A Missionary died thinking he was a failure; 84 years later thriving churches were found hidden in the jungle, that he was responsible for.
In 1912, medical missionary Dr. William Leslie went to live and minister to tribal people in a remote corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After 17 years he returned to the U.S. a discouraged man, believing he failed to make an impact for Christ. He died nine years after his return.
But in 2010, a team led by Eric Ramsey with Tom Cox World Ministries made a shocking and sensational discovery. They found a network of reproducing churches hidden like glittering diamonds in the dense jungle across the Kwilu River from Vanga, where Dr. Leslie was stationed.
They found thriving churches. Each village had its own gospel choir, They wrote their own songs and would have sing-offs from village to village.” They found a church in eight villages.
Ramsey and his team even found a 1000-seat stone “cathedral” in one of the villages. He learned that this church got so crowded in the 1980s – with many walking miles to attend, that a church planting movement began in the surrounding villages.
Dr. Leslie spent 17 years at Vanga. His goal was to spread Christianity. He felt like he never really made an impact. But the discovery proves the legacy he left behind is huge.