Dr Emmanuel Tshilenga was born in the DRC into a pastor's family. In 1978, while attending a scripture union youth camp, he made the personal decision to give his life to Jesus. He grew up knowing that he would some day serve God in a full-time capacity.
Emmanuel is married to Elisabeth, who shares in the ministry with him. She also has an intercessory outreach, preaching to and teaching women. She has a Bible study for the wives of ambassadors and diplomats stationed in Pretoria from other countries of Africa.
The Tshilenga couple has four children – Jonas, Esther, David, and Christian. Esther is married and lives in England with her husband and daughter, the Tshilenga's first (and currently only) grandchild.
History and Education
From 1978 to 1983, Emmanuel was a Bible study leader, Sunday school teacher and youth leader in Kinshasa, DRC. At the same time, he worked as a high school teacher on work days.
From 1983 to 1988, Emmanuel lived in the Central African Republic (CAR) to study theology at the Bangui Evangelical Seminary of Theology (BEST). He planted a church in Bangui during the time of his studies there.
After graduating from seminary, he returned to Kinshasa, where he planted an interdenominational church in middle of the city.
After 5 years of ministry in Kinshasa, he moved to Pretoria, South Africa, to pursue post-graduate studies at Pretoria University from 1993 to 1999. He graduated with a Doctorate (PhD) in Missiology and authored a book entitled Collective Sin in Africa.
He planted a third church during his post-graduate years, this time a congregation for the international community called the International Church of Pretoria. In 1993, Emmanuel started working toward his long-term vision, a ministry to the national leadership of African countries named Operaf (Operation Africa in French, or African Operation in English).
Involvement with the VCP Program
Emmanuel joined with OMS Africa in 1999 to provide theological training to refugees from other countries of Africa in two South African cities, Pretoria and Johannesburg. He was a part of the Village Church Planting (VCP) program from its very beginnings, being involved in conceiving the initiative, contributing to early drafts of the VCP manual, and providing direction to the program. As a supervisor, trainer, and colleague, Emmanuel has been involved in casting the vision for rural church planting in numerous French-speaking African countries.
Emmanuel (Center) at Graduation Ceremony for Village Pastors
Until 2007, he was an Into Africa Project supervisor in many areas of west and central Africa. During that time, Emmanuel helped facilitate the planting of more than 2,000 churches in African villages with a combined membership of more than 150,000. He has played a significant role in the training of more than 2,000 African village pastors.
Current Main Activities
Emmanuel produces a French-language radio program with FEBA (originally Far East Broadcasting Associates) for daily broadcast to the Francophone countries of Africa. The transmission targets decision makers, business men and women, university professors and politicians in these African nations.
African Operation, founded by Emmanuel in 1993 during his post-graduate years, evangelizes, disciples, and trains leaders for effective leadership according to Christian principles. The vision is to see God transform Africa through its leaders, leaders who are Christians and follow Christian precepts. Emmanuel is the president of the organization, which operated in 26 African countries as of the end of 2008. The goal for 2009 is to add 10 additional countries to its range of operations.
Links
Click on the following links for additional information about African Operation:
- African Operation leadership ministry on this website
- African Operation home page on separate website
