“Those who failed yesterday can succeed today because the future belongs to God.” -Pastor Daniel Matondo

Introduction

Born in Kinshasa, DRC, in 1977, Pastor Daniel Matondo has dedicated his life to spreading the gospel across Africa and beyond. Called to ministry at 13, he trained under Missionary Apostle Thierry Kiasala, earning his diploma in theology in 2005. Over the past 35 years, his evangelistic mission has reached villages, cities, and nations—including Mali, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and across Europe—bringing revival, healing, and transformation.

A leader driven by faith and action, Pastor Matondo has established churches, trained disciples, and spearheaded evangelistic movements. Since arriving in the U.S. in 2015, his ministry has seen remarkable growth—launching EMC School, founding multiple churches, and initiating a historic daily prayer program. His vision continues to expand, with plans for a 5,000-seat temple and further missionary outreach.

Through his foundation, FODAMAT, music ministry, and social programs, Pastor Matondo remains committed to soul-winning, leadership development, and community impact. His journey is one of strong devotion, proving that faith, when lived fully, knows no borders.

Join Afrik Digest as we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of this missionary evangelist, and the inspiration that propels EMC Church.

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My Background & Journey into the Ministry

I am Daniel Matondo, a servant of God, called to spread the gospel across Africa and beyond. Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on July 20, 1977, I grew up in a military household as the youngest of eight children. My journey of faith began at the age of 13 when I surrendered my life to the Lord. It was during my teenage years that I heard a deeper calling—to take the gospel to the nations.

Under the mentorship of my spiritual father, Missionary Apostle Thierry Kiasala, I trained diligently, eventually attending Global Advance, an American Bible school in the DRC led by Dr. Michael Mongane. On February 5, 2005, I earned my diploma, a milestone that set me firmly on my missionary path. For over 25 years, I have served faithfully, taking on multiple leadership roles within my spiritual father’s ministry. In October 2008, after 18 years of devoted ministry, I was officially ordained—but I chose to stay and continue the mission.

Our Vision and Mission
The vision of our Church is to win souls, train them as disciples, and send them out to do the same in turn. According to 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

The mission of our church is to expand the Kingdom of God throughout the world through evangelism and church planting. According to Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you to the very end of the age.”

Our vision serves the community through the holistic transformation of righteous people, helping individuals become valuable and active in their communities or societies. The goal is to establish a community of upright, united, and developed people.

Community Partnerships and  Ministry Initiatives

We strive to collaborate with other churches through conferences, concerts, dinners, and training sessions to unite different churches and men of God. We also organize gatherings to share experiences related to community and evangelical matters.

We are also deeply committed to our community, which we consider our first evangelical field— our “Jerusalem,” according to Acts 1:8. Our ministry targets four groups: men, women, youth, and children, each serving through tailored programs.

Men: Currently, we’re teaching “How to work smart,” focusing on daily family management.

Women: A group of over 250 women meets every Saturday at 5 pm for teachings like “How a woman can build her home” (Proverbs 14:1) and “How a woman can rise where men do not act” (Judges 5:7).

Youth: Through our group, Youth in Mission (YIM), we help young people become useful to the community. Many have returned to school and turned their lives around.

Faith in Today’s World
This is complex yet simple. The true guide is not the pastor or the administration but the Holy Spirit. According to John 16:13 and John 15:5, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. Through Him and effective leadership, we address the challenges of the modern world. We believe a Christian is a supernatural being living in a natural body, performing extraordinary things by supernatural power.

Preserving and incorporating African cultural traditions in the church while embracing the faith

While the Word remains the same, cultures differ and should be respected. The Bible we use originates from Jewish culture and was adapted for all cultures. Our cultural exchanges that align with the Word of God strengthen rather than hinder our Christian faith. We organize cultural days annually to celebrate our traditions. Preserving one’s origins is key to identity.

The Power of Worship and Honoring Cultural Identity
Music plays a significant role in every phase of our services. In African culture, we express emotions—worship, prayer, communication—through songs. Worship draws us closer to God to honor and communicate with Him. That is why here at EMC we ensure that everyone understands the message or song regardless of language.

Meeting the Spiritual and Social Needs of a Diverse Community
We prioritize both. Spiritually, we hold pastoral counseling twice weekly, pray daily online, and host Sunday services. Socially, our dedicated social affairs department addresses internal and external needs. We seek partners and collect contributions to help the needy.

Challenges in Our Mission
We have had challenges regarding integration as African immigrants. There have also been financial and material limitations, while we have also faced a lack of skilled manpower. Despite this, we launched a Five-Year Vision (2021–2026) to plant 100 churches and train 500 people. So far, we have 15 churches (5 in the USA) and 200 trained disciples via EMC School. We’ve also helped people recover from addiction, family breakdown, and school dropouts through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Inspiring the Next Generation
We use biblical teachings adapted to youth realities, and I share my journey with God from age thirteen, which continues to inspire spiritual, professional, and personal growth among our youth.

Transformation and Testimonies

Yes, we have had so many. A particular one stands out. We had a young man named Ricky Masiki. He quit school, drank, used drugs, grew dreadlocks, and was involved in a lot of social vices. After our training, he was transformed, got married, and now serves as the church’s lead technician, attending with his family—This is a story that is widely talked about in our community.

What Sets EMC Apart
In as much as I believe the body of Christ is one, I would say the areas of missionary training and sending, cultural activities, street evangelism, youth support and integration, community development projects, and special marriage counseling make us stand out. In addition to our strong collaboration with other churches and the African community

Adapting to Changing Times
We encourage education and tech awareness. We use modern technology for meetings, services, and evangelism, reaching every group.

Biblical Principles That Guide Leadership and Decisions
Respect for authority (Romans 13:1), avoiding hasty decisions (Proverbs 13:16), family-style leadership (Luke 8:19–21), and praying and consulting elders before making decisions (1 Timothy 2:1).

Unity and Inclusion in Our Church

Following 1 Corinthians 12:13, we embrace all origins. We promote unity through diverse, multicultural, and multiracial activities. Everyone is welcome.

Our Vision for the Future

Based on Jeremiah 29:11, we are pursuing a land acquisition and church temple construction. Building a Bible school, conference hall, daycare center, library, professional music and media studio, basketball court, cinema, homeless shelter, and community radio/TV. We also hope to  organize a central Cultural & Professional Exchange Conference by 2027 with churches, leaders, and officials to build partnerships, support evangelism, address immigrant and homelessness issues, and support Colorado’s development

 My Favorite Book and Bible Quotes

I love all books but have read Acts of the Apostles the most, while my favorite bible quote is taken from Luke 8:1–3 – Jesus traveled from town to town, spreading the good news, accompanied by the twelve and some women who supported His ministry.

Leaving a Legacy of Faith and Restoration

Will like to be remembered as a fair man who did all he could to advance the gospel better.