Nzelenga Melehu, a Congolese Mennonite Brethren pastor, evangelist, and overseer of village work, was born at Matshitshi in the vicinity of the Mennonite Brethren mission station of Kafumba. He was one of the early converts to Christianity. He finished primary school at Kafumba and graduated in the first graduating class of the Bible school.

Nzelenga then established a church at Mbutu. He was ordained and became an overseer of 40 village evangelistic posts with schools teaching the first and second grades. He walked for miles to bring people the gospel.

During the Mulele rebellion Nzelenga and his family hid in the forest. His wife and daughter were caught and underwent indescribable experiences in a distant rebel camp. Nzelenga gave himself up to the soldiers, but was not reunited with his family for more than a year. After the rebellion he returned to the church at Mbutu where he continued to serve until his death.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, pp. 642-643. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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