University Changes Hearts: Adult Mission Story for April 4, 2026

By Gina Wahlen

One of this quarter’s special mission projects is a nursing school at the Adventist University of Lukanga in Lubero in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here the university’s president, Dr. Malembe Tatasi Fils, shares three stories of people whose lives have been changed through the university.

Serious Showdown

The young woman came from a major non-Christian world religion, and she enrolled at the Adventist University of Lukanga on the recommendation of her father.

He told her that he had chosen the university because he had studied many Christian denominations and he felt that the Adventists were the most sincere in living out their faith. But he added, “Even though you’re going to a Seventh-day Adventist institution, I’m not sending you there to become an Adventist.”

The woman had arrived at the university with a heart curious about the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When the university had a week of spiritual emphasis, she was touched by the sermons and decided to join the church. She was baptized in 2024 without her father’s knowledge.

“She hasn’t told her family yet that she has been baptized,” said Dr. Malembe. “She is expecting a serious showdown with her father. She is seeking prayers.”

Expectant Mother

An expectant mother came to a 52-bed clinic connected to the university for check-ups. It was at the clinic that she learned, through a pregnancy ultrasound, that she would have twins. She was very surprised. Her husband had left her, and she would need to raise not one child but two children alone.

The clinic offered morning devotionals to patients, staff members, and other members of the community. A university student led each morning devotional, and the clinic passed out fresh bread afterward.

The mother enjoyed the morning meetings. When students prepared a special two-week evangelistic series for the clinic, she came to every meeting. The Word of God moved her heart, and she was baptized.

Then she gave birth to the twins.

When word reached her husband that he was the father of twins, he came looking for his wife. He was surprised that she wasn’t the woman whom he had left. Instead a woman who loved drinking and being unfaithful, he found a sober mother who loved God with all her heart.

He told Dr. Malembe, “I’m so surprised to see such a big change in my wife. I want to follow your teachings.”

Now he is worshiping at an Adventist church with his wife and twins, who are seven months old. Dr. Malembe and others are praying that he will join his wife in giving his heart to Jesus.

Spirit-Possessed Student

A young man arrived at the university with a strong desire to study theology and become a pastor. He had joined the Adventist Church while in high school, but his family fiercely opposed his plans. They wanted him to become a medicine man. No one would help him pay for his tuition. He was on his own.

The young man got a university job as a watchman and worked for two years to earn enough money to start his studies.

But he fell ill shortly after he became a student. He couldn’t seem to remember anything, and he often wandered around the campus without knowing where he was going. Discouraged, he considered quitting his studies.

His family declared that he was spirit possessed. “It’s because he is supposed to become a medicine man, not a pastor,” they said.

Doctors at the university clinic examined him and said that they couldn’t find anything wrong that could be treated with medicine.

“This is a spiritual matter,” they said. “All of you in the theology department should pray for him.”

So, 27 teachers and students from the theology department gathered on a Thursday and held a special prayer session.

The student was healed, and he returned to his right mind. Today, he has graduated from the university and is waiting for a call to serve as a church pastor.

“He is a very eloquent speaker, and we hope and believe that he will do a great work for the church,” Dr. Malembe said.

This quarter, you can help the Adventist University of Lukanga reach more hearts for Jesus. Currently, nursing school students are using the university clinic’s cramped laboratory for their research. The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, also known as the Quarterly Mission Project Offering, will help construct a building that will contain larger laboratories for the nursing school’s five fields of study: general nursing, midwifery, imaging, laboratory techniques, and pediatrics. Thank you for giving generously to this important project.