Simon Kimbangu

Simon Kimbangu (* September 24, 1889 ( according to other sources: September 12, 1887) in Nkamba at Sona Qongo, Congo Free State, today Mbanza - Ngungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, † October 10, 1951 in Elizabethville, Belgian Congo, now Lubumbashi ) was a Christian minister and martyr. He became the founder of a new denomination Through his work.

Life

Kimbangu converted in 1915 under the influence of Baptist missionaries to Christianity and then worked itself as a religion teacher for converts. In 1919 Kimbangu moved to Kinshasa to find work. Already at this time he is said to have had visions. When he was contrary to expectations after returning to his home village not appointed by the Baptist missionaries for catechists, he healed the kimbanuistischen according to tradition, the first woman.

1921, when there was severe crises in the Congo, he was with his preaching and miracles of healing, which he had begun on the basis of a vision, an attraction for many people. This was reinforced when it was reported that he could heal the sick and raise the dead back to life. By his supporters, he was called Ngunza, the word for prophet in Kikongo. Although Kimbangu avoided direct political statements, the colonial authorities took him perceive as a threat. For this reason, the Force Publique marched on June 6 in Nkamba to arrest with the aim Kimbangu. While managed to arrest some kimbanguistischer leader, but Kimbangu could shield themselves from arrest.

As a result, he preached three months in the ground, until he finally turned in September 1921. On October 3, 1921 Kimbangu was, even though he had never called for violence, convicted in a show trial for disturbing the peace by a military court to death. He was eventually pardoned by King Albert to life imprisonment. Until his death in 1951 he was imprisoned in Élisabethville ( Lubumbashi ).

Kimbangu saw himself called to be a prophet and healer. His followers founded the Kimbanguist.

The Kimbanguists invoke to justify himself to John 14:16 by Simon Kimbangu in following Jesus Christ.