Building Bridges: Kayanda’s Journey of Faith and Evangelism

As George Lings put it, "Fresh Expressions of church are new forms of church that emerge from the traditional church, shaped by the culture and context in which they are planted."[1] Fresh Expressions in North America is really about what Jesus did during his time on Earth. He created faith communities where the people were. These people experienced the kingdom of God through Jesus’ ministry of “come and see.” This was the type of ministry I was exposed to as I grew up. Jesus effectively proclaimed the gospel because he knew how to develop relationships with people. He used his social networks to evangelize.

My name is Kayanda. I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and I come from two distinct tribes. My father belongs to the Sanga tribe; the people of this tribe are called Sanga, meaning "the gatherers." The language spoken is Kisanga, which translates as "bringing people together." The Sanga people reside in Disanga, "the place of gathering." Growing up, I felt a strong sense of belonging to my community.

My mother is from the Bemba tribe, which also strongly emphasizes relationships, family, community, and respecting elders. My name, Kayanda, is from the Bemba tribe, and it means "a special small drum." Before modern communication methods, the people of my mother's tribe used this drum to convey messages from village to village. The name Kayanda did not hold significant meaning for me while growing up, but as I entered the ministry, I realized it symbolized my calling to be a messenger. Growing up, I knew how to go where people were to develop healthy relationships. Thus, my ministry is based on good and healthy relationships.

Growing up in a Christian family profoundly shaped my life. From my earliest memories, my parents consistently took me to church, raising me in the Methodist tradition. My grandfather, a preacher, established faith communities wherever he lived, engaging with people in their contexts and creating communities to meet their needs. My grandfather often told me, "When you move to a new place and see people dancing to the right, follow their direction until they trust you. Only then can you show them you can also dance to the left. If you start moving to the left right away, you'll be left alone."

Throughout my life, I have been actively involved in the church's work, from singing in the choir to serving on various committees at both local and global levels. Since 1996, I have also served as a translator for the United Methodist Church’s General Conference, helping Swahili and French-speaking delegates participate in the proceedings.

In my church, as a youth, I experienced significant spiritual growth through various youth activities organized at the local level. Our meetings occurred at church, in people’s homes, and even in stadiums. We also had small groups that gathered in homes and schools. These activities were youth-led, fostering the creation of strong relationships. The growth of these groups thrived on the simple invitation to "come and see." All this was done for the sake of relationships.

This same approach was evident in the men’s and women’s groups. Evangelism naturally occurred, and discipleship took shape as these groups grew and strengthened their bonds. Evangelism and discipleship were apparent in these groups. Today, the word evangelism has some negative connotations, and it intimidates many people. Many consider evangelists as those who stand on the corner and call for repentance in a one-time event. Others believe evangelists must knock on people’s doors to ask them to confess their sins, or those people will not go to heaven. Evangelism isn’t just about standing on street corners and calling for repentance; it’s about inviting people into meaningful relationships. Through these relationships, change naturally occurs. Evangelism, discipleship, and preaching are connected; I saw this connection in the church and community where I grew up.

My journey into active ministry, which I had long resisted, began when I was asked to provide pastoral care for two churches quarterly in the district where my husband served as district superintendent. As someone who felt called to ministry since childhood, I accepted the appointment out of compassion for my husband. I enrolled in licensing school, intending to serve these churches for just one year until a replacement could be found. However, after five years of service, I transitioned from a part-time to a full-time appointment and enrolled in the M.Div. program at a seminary. Now, I am pursuing ordination in The United Methodist Church. Building on the foundation of evangelism that I learned, I am dedicated to sharing the message of good news with the people in my churches. I firmly believe that evangelism must be relational. Author Richard Krejcir writes, “Relational evangelism is a gradual process that begins with building a relationship, then building trust, and finally, sharing the Gospel."[2]

Evangelism brings Jesus to the world in all the places we find ourselves. To effectively share the gospel, we must develop relationships with people in our families, schools, workplaces, or wherever we find ourselves. In Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV), Jesus calls his disciples and sends them out, saying, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age."[3] Evangelism is sharing the good news of God’s love with people. We share this good news through our relationships. Laurie Beshore, in Evangelism That Reaches People Under 40, defines evangelism as "a natural process of sharing our faith in the context of existing relationships, where we build bridges of trust, credibility, and genuine care for others."[4]

In the churches I have served, I've embraced the concept of "togetherversity," where there is unity, oneness, koinonia but also diversity and distinctness—a plurality of people and languages, hearing one another and singing the same story.[5] I bring my whole self, my language, and my culture to these relationships, knowing that only through honesty can we learn to live and worship together. I've connected with individuals at schools, nursing homes, fire departments, and marketplaces and regularly attend local sports events. I do this because evangelism is about building relationships.

I have also invited key people in my congregation to accompany me. Writer Dan Kimball says, "Evangelism is about building relationships, not just making converts. It's about being a friend, not just a soul winner."[6] Dan believes that evangelism is not a one-time presentation but an effort to understand and be understood and trust the Holy Spirit to work in people’s lives.[7]

This journey has not been easy and is still a learning process. I have faced many challenges because of my race. Despite speaking English, I often encounter people who struggle to understand me or pronounce my name. Through it all, I focus on building relationships to help them see me for who I am rather than looking past me, dancing together as we discover each other’s rhythm with Jesus Christ at the center. This is what Fresh Expressions is all about.

Thank you for reading Kayanda’s story. If you have a story of a Fresh Expression that you would like to share with us, please email Jessica Taylor at [email protected].

[1] George Lings, Fresh: An Introduction to Fresh Expressions of Church (Grove Books: Cambridge, UK, 2008), 7.

[2] Richard Krejcir, How to Share the Gospel (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2001), 78.

[3] New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

[4] Laurie Beshore, Evangelism That Reaches People Under 40 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 14.

[5] Beck, Michael Adam, and Stephanie Moore Hand, eds., Doing Justice Together: Fresh Expressions Pathways for Healing in Your Church (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2024), 15.

[6] Dan Kimball, They Like Jesus but Not the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 123.

[7] Kimball, 123.