Mission guide
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission
A guide to Kinshasa, its growing Church history, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission.
- French
- Lingala
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission shirts & apparel
Every style made for this mission, printed when you order.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission T-Shirt
$29.00
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission Flag Map Shirt
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Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission and English
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
I Glory in My Jesus Shirt – French
$29.00
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I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink) – French
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I Glory in My Jesus Shirt – Lingala
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I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink) – Lingala
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I Glory in My Jesus Shirt
$29.00
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I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink)
$29.00
Choose size & color →Weak Things Become Strong, in the languages of this mission and English
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
More shirts in the language of this mission
Press Forward, in the languages of this mission and English
"Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ" (2 Nephi 31:20) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
French and Lingala are the main languages for missionaries and families to know. French is widely used in official settings, while Lingala is an important everyday language in Kinshasa.
At a glance
- Country
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Main city
- Kinshasa, 18,552,800 people in the city-province in 2021
- Languages
- French and Lingala
- Time zone
- West Africa Time (UTC+1)
- Climate
- Tropical wet and dry, with a rainy season from October through May and a dry season from June through September
- Mission
- Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa South Mission
A short history of the area
Léopoldville became the capital of the Belgian Congo in 1923 and received official city status in 1941. After independence in 1960, the city was renamed Kinshasa in 1966. Today, Kinshasa is known as Kin la belle and is one of the world's largest Francophone urban areas.
The Church here
- 1970A small group of Saints from abroad began holding Church meetings in Kinshasa.
- 1979Church President Spencer W. Kimball sent Oscar McConkie to explore the possibility of organizing the Church in Zaïre, the country's name at the time.
- 1986The Church received legal recognition in the country, and the first missionaries, Ralph and Jean Hutchings, arrived in February.
- 1987The Zaïre Kinshasa Mission was officially organized in June. Membership reached 300 in July.
- 1994The mission reopened in the latter part of the year.
- 1995The mission and its temporal office returned to Kinshasa in May.
- 1996The Kinshasa Zaire Stake was organized on November 3.
- 1997On August 12, the mission was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission after the country changed its name.
Temples nearby
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
Dedicated April 14, 2019 · Near Kinshasa
Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple
Under construction · Near Kinshasa
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- BonjourHello or good morning
- MboteHello
- MerciThank you
- MatondiThank you
Foods to try
- Maboké (fish steamed in banana leaves, especially associated with Kinkole)
- Moambe chicken (chicken served with a rich palm-nut sauce)
- Fufu (a soft staple made from cassava or other starchy flour)
- Saka-saka (cassava leaves cooked with seasoning and often served with rice or fufu)
Fun facts
- Kinshasa and Brazzaville are the world's closest pair of capital cities, separated by a roughly four-kilometer-wide unbridged span of the Congo River.
- Kinshasa was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2015.
- Stade Tata Raphaël hosted the 1974 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman known as the Rumble in the Jungle.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.
Hoodies & shorts for this mission
The same mission, made for cooler days and the court.
