The Inspiring Journey of Reverend Francis A.M. Mambu
Reverend Francis A.M. Mambu is the Founder and General Overseer of the Faith Healing Bible Church Worldwide. He Has Authored Several Books and He’s Happily Married to Mrs. Hawa Mambu.
The most compelling thing one would notice about Reverend Mambu when meeting him for the first time is easily his warm smile. A smile that reveals nothing of the horrors and hardships he has witnessed and endured with his fellow Sierra Leoneans over the past decades.
Many are familiar with the notorious civil war that broke out in Sierra Leone during the early 1990s. Although the war technically ‘ended’ in 2002, the consequences for the Sierra Leoneans affect their livelihoods until this day.
It was just in 1987 that Reverend Mambu first received his call to serve as pastor while pursuing a career in the business world…only to be drawn to the needs beyond the church a few years later. It was during the outbreak of the civil war that Reverend Mambu was strongly compelled to help his suffering countrymen, beyond the walls of the church. All around him, violence was escalating.
All of the medical experts had fled the country as they were the first to be persecuted and/or tortured by the rebel forces in the civil war. Women in particular were dying in droves and there were countless amputees – victims of the war. The rapidly deteriorating state of health and medical services in the country was the most troubling to Reverend Mambu at the time, and he knew in his heart that he needed to find a way to reach out.
While still helping as many people as he could through faith at his Faith Healing Bible Church, Reverend Mambu also sought ways to provide services and assistance to the many affected and suffering people of Sierra Leone. He called upon friends of his church to find volunteers to provide some support to local communities. However, the help of volunteers was still too inconsistent and disorganized to have a great impact. Yet, for two to three years, Reverend Mambu continued these volunteer-based efforts and prayed for a solution.
One day, a friend notified Reverend Mambu of an organization that supported African development initiatives – Christian Relief Services an affiliate of Bread and Water for Africa®. Reverend Mambu’s friend was also familiar with one of the Bread and Water for Africa’s board members – Mr. C.B. Richardson (who is still on the board today!). Reverend Mambu took a chance and wrote a letter to Christian Relief Services, explaining his dream of helping the people of Sierra Leone. The rest – as they say – is history!
After many years of hard work following his meeting with Christian Relief Services Executives and many, many conversations with Bread and Water for Africa (and lots of long hours for both parties!), we were able to support the realization of Reverend Mambu’s dream in 1998: The Faith Healing and Development Organization formerly known as Faith Healing Bible Church.
Years later, Reverend Mambu was asked to talk about his inspiration and what keeps his spirits so high in such heart-rending work. In response, he cited a verse from Matthew 25 (34-40).
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
This beautiful sentiment is truly a reminder to all of us that our work is not in vain and that one of the noblest things we can do in life is to reach out to those who are suffering or in need – be it a family member, or for Reverend Mambu – a fellow countryman, or in the case of our compassionate supporters…to ever-grateful neighbors halfway across the world. We thank all Christian Relief Services and Bread and Water for Africa® donors, supporters and volunteers for your generosity and kindness.
Source: Bread and water for Africa
