. In cities, towns and villages, I have seen relatively the same results. Receptivity is rather higher in the villages where there seem to be more problems.
Elsewhere outside Kenya - Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, the DRC, Uganda, Congo, Brazzaville, I have seen God move in such amazing ways that as for now I can only describe in a generalistic way - amazing!!
Don't miss this opportunity to join Pastor Benito and Bethel City Churches! There is no greater way to taste missions, AFRICAN STYLE, than with those who have pioneered already. It is guaranteed to be a life-changing experience.
Salamu from Kenya!
(Greetings from Kenya)
Yours in Christ's service,
Pastor Benito & Joan Sabanga
This letter was written by Pastor Benito and edited only to reflect his passing.
Dave and Kris.....May God bless you and reward you abundantly for your labor of love and work of faith!" by Pastor Benito
The attitude of the Kenyan people toward the Gospel, and their receptivity to the Word, are commendable. Kenya is a multi-tribal country yet most of these tribes are Gospel friendly. (the only threat here is the rapid spread of the Muslim faith in some parts of the country). We need to counter this Muslim move with great urgency. In his own meetings, he saw God graciously drawing the hearts of our people to Himself through miraculous healings and deliverances. In deed the harvest is ripe and the need to reach out with grater force is even greater. In cities, towns and villages, I have seen relatively the same results. Receptivity is rather higher in the villages where there seem to be more problems.
Elsewhere outside Kenya - Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, the DRC, Uganda, Congo, Brazzaville, I have seen God move in such amazing ways that as for now I can only describe in a generalistic way - amazing!!
Don't miss this opportunity to join Pastor Benito and Bethel City Churches! There is no greater way to taste missions, AFRICAN STYLE, than with those who have pioneered already. It is guaranteed to be a life-changing experience.
Salamu from Kenya!
(Greetings from Kenya)
Yours in Christ's service,
Pastor Benito & Joan Sabanga
This letter was written by Pastor Benito and edited only to reflect his passing.