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The spacious meeting room is full of white plastic chairs. But the chairs are all empty. The 2,600 representatives from 32 African countries dance around the room as a multinational worship team leads them in song. Some songs are in English, some in Zulu, but every song keeps the audience on their feet and moving to the beat.
In December 2016, 2,600 representatives from 32 countries across the African continent and from other nations attended the conference. For security reasons, 28 countries are indicated in the illustration.
This multitude swaying as they worship God is what the Pamoja Africa conference is all about.
Pamoja attendees enthusiastically worship God through music each day.
“Pamoja” comes from the Swahili word for “together.” Cru® in Africa invites Christians from across the continent to the event to worship, reach out to the local community, pray and grow together. This particular conference’s theme—“Pass It On!”—emphasizes the importance of taking what you have learned and sharing it with the next generation of leaders. Below, six individuals describe how they’re passing on what God has given them.
Tatenda, whose name is the Shona word for “thank you,” is a senior at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. Last year, he started a giving ministry called “Hand of Heaven.” His ministry provides food and clothing to the poorest families in Zimbabwe. Tatenda felt compelled to sell his own cell phone in order to buy canned goods for these families.
Zimbabwe representatives at the conference wave their flag.
“There was an Industrial Revolution, French Revolution, mineral revolution. I believe we’re beginning the giving revolution,” he says. “So, that revolution began in Zimbabwe, but now I’m at the conference to partner with people from many other countries.”
Allen works with Cru’s high school ministry in Uganda. She and her team often use movies like the JESUS film to reach students.
Allen Mutatiina
“In Uganda, schools are open for us. We go; they don’t stop us,” she says. “After showing the film, there are very many issues that come up and students want to ask us. We give them up to one hour to talk with them and pray with them one-on-one.”
Sami works in the Digital Strategies department of Cru in Ethiopia. He worked with a team to create Deep Life, a smartphone app designed to help believers create and grow a discipleship network.
A group of Ethiopians dances with their flag.
“Most of my job involves especially inspiring young professionals, that they could use their skills for God’s kingdom,” he says. “Deep Life is only focused on the discipler so that he’ll become a better disciple.”
Samuel works with a ministry called Focus Higher International, which partners with Cru in Africa. A resident of Ghana, he regularly leads trips into Northern Africa to reach people in the underserved villages there.
Residents of Ghana dance with their flag at the conference.
“For the past four years we’ve been doing what we call Go North mission,” he says.
The Pamoja conference even appeals to those outside the African continent. Juliana is a Cru staff member in Brazil, whose official language is Portuguese. At the conference, she helped to translate the speakers’ messages for delegates from Portuguese-speaking African countries.
Juliana Dias
“In Brazil, a lot of people have a heart for Africa, and I have a heart for Africa,” she says. “I came on staff [with Cru] in 2006, and one of the things that’s involved in my calling is coming to Africa.”
Lloyd attends Gilgal Missions Centre, a church in Lusaka, Zambia, that serves alongside Cru on college campuses in the area.
Lloyd Mutambo
“No man will live forever here on earth,” he says. “So, the knowledge we’re getting is very vital for us to pass it on.”
Conference attendees pray for personal spiritual growth and for a passion to reach their nations with the message of Jesus.
Interviews by Elliott and Lauren Dodge.
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