Junior Banza, a man who holds the distinction of being the first person baptized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 40 years ago, has returned to Kinshasa to serve as president of the newly organized Kinshasa North Mission. Alongside his wife, Annie Banza, the new mission leader began his assignment in late June 2026, returning to the very nation where his family helped pioneer the faith.
A Pioneer Family Legacy
The Banza family's connection to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is deeply rooted in the country's early religious history. As reported by Church News, the Banzas moved to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1976 for studies, where Mucioko and Régine Banza were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 2, 1979. Following the cancellation of their scholarships, the family returned to Kinshasa that same month.
The Sixth Floor Knock
The arrival of missionaries in the region was a matter of chance and persistence. President Banza recalled how two missionaries in Geneva, Elder Dixon Call and Elder Todd Clement, approached his father after checking every floor of their apartment building, finally knocking on the sixth floor—the 'last door.' This encounter led to the first missionary lessons being taught at the Banza home in Kinshasa in 1986.
Meeting the Three-Member Requirement
Official recognition of the Church in what was then known as Zaire required a specific legal threshold: three Congolese members had to sign a decree for presidential approval. This requirement was met by Nkitabungi Mbuyi, Mucioko Banza, and Régine Banza. On April 12, 1986, the presidential order was signed, officially allowing the Church to operate in the country.
First Baptisms in Zaire
On June 1, 1986, a 14-year-old Junior Banza became the first person baptized in the country during a ceremony in a swimming pool. His younger brother was baptized just five minutes later. Following these baptisms, the family met with Nkitabungi Mbuyi—who had been baptized in Belgium—to participate in the sacrament under a carport.
Exponential Church Growth
The Church's growth in the region has been exponential. From just three members in 1986, the population of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached approximately 160,000. The country now hosts seven missions and a missionary training center (MTC) in Kinshasa, which was dedicated by Elder Ronald A. Rasband on November 2, 2025.
The Role of the MTC
The Kinshasa MTC, which began training missionaries in November 2024, serves as a vital hub for French-speaking missionaries. According to President Myles Proudfoot, the center accommodates missionaries learning French or English. The facility is located near the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple, which was dedicated on April 14, 2019.
Access to Temple Blessings
The Kinshasa temple itself represents a major milestone for African Saints. Before its dedication, members often had to travel 1,720 miles to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple—a journey that could take four hours by flight or 50 hours by car. During the 2019 dedication, Elder Dale G. Renlund noted that the temple would help 'heal these lands which have nearly suffered terrible conflicts and tragedies for centuries.'
