Kasai Kapata

In 1964 the followers of Pierre Mulele were attacking churches and missions in the Bandundu region of Congo. Kasai Kapata was a leader in the Mennonite Brethren church in the Kafumba (DRC) area. Along with other villagers, he was captured by the rebels who argued amongst themselves about his fate. Some of the rebels had been Kasai’s students in Sunday school, and they tried to spare his life. Others wanted to kill him immediately.

Kasai was ordered to dig his own grave, using only a hoe. When it was deep enough, his captors buried him in the hole up to his neck. For three days he waited while the captors argued about what to do with him. One offered to drive a truck over his head.

Even in these terrible circumstances, Kasai prayed for strength to love his enemies. Though sometimes his mind turned to hatred, his love gradually grew stronger and his attitude more cheerful. At one point he even said, “Comrades, it’s a good thing that I am here in this grave.”

At last his captors could not cope with Kasai’s forgiving attitude. His former Sunday school students released him and he returned to Kafumba to lead the Christians who remained there.

Years later, in looking back on his experience Kasai said, “I have discovered that the Lord has cleansed us through these experiences. ... During a time of persecution the church becomes stronger.”

(Adapted, with permission, from Byron Burkholder, “Kasai and Balakashi Kapata,” in They Saw His Glory: Stories of Conversion and Service (Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions and Servivces, 1984))